AVIC-N2 next gen car navigation/multimedia system

The AVIC-N2 from Pioneer may be the most advanced in-car navigation and entertainment system on the market. The motorized, 6.5" touch screen display puts everything at your fingertips, including memory navigation (with route guidance, electronic mapping and points of interest), DVD video, multimedia audio/video, a rear camera and even a virtual dashboard to monitor your vehicle's performance all in one device for approximately US $2,200. The screen even folds away, allowing the driver to follow voice prompts to their final destination once they have the hang of it.

The AVIC-N2 is meant to replace the existing in-dash car radio as a solution for drivers who spend more time than ever in their vehicles and update the AVIC-N1 model (show here in the main picture). The system offers step-by-step instructions to get from point A to point B, with a choice of multiple different routes and millions of points of interest, alternate routes to avoid traffic jams and a full entertainment package.

"Consumer acceptance of navigation has grown dramatically - 63 percent year to date. We're responding to consumer demand by adding and combining unique features that are most important to drivers today," said Michael Townsen, vice president of marketing for mobile entertainment at Pioneer. "The AVIC-N2 bridges technologies and features never seen before in a single product."

Consumers may indeed be hungry for GPS style navigation units in the ir vehicles, and manufacturers are happy to give it to them. Recent gizmag articles have looked at the Sanyo HDD Gorilla as well as a car navigation system with 3D aerial imagery, but the The AVIC-N2 from Pioneer is state of the art and blows all other models off the dash.

Some of the key highlights include:

The Navigation System

The AVIC-N2 provides accurate detailed route guidance for the entire United States and Canada including Alaska and Hawaii. Within seconds, the system's extremely fast processor calculates multiple routes and provides directions to any destination via electronic map and voice prompts.

Powered by TeleAtlas mapping, the system uses a massive 12-million points of interest (POI) database with more than 248 different categories so consumers can search for the nearest gas station, ATM or restaurant. As users are guided along their route, points of interest are overlaid onto the map, which is particularly helpful when driving in unfamiliar areas. Utilizing 7.5MB of flash memory, the system can store miles of mapping information allowing users to utilize its internal disc drive for audio or video entertainment to play DVD movies for back seat passengers or listen to an audio compact disc. Further aiding drivers, the AVIC-N2 guidance screens are graphically enhanced to look like highway exit signboards, communicating visual directions quickly and safely. Users can choose from five enhanced modes that can be displayed on the screen, including a standard map view mode, a driver's view mode (3-D view of map), a route view mode (split screen between map and list of upcoming streets) and a rear view split screen (split screen between rear camera view and overhead map).

Traffic Data

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