Information Systems: Navigation

A five-inch Thin Film Transistor screen mounted in the instrument cluster projects color navigation information into the center of the speedometer. The information includes maps, turn identification, selection menus and instructions. The system includes a variety of choices for selecting destinations and routes.

The information is displayed in map format, as turn by turn instruction or a combination of the two. The system also provides audio prompts through the vehicle's audio system. The systems audio will override all other audio outputs, with the exception of the Hands Free Cell Phone, to the front speakers that are active at the same time. Spoken prompts are recordings of a human voice. The system uses a Global Positioning System (GPS) antenna mounted under the instrument panel to collect satellite data to compute the position of the vehicle. A navigation unit uses the satellite data to translate the vehicle location to latitude and longitude coordinates. It combines the latitude and longitude with proprietary map data from a DVD unit to perform all system calculations and display formatting. A single DVD disc contains map information for the entire United States. The DVD (navigation) unit is mounted in the covered floor storage compartment at the left rear of the vehicle.