Can a USB Bluetooth adapter emulate a sync cable connection with an iPhone?

I have a car stereo head unit with a USB port which connects to my iPhone via a regular sync cable. I know with a Bluetooth adapter it wouldn't charge the iPhone's battery, but would it be able to connect wirelessly?

PS- I have an iPhone 5 if that would make any difference.

Depends on the capability of the USB port on the stereo. You can transmit music, GPS directions even calls via bluetooth on the iPhone5.

Most bluetooth USB adapters are intended to work with a PC, the PC loads some driver software for the adapter that provides the "bluetooth smarts". The adapter just provides the "physical connection". Bottom line, the smarts needs to be in the stereo, the iPhone5 already has the smarts to do it.