ANYONE growing up before the turn of the Millennium will remember this bit of kit from just about any vehicle they set foot in.
But it seems the in-car CD player has become a thing of the past, with the feature now completely extinct from all new car models.
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Subaru‘s decision to remove the device from one of its SUVs heralded the death of the CD player in vehicles, with no mainstream car brands in the UK now offering the feature, according to Which?
The music device had, up until a few months ago, come as standard in the Subaru Forester – a mid-sized SUV.
But when the model was updated for 2024, the CD player was taken out.
Motorists who want to continue listening to music in their cars will now have to stream it through devices like smartphones.
This can be done by connecting the phone through a USB, or appls like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Mercedes-Benz was the first car to offer the CD player in 1985, meaning it lasted a respectable four decades before going the way of the dodo.
Cars with large CD-changer systems – often found in the boot – had not been sold in Britain for a number of years.
The news comes as hundreds of streets are set to close this weekend with drivers told to “ditch their cars” for a major event.
The restrictions will pop up across both days as part of a push to encourage cycling, walking and public transport.
Neighbourhoods across London are set to celebrate World Car Free Day in the coming days.
The global event involves shutting down roads where residents have applied to do so in order to provide a glimpse into a greener future with no motor vehicles.
The majority of shutdowns will take place on Sunday September 22, but a number will be enforced the day before instead.
It is being run by London Play, with support from TfL and the mayor’s office.
Around 200 routes across the capital will be closed as part of the celebrations.
Each borough’s event is organised by its own local council, but many have announced the planned closures well in advance.
Will Norman, City Hall’s walking and cycling commissioner, said: “World Car Free Day is an important moment to celebrate the progress we’ve made in building more liveable neigbourhoods, and embracing a different vision for our streets.”
Under the plans, roads will temporarily be transformed into spaces for socialising and for children to play.
These will include some of the city’s busiest streets, such as Tower Bridge, Bank Junction and Borough High Street.
