Sync 2/3 upgrade is out of the question for you unless you plan to swap in a lot of other stuff from the 13+ cars. my understanding is the IC communicates directly with the infotainment system. sync 1/2 are microsoft built but not compatible with each other, sync 3-4 is blackberry (I think, I know they stepped away from microsoft for sync 3). as for viable options for your car
@Joshw0000 posted this about Navtool
https://shoforum.com/threads/so-what-did-you-do-to-your-sho-today.130526/post-1615629 and it may have been him I talked to about the non existent install plate to get a regular double din head unit in the hole but I cant remember exactly and it was somewhat of a dead end. 10-12 cars have it rough (but at least your car says things like "good morning" thats cool, its the little things for me)
The radio anatomy is as follows: Touch screen, APIM (attached to screen, primary interface/navigation), ACM (under screen, CD player/receiver, primary audio processor), Amplifier/DSP (Trunk mounted behind drivers side wheel well, sony system only Digital sound processor) The APIM handles your GPS and the audio processor in the trunk handles signals from the ACM.
If you were to remove the ACM/APIM and replace them with a plug and play unit, they would have to provide a stand alone gps antenna (most do) or have a way of using the cars integrated antenna that is part of the main harness which model specific aftermarket interfaces will likely have the correct plug for the car prewired to address any systems being replaced. Thus taking care of the navigation concerns, plus many of the aftermarket radios rely on connected devices to provide a GPS location.
since an aftermarket system also replaces the ACM the new unit would have to provide the same level signal to the DSP which should be an option in the audio menu of the aftermarket radio as the factory ACM can also be changed to output for either Sony DSP or standard audio. It would appear that if you had the navigation 8" screen you automatically had the Sony system. Based on what I am seeing, the 8" screen was only offered with navigation and to my knowledge the Sony system was only offered with an 8" screen. So because there is so limited information about this particular issue, deductive reasoning would suggest that if you have as screen, you have sony/nav, which means the China listings that neglect to mention if it is specifically Sony but show a screen with the buttons across the top like the 10-12 cars are for your set up. Its a gamble but still an educated guess as to if it will work or not.
View attachment 97640
**** like this is confusing and ridiculous, note it shows it will work for a 12-18 car, however the year range is 13-19 for the style depicted in the lower pictures with 2 VERY different head units that do not interchange with each other. However, the top photo with the actual unit installed shows a 10-12 dashboard based on the gear shift, steering wheel, buttons, and gauges. Things like these, stay away
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However, listings like this, which not only have the correct year range listed but depict the correct car interior are a safer bet. this is a picture from the listing showing the left (10-12) being the correct original dash for the unit for sale, and the right (13-19) being not compatible. notice how neither has the sony badge either on the left on the speaker cover or the right above the volume ****. copyright is a ***** but as I said above, based on the available options for the 10-12 cars, screen = sony/nav which means this is the correct chinese aftermarket option for the 10-12 SHO. the link for the good listing is below:
The full upgrade comes with a far superior screen, more modern functionality, and you avoid the inevitable sync 1 crash that there is zero support for. Unfortunately there is not an inexpensive option to upgrade or fix the 10-12 systems, you have a narrow aftermarket replacement selection, and adapters to make your current system a little better. I cant attest to the longevity or build quality of the aftermarket unit, But I would chose to replace the entire thing given the cost being so close. Good luck
