In-Car Navigation A Reality
March 14 2005
To the motoring/news editor
For immediate release
In-car navigation a reality
VDO Dayton Sat Nav to be launched at National Motor Show
CAPTION: Former All Black, Bull Allen, never had any trouble finding his way to the try line but admits struggling with
a map book from time to time. “The VDO Dayton Nav system is incredibly simple to use, and I’m amazed at how accurate the
mapping and directions are,” says Allen. “I spend a lot of time travelling around the country, and Sat Nav’s proved
invaluable.”
You’re in a strange city late at night, the weather is appalling and visibility is poor. You can't find your way to your
motel, there's no safe place to pull over and check a map, and you haven't seen a road sign for several blocks.
Meanwhile, your daughter borrowed your car and has been out visiting friends. It's dark, she's lost, and her cellphone
battery's gone flat.
Both scenarios have the potential for disaster, but with in-car satellite navigation that motel, or the safety of home,
is just a push of a button away.
Thanks to the combined efforts of VDO Dayton and mapping company GeoSmart, Sat Nav has finally become a reality for New
Zealand motorists, bringing with it a host of road safety and convenience benefits.
VDO Dayton Nav systems, which is part of the widely-respected and industry-leading Siemens VDO Automotive multinational
company, will be available as a dealer option by leading new car companies.
Holden, Honda, Kia, Peugeot, Mitsubishi, Ssanyong and Nissan have embraced the Sat Nav technology, and their dealerships
throughout New Zealand will be offering integrated VDO Dayton as an optional accessory.
BMW New Zealand was the first company to launch VDO Dayton Sat Nav onto the local market, and Ford New Zealand is also
committed to in-car navigation.
In-car Sat Nav is an integrated electronics system that instantly and continuously pinpoints a vehicle's location using
a minimum of three, and up to five, satellites.
Using GeoSmart’s “SmartNAV” mapping CD that’s supplied with the VDO Dayton hardware, and signals from the satellites,
the system automatically plots the required route and guides the driver - using a combination of audible and visual
instructions - to the required destination.
There's even a 'home' button that will direct the drive home, turn by turn, from anywhere in New Zealand.
In-car Sat Nav uses a VDO display screen, or where possible the vehicle's colour screen, to show a map and clear
on-screen guidance symbols. These are combined with pleasant spoken instructions, and when Sat Nav is fully integrated,
work in conjunction with the vehicle's factory in-car audio system.
The driver keys in his or her destination with a remote control. Important locations such as airports, banks, petrol
stations and car parks can be selected from an alphabetical list, as well as a comprehensive list of points of interest.
The screen then gives various options, such as 'fastest route' or 'shortest route'.
Sat Nav instantly plots the route, and you can see a map that has a zoom in/zoom out function.
Once underway you follow your progress on a map, while straight-ahead or left and right arrows, and voice instruction,
progressively advise of any upcoming turns.
Miss an instruction and Sat Nav will ask you to make a u-turn, when safe to do so. If no u-turn is made, Sat Nav then
plots a revised course.
It's a seamless, integrated and user-friendly system.
An additional add-on to the product is the NZ Automobile Association Travel Guide that includes accommodation, eating
out, shopping, activities and much more. The guide contains detailed information and photos that can be searched under a
web browser environment that’s part of the Sat Nav system.
NZ Automobile Association Travel Guide is contained in the SmartNAV CD and is accessed via an additional one-off
purchase that can be made at any time.
Unlike cheaper portable generic GPS systems that rely solely on satellites for positioning, the dealer-installed VDO
Dayton Sat Nav also features a gyro and is connected to the vehicle’s speed sensor.
This is known as a 'dead reckoning' system.
Even with the satellite communication turned off, VDO Dayton Sat Nav can still accurately pinpoint the vehicle's
location using the gyro, speed sensor and in-built digitised mapping.
This feature is critical as satellite communication is often lost in built-up areas with high-rise buildings such as
central Auckland, and when going through tunnels or in undercover car parks.
You can see VDO Dayton in-car navigation in action at the National Motor Show, Mystery Creek, Hamilton, March 18 to 20.
The VDO Dayton Sat Nav display will feature a Ford Falcon XR8, Holden Commodore and Mitsubishi Pajero Exceed petrol with
integrated Sat Nav. A Civic on Honda New Zealand's display will feature Sat Nav, as will a 307 on Peugeot's stand.
You can also find out more about VDO Dayton Sat Nav by visiting www.satnav.co.nz
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