Audi 2011 A8 Will be The First Vehicle On the Road With Google Maps Navigation

In early 2010 Audi will be bringing the next generation of the A8 to the starting line. The new flagship and its online services further demonstrate the brand's proverbial Vorsprung durch Technik, by bringing a variety of Google services and information to the luxury sedan via the internet. The services will be available in selected markets.

The new A8 has set the bar at new heights with regard to multimedia technology. Its multimedia interface (MMI) navigation plus features among other innovations, a highly evolved operating concept incorporating a touchpad – known as MMI touch. Also included are an integrated hard disk for navigation, phone and audio data and a graphics processor capable of generating high-quality, three dimensional images. The MMI analyzes navigation data predictively, relaying information to the control units managing the automatic cruise control with Stop & Go, adaptive lights and the 8-speed tiptronic gearbox so that these systems can precisely adapt their function to conditions well in advance.

Equally state-of-the-art are the Audi online services which allow the new A8 to retrieve up-to-date information from the internet via the optionally integrated GPRS/EDGE modem in the MMI navigation plus. The user can search online with Google for points-of-interest directly from within the MMI, the versatile search engine accepting such free text search queries as "delicatessen" or "shoe boutique". The results are then displayed on the onboard map or used as destinations for route calculation.

Highly comfortable: Destination planning at home

The data connection enables a further comfortable feature. A8 customers can plan their navigation destinations in Google Maps or the Audi web portal at home or in the office and retrieve these on demand in the car.

In mid 2010 Audi will further enhance its suite of online services with a new UMTS modem. This enables faster data transfer as well as simultaneous voice and data connections, and allows Audi to set a world first with the integration of Google Earth in the MMI navigation plus. High resolution three-dimensional satellite and aerial imagery for the entire globe and a worldwide database of photos and information articles are only some of the fascinating new features. With Google Earth on the MMI's
8 inch LCD display the new Audi A8 allows its occupants to discover the world from above. The Google Earth imagery and 3D terrain model are combined with the detailed street network from the onboard navigation database as well as calculated routes in a seamless integration of online and offline content.

To use the new online services the customer simply needs to insert their SIM card in the MMI Navigation plus or pair their mobile phone with the MMI over the Bluetooth SIM-Access-Profile. Aside from the Customer's existing mobile phone data plan, no additional contracts are required.

First shown as a prototype with Google in January 2006 at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas/USA, the new online services can be experienced in the new A8 as a result of a close collaboration between Audi and Google development teams worldwide.

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Agent63 - 12/16/2009 3:22:14 PM

+1 Boost

Hey, it works! probably more reliable than the existing ones and many on the market.

zlives - 12/16/2009 3:51:05 PM

+1 Boost

great so not only can google see what you did on your puter but where you did it too...

PlanB - 12/16/2009 3:57:45 PM

+1 Boost

I know what I want for Christmas now.

1dott8 - 12/16/2009 4:01:29 PM

+1 Boost

google is taking over the world.

B7FAN - 12/17/2009 8:16:38 AM

+1 Boost

hey if they got the money why not

B7FAN - 12/17/2009 8:17:33 AM

+1 Boost

but i also could have sworn BMW already did that in the new 7

B7FAN - 12/17/2009 8:21:35 AM

+1 Boost

I stand corrected the new "refreshed" A8 is the first with google maps and the 7 series offers google services.

EL34 - 12/16/2009 10:19:32 PM

+2 Boost

The real auto is news is the UAW is dying.

DaHarder - 12/16/2009 6:41:15 PM

+5 Boost

As a DROID owner who uses Google Maps with turn-by=turn quite often, all I can say is - SWEET!

It's brilliant software that's always current, and works exactly as advertised every single time.

EL34 - 12/16/2009 10:18:44 PM

+2 Boost

If I was in the market for one of the big German cars I would choose the Audi A8 and that sweet audio system.

jeffgall - 12/16/2009 11:22:34 PM

+2 Boost

Ouch!!! Using AT&T and/or TMobile in the U.S. Thats going to be a rough expirience with their data network constantly going out.

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 12/17/2009 3:58:00 AM

0 Boost

OH

From my experience driving the Interstates in the US; NY to FL, FL to TX, NY to ON {As in Canada}, The only network that had coverage almost all the time was T-Mobile, my other phones AT&T and Cingular were almost always Out of Signal.

AutoSupplies - 12/17/2009 4:11:02 AM

0 Boost

I hope the RS5 picks this up

LexSucks - 12/17/2009 10:46:40 AM

-1 Boost

Great news!! Especially when you consider that fact that Audi was the very last brand to offer a Nav system with a visible map here in the US. They had some stupid screen with arrows suggesting direction all the way up until 2004. LOL!!

t_bone - 12/17/2009 3:02:01 PM

+1 Boost

I'm OK with it unless they remove the database files from the nav and rely 100% on internet access.

LexSucks - 12/17/2009 3:57:45 PM

+2 Boost

Relying 100% on internet access? are you for real?

Relying on internet access to display your current vehicle position can be iffy and not preferable to a locally stored solution. We all know that the internet can be slow at times. I have a Smartphone that has a NAV app that relies on internet access, it sucks and isn’t able to refresh (get the data) fast enough to display the current vehicle position at times. My sat/dvd based unit never did this. And what if you are in a poor coverage area (like most rural areas)? You won’t be able to use the NAV at all in those situations because a 3g connection wouldn't be available. Wireless Internet access isn't available for all of the country. Some areas dont have it yet.

I’d rather have a DVD with yearly updates. That way you wont have to reply on a iffy Broadband connection to use the NAV. Not to mention that the internet based solutions will cost money every month, while the sat based units do not require a service or subscription.

2ndbimmer - 12/18/2009 10:42:23 AM

+1 Boost

I like using the google maps feature in my BMW. Its nice to be able to email my car driving directions and when you zoom out a bit, it shows the satellite images provided by google. So, when im bored at work, I just think of places I may go and have sent about 50 places to my car. Its good use of downtime.