Concerning high end audio names in new cars

Marketing hoopla is all it is. 

there have been a number of threads on car based sound systems

branding of car audio is just that - branding to sell things, make people spending money feel like they are getting something nice

end of the day, some cars are for thrills, in these you don’t listen much to the car audio, the car provides the soundtrack

other cars are appliances, functional to get you there with minimum of fuss and discomfort, these are more isolation machines, drivers/riders onboard are not trying to connect to the car, they want to enjoy their time despite the car... here car audio systems are more important, some are pretty nice, others not so much - none can compare to a home system though

i find the car audio branding doesn’t correlate too well with sound quality

High end home audio is a niche market. Cars are not. Any audio company looking for additional and compatible revenue streams can create brand awareness and potential future customers by inserting a speaker set or head unit into a luxury or halo car. The car manufacturer then gets to tout how great their "14 speaker XYZ Audio System" sounds, regardless of fact.

These "home audio" producers are all in on car audio so there must be value in it for them:

Meridian
B&O
Revel
Focal
Burmester
Bose (I know...)
Mark Levinson
McIntosh
Heck, in the Clarion ownership days, you could get a McIntosh branded Clarion head unit in a Subaru.

I have to say the stock Fender system in my VW is not the worst thing I've heard in car audio.




 

The Lexus I sold had a Mark Levinson sound system. Before that, I had a Honda with a Bose (I know, I know) sound system. I wasn't impressed with the sound of either. I'm guessing that there would be a serious uncharge for a Burmester system. If I can't afford Burmester for the home, I doubt that I will spring for it in the car, but I'd be happy to take it for a test drive.

My wife has a B&W system in her New Volvo and it sounds great ,

my Brother has a Burmeister in his S6 Audi  ,it is very good ,

yes these are over $3-4k each but to them well worth it since they drive over 1000 miles a month.