Aston Martin V8 Vantage and DB9 buyers will start getting Sirius beginning this August -  Sirius Satellite Radio, that is. Available as a factory installed option, it, better yet, comes with a lifetime subscription. A value of $500 can at least soften the hit on a six-figure automobile.  Savings aside, you’ll never have to worry about a montly $12.95 charge.  It’s a nice little touch that might push some buyers into pulling the trigger, but will more likely come as a pleasant surprise when they find out about the bonus in the deal.

[Source: Sirius]

The petite Fiat 500 with the dexterous next-gen Ford Ka platform is advertised as the Italian MINI Cooper (although made in Poland). But this Fiat has something the MINI doesn’t: Microsoft’s Blue&Me system. Blue&Me packs most of the technology that’s on Ford and Microsoft’s SYNC, but with an added hands-free navigation system. Blue&Me uses the radio to connected iPods and phones so, like with SYNC, the costs should be kept down.

(more…)