SEMA: Horntones, MP3 Car Horns

On vacation in Mexico five years ago, I heard “La Cucaracha” blaring from a ’70s-era Volkswagen Beetle, not when the driver turned up the stereo, but when he blared his horn. I thought to myself, “How cool would it be to have any song or sound you choose as your horn?” Well, Mike Kosco, president of Horntones, has done just that. Kosco created the FX-550, an MP3 car horn that comes complete with a head unit, amplifier and speaker that can pump sound out in excess of 100db. Using an online tool, users can upload any MP3 or select from a list already on the site, set and organize hot buttons, and configure their Horntone system. They can then use a standard USB flash drive to save the file, then upload it to the Horntones head unit.

The Horntones FX-550 costs $299.95, plus installation. So, if you’re in the mood to moo rather than honk, this is the device for you.