The friendship between iPod and Mercedes has materialized into all sorts of innovations, some them even unexpected. After the success of the Smart models which incorporated iPod (feature introduced in June 2004), other cars are following.

Mercedes has announced that Mercedes-Benz B-Class will become iPod friendly and starting from July, this interface will also be included to A-Class, C-Class, E-Class, M-Class, CLK-Class, CLS-Class and SLK-Class.

Mercedes is so delighted by this innovation that even the model that will launched later this year, R Class, will be iPod compatible.

The interface the driver can access the iPod with, iPod Interface Kit, is palced on the steering wheel and it is designed so that it doesn't distract the attention of the driver and ensures the easiest navigation.

Everything works on the plug-and-play principle; all the driver has to do is to connect the iPod in the special document compartment. The supported iPods are the third generation ones, iPod photo, iPod mini and, of course iPod U2.

The price for an iPod Interface Kit is 183 euros which is added by installation costs.

At the New York Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz used iPod even as a promoting method, the drivers who participated to the event having the possibility of downloading presentation guides for the models exhibited there

These guides will also be available on the iTunes service, such an audiobook costing 2,95 USD. Currently, the only guides available are the ones for CLS-Class and M-Class.

This is not the "first love" between iPod and cars. The BMW BMW X3, X5, 3 Series and Z4 have been offering this feature since September, last year; General Motors launched in march a new line of radio-cassette players with iPod connectivity.