Automotive Blog

{Garmin Nuvi’s are GPS (global positioning methods) units that are pretty popular nowadays. Regardless of whether you drive a lot or just will need to get your kids to one more soccer tournament, the Garmin Nuvi which range from pocket sized navigators to sophisticated techniques with voice activated navigation, has a GPS unit that will match your demands.

Here is a list of the Garmin Nuvi chain GPS units:

Nuvi 205 string These reasonably priced navigators match any budget and give you turn-by-turn directions to the front door.Nuvi 500 chain Drive, hike, bike or boat. These waterproof multi-mode devices are rugged adequate for any adventure.Nuvi 705 sequence These advanced navigators contain premium navigation capabilities like route planning, lane assist with junction view and three-D building view for peace of mind on the go.

Nuvi 805 series Voice-activated navigation with lane assist. Now you can keep both hands on the wheel, tell nüvi where to go and maneuver complicated interchanges with ease.Nuvi 1200 set Ultra-slim, affoardable, feature-rich navigators that go anywhere.Nuvi 1300 chain These ultra-slim, cost-effective navigators add a widescreen display and lane aid (some versions) to the 1200-series.

Depending on how much capital you are willing to spend will guide you toward a certain sequence. If you are on a limited spending budget, then your ideal suit would be the entry level Nuvi 205 sequence. If funds is not a trouble, then you can appear at all the possibilities and extras that every string offers and discover the ideal GPS unit that fits your desires.

All Nuvis come with detailed NAVTEQ maps of the continental united states, Hawaii and Puerto Rico and much more than 6 million pre-loaded point of interest locations.

Other features of the Nuvis are:

1. maps of AK, Canada and Europe

2. Text to speech technological know-how

three. Integrated FM Traffic Receiver

4.bluetooth know-how

5. MP3 player and photo viewer

6. FM Transmitter (audio through car stereo system)

7. Multi-point routing

All of these characteristics are not out there on all Nuvi units.If you would like any of these attributes on your GPS unit, please check just before purchasing. If you are buying on the internet, examine the page for a chart that has all the functions listed for each model number.In the end, no matter what Garmin GPS unit you pick, they are fantastic for obtaining to your destination in the quickest way achievable.

According to the market research firm iSuppli Corp., automotive navigation systems increasingly are transitioning from standalone devices to connected systems capable of accessing up-to-date map data and other information from the cloud.

About 20 percent of in-vehicle navigation systems sold in 2010 will include connectivity, either through an embedded modem or a tethered mobile device, amounting to 1.8 million units. This will rise to 90 percent in 2017, amounting to 27 million units.

Cloud-sourced navigation is an evolution of connected navigation systems—a trend that started several years ago. Traditional car navigation systems use databases stored on the device itself but future navigation systems will rely on information that is stored in the cloud. Maps, points of interest, traffic and weather are examples of cloud-sourced content that is enabled through connectivity.

“Rising sales of navigation systems with two-way connectivity are being fueled by the advantages of connecting to the cloud,” said Phil Magney, Vice President (Automotive Research) at iSuppli. “By connecting to the cloud, navigation systems give motorists access to the most up-to-date databases in the world. Traffic, weather, and points of interest change constantly, so access to the cloud is vital.”

“Static databases will become a thing of the past in automotive navigation during the next 10 years,” said Egil Juliussen, Principal Analyst & Fellow (Automotive Research) at iSuppli. “Connectivity means motorists will have multiple options in terms of on-board and off-board navigation resources.”

On-board connected navigation systems that store maps on the device will refresh periodically to reflect changes and updates. In contrast, off-board navigation systems—which access a server for map data—will need constant connectivity. Both employ cloud-based data access.

Traffic information is the leading cloud-sourced service for navigation systems, which is constantly refreshed to reflect the latest updates. Several more cloud-based navigation services are being employed including weather information, Point of Interest (POI) search, destination download, traffic camera visuals and map updates.

Worldwide sales of all types of navigation systems will exceed 100 million units in 2010, with smart phones and Portable Navigation Devices (PNDs) accounting for the bulk of the units. Slightly more than 9 million in-vehicle navigation systems will be sold in 2010, dwarfed by the nearly 100 million PND and smart phone sales.

Smart phones will generate the growth in the navigation segment. PND shipments during the next decade are forecasted to be at about 40 million units. In comparison, 330 million smart phones with navigation will be sold in 2017.

Smartphone navigation increasingly is becoming free of charge and the use case is mostly in the auto—although pedestrian navigation is beginning to emerge. By 2017, many of the smart phone-based navigation solutions will be integrated within the vehicle system where the display is shown on the head-unit and the voice guidance and voice input are through the vehicle’s Human Machine Interface (HMI).

Visit http://www.isuppli.com/Automotive-Infotainment-and-Telematics/Pages/Navigation-Telematics-and-Digital-Entertainment.aspx to know more about iSuppli’s ‘Navigation, Telematics & Digital Entertainment’ services.

Cadillac releases the 2009 Escalade Hybrid offering drivers both luxury and performance, without the sacrifice of fuel efficiency. Many hybrid SUVs are built with a slightly smaller body than the regular models, but the Escalade Hybrid maintains its full size without compromising its performance. The new Cadillac Escalade Hybrid will keep all the power of the regular Escalade, built with a 332 hp V8 engine, which has enough power to tow 5800 pounds in rear wheel drive; or 5600 pounds in four wheel drive.

This powerful beast has the estimated city driver getting around 20 miles per gallon, in which Cadillac boasts is more than comparable with the mileage on other smaller model vehicles, such as the 2008 BMW X3 or the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The hybrid features will include auto stop, electric power, and regenerative braking. Auto stop shuts off engine power while stopped, or when in traffic, in which helps reduce fuel emissions. Electric power kicks in during lower speeds, and it powers the vehicle through the combination of a 300v battery pack that is built in electric motors. Finally, with the new regenerative braking, it will restore some of the energy that is normally lost through braking in traffic, and it will be redirected to charge the electric battery. Continue reading ‘Cadillac Revamps The Concept Of Hybrids’ »