We're guessing it won't be the tipping point that finally convinces you to buy an Audi A8, but it looks like those in the market for the car will be able to add a nice little option to the 2011 model: a
built-in nav system complete with Google Earth and a GPRS / EDGE modem. Yeah, so it's not 3G, but it is apparently the first time that Google Earth has been made available in a production vehicle, which certainly counts for something. In addition to serving up various Google-sourced points of interest, that modem will also let you download a range of other up-to-date information to the nav unit, although it's not clear exactly what that will entail. No word on how much it'll add to the cost of the A8, but it looks like it won't be available right when the car rolls out early next year -- Audi is only saying "mid 2010" at the moment.
Update: As some commenters have helpfully noted, it seems that while the A8 won't initially roll out with 3G, it will be getting a UMTS modem in mid 2010, which should provide the bandwidth necessary for Google Earth and allow for simultaneous voice and data connections.
posted December 16th 2009 7:08PM
Autoblog
this car is in my top 5 list of realistic dream cars
@bigdonny
Lol
@bigdonny
You sure you don't mean R8?
@Streetfights yes i'm sure, thats why i said realistic
Audi's are so sick. Their sport sedans (i.e. S4) are a little heavy for my taste. About 400 pounds over the BMW M3 Sedan. But that AWD adds weight.
@Agent007 In the past the Audi S4 didn't stand up to the BMW M3, but with the 2010 it's a totally different story. I would love to have an S4, but I love my A4 3.0 Quattro with the sport suspension package. I've driven faster cars, but until you experience Audi Quattro you haven't really driven a real car.
@dfreeindy
drive an UR quattro, :D nothing hums like that turbo 5
@Agent007
I agree with you. Also, the engine sits too far forward, upsetting the balance. However, Audi has hit a design stride recently and their cars are starting to make BMW and Merc sweat a little.
Now only if I had $90k to part with.
@(Unverified) Do yourself a favor and don't ever test drive an Audi unless you are ready to buy it because there's no way you will walk away without a hefty car payment. Trust me. :)
I'm shocked no one is commenting on it only being EDGE and not 3G. Loading google maps on my G1 when only using EDGE was horrible. It was barely fast enough to keep up with my car and I don't drive a sports car so imagine keeping up with the speed of an R8! :P
@sintricate
I totally agree, like WTF??? $100,000 car and all you get is EDGE?! LMFAO!!!
Audi + 2011 + $100k (should) = 3G if not HSPA+
@sintricate
Engadget didn't RTFA and got it wrong. the current model uses EDGE, but the 2011 model will incorporate 3G. From the press release:
"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."
@sintricate
Dude...the R8 and A8 are two TOTALLY different cars...
@sintricate even the 6GHZ DECT phone won't work together with the same brand Gigaset I brought from EU!
@Plazmic Flame I agree, though my guess is the price of the vehicle is going into nerdgasmic technology like, say i dunno, night vision lane assist and pedestrian detection.
Changing to 3G or whatever is probably trivial and won't affect the price much.
@Warren
Yes, I now see I made that mistake. That doesn't take away from my point but it does prove I messed up lol
@sintricate Its called cache. Trust me when I say I'm pretty sure this thing has a better CPU and better storage then a G1. If the system is caching 20 miles around what is currently visible there shouldn't be a problem. Hell Google Earth caches up to 2GB of storage on its own. If this thing had a 30GB drive, SSD?, then it would not have to call home to mama if it goes back to a similar location.
Probably is Edge so they don't have to create different versions for different countries/carriers.
@PeterFnet
You can support multiple 3G bands in the same chipset. I don't think that's the issue. Phones do it all the time (otherwise, they too would need to build multiple versions in a GSM flavor). The only oddball is T-Mobile 3G (or AWS to be more proper), which uses 1700Mhz, and there are no chipsets that support both 1700Mhz and AT&T 3G at 1900Mhz.
@Jeff Kibuule
T-Mobile 3G 1700MHz
AT&T 3G 1900MHz.
