You can never really know what “iPod Jack” really means when it is listed as a feature on a new car. It could mean that the iPod will just plug into the car stereo to play and charge, but you may not be able to change artists or choose playlists until you dig it out of whatever oddly-shaped hole it’s buried in. And retrofitting for a lot of cars means an expensive stay at the electronics store, or wires that cross from here to there.

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New cars seem to have the satellite radio option just as much as the ever-present portable music device AUX jack. In many ways the AUX jacks essentially eliminates the need for satellite radio options, however some people like to be able to listen to a radio station in hopes of listening to a song they may not yet own. Luxury cars from Audi to Rolls-Royce have covered the satellite need, so it was surprising that Ferrari hadn’t joined the bandwagon.

That’s over though, as Modena has selected XM as its extra-terrestrial radio provider of choice. The first car to get it is the 612 Scaglietti, which is fine and all, but we can’t figure out why anyone would want yet another audio source to compete with the sweet music made by the car’s V12. At least the NavTraffic feature can help keep the Ferrari on roads whose conditions allow it to maintain a proper pace.

[Source: XM Radio]