Garmin demos futuristic sat-nav display inside Mercedes S-Class concept
In-car navigation HUDs may be safer than dash systems, but let's face it, they can't yet claim to be pretty. Enter Garmin's modular K2 infotainment system, which has been specially modified to suit the futuristic look of Mercedes' new 4.7-liter bi-turbo V8 Concept S-Class Coupé. Gone are the flat designs of old, replaced with Garmin's advanced 3D city models, which include parks, rivers, textured buildings and, of course, navigable roads. We don't know when or if Garmin's in-dash system will make it into a production model but Mercedes says its S-Class concept provides a "concrete vision" of its next generation car designs.
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Garmin® Provides Navigation with 3D City Models for Mercedes-Benz Concept Car at IAA 2013
OLATHE, Kan./September 12, 2013/Business Wire - Garmin® International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced a customized in-dash navigation system for the Mercedes-Benz Concept S-Class Coupé that will be showcased at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt (September 12-22, 2013). The Garmin navigation solution features advanced 3D city models, including navigable roads, parks, rivers, and textured buildings. Garmin provides software as well as the hardware that is based on the company's modular K2 infotainment platform. The Mercedes-Benz Concept Car will be on display at the Mercedes-Benz booth in the "Festhalle".
"We're thrilled that Mercedes-Benz chose Garmin to provide our next-generation navigation technology for their Mercedes-Benz Concept S-Class Coupé at IAA," said Matt Munn, Garmin managing director automotive OEM. "Being part of the future vision of a premium car brand like Mercedes-Benz is a testament to Garmin's leading position in the navigation space and our innovative infotainment platform technology."
The Garmin navigation graphics are fully customized to meet the design language of the Mercedes-Benz concept car. The system boasts advanced 3D city models, including landmarks, roads, bridges, tunnels and other content. Garmin's next-generation navigation core features industry-leading routing algorithms and road guidance.
Garmin's infotainment system for the Mercedes-Benz concept car leverages the same version of the K2 hardware platform and navigation core that Garmin revealed at CES 2013. The innovative K2 platform has been designed and developed by Garmin's automotive OEM group and is a fully customizable and scalable infotainment and navigation solution to meet the diverse needs of any car manufacturer.
In April 2013, Garmin announced that Daimler AG has selected Garmin as global navigation provider for future Mercedes-Benz models. Garmin's award-winning navigation will be fully integrated into Mercedes-Benz infotainment systems over the next years.
Garmin's automotive OEM group utilizes the company's long-standing experience in user interface and hardware design from its automotive, avionics and marine segments to develop innovative in-car navigation, telematics and infotainment systems. Garmin's broad range of in-vehicle electronics for the automotive industry includes full infotainment and telematics systems, navigation software, location-based services, and integrated portable navigation systems. Garmin has dedicated automotive OEM offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia.