EU 3G 900MHz
Not really that easy. I wish it was!! I'd just import my HTC phones from EU when they first come out if they'd work on US 3G. I'd still expect a high end car maker to support different 3G freqs though
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSM_frequency_bands
Got to resepct the persistence of Google - They're Everywhere Now!
Got to respect the persistence of Google - They're Everywhere Now!
love my Audi to death ('04 S6)
but with GPRS and EDGE you're not doing simultaneous voice and data...
@VLangs I love my '04 A4 3.0 Quattro.
Ugh...so sexy
Since when does EDGE/GPRS allow for simultaneous voice and data...
Transporter might like it.
EDGE is on the CURRENT model. The 2011 model that will have google earth is 3G. I realize this is a blog, but jesus, wouldn't seeing EDGE in 2011 prompt you to read the press release? maybe just a little?
@kempcross
Amen.
@kempcross 3G already exists mainstream for some years... Why the "current" still use Edge? (If it was able to go faster than 300kph I would understand... but oh well)
Wow! it's like staring into the future - if this was 2005. Seriously, it's hard to get excited about car toys that are ancient tech bundled for the un-initiated to get fleeced over. Sad. I was lucky enough to be speccing my new Porsche Boxster a while back and was offered a Porsche bluetooth phone option for ...wait for it...£700. Declined and had them fit an integrated Sony one for £120 all in. Even muted the Hi-Fi for incoming calls, mike for voice activation and fitted by the same Porsche call-out tech that would stick screens into the back of Cayennes. Girlfriend has a Mazda with iPod, Sat and other stuff as standard - you think BMW or Audi's Sat and iPod is worth 5X Mazda's?
we all knew its gonna happen, i wud only expect it to come out with audi, since audi leads in car infotainment advance for sometime now. MMI 3.0 has the best features I have ever used. i'm in Love my Q5. AND in a weird sense, audi is like the apple in car makers.
@dUN Oh, please don't say that. I love my Audi but HATE Apple.
@dfreeindy Amen! I loove my 2006 Audi A4 quattro S-line and I despise where Apple is going as a company although I do enjoy my ipod classic while driving.
@dUN Completely agree! Probably why I like Audis so much.
In the "useless trivia" department, I find it a little funny that the map shows the car only around a couple hundred meters from the furthest you can drive into Venice, Italy. It's almost better to have Google Water there :)
Absolutely fascinating place, too.
I'm sorry to nitpick, but the update you just posted is STILL wrong. saying, "the A8 won't initially roll out with 3G, it will be getting a UMTS modem in mid 2010," along with the title, is still misleading. The new 2011 model of the A8 is being released in mid-2010 and will initially roll out with 3G. So please, update your title.
Audis are some of the most-boring cars on the face of the planet. A real man, and gadget-lover drives a motorized bar stool.
Audi... Tell me what's the point ?
Your flagship car gets :
Edge-only = is HSDPA that more expensive on a +90kUSD car ?
Earth = I'd rather get GoogleMaps Navigation ! Earth would be unusable
Hi,
i think BMW was first with connected Drive and Google Maps support (built in Modem).
http://www.bmw.de/de/de/insights/technology/connecteddrive/assist_faq.html (sry German source) but found an uk review
http://www.trustedreviews.com/car-tech/review/2009/04/28/BMW-330d-M-Sport-With-ConnectedDrive/p4
@morsch Oh no, its about google earth. Sry
"No word on how much it'll add to the cost of the A8..." I'm pretty sure if you are already buying an A8, you don't care. What's that old saying? "If you have to ask, you can't afford it."
I have this in my Infiniti FX for more than a year now, running 3G in the East Bay Area, CA.
Check this out: Google Earth, Google Maps, Traffic, all running in my carputer, with a 7" display in the overhead console:
http://www.carfaq.org/member-modifications-b25/carputer-on-the-fx/msg1012712/#msg1012712
I sold my 03 A4 3.0 and now i miss it...Audi's are the best will buy one again someday.