If you've been warming to those OnStar assistants when dialing up to get directions, you've now got a couple more reasons to pretend that you're lost. The first enhancement to its existing turn-by-turn service is Destination Download, which essentially enables subscribers with screen-based NAV systems to have routes beamed in without the driver having to pull over and manually enter them. Moving on, we see the official rollout of the long-awaited eNav service, which allows motorists in "turn-by-turn navigation-capable vehicles" to find and save destinations on MapQuest.com; afterwards, the directions can be sent to the car's navigator. Lastly, XM NavTraffic is joining the fray in order to give OnStar users instant notification if there are any delays ahead in their planned route (and the ability to change course). Peep the read link for a video demonstration of the services, and click on through for the full release.

GM doesn't look to be letting the prospect of a huge chunk of its customer base disappearing stop it from rolling out enhancements to its Onstar service, with the company today announcing that it's struck a deal with MapQuest that'll see the two services linked up. Under the new arrangement, OnStar users will be able to plan out their trip on the MapQuest website and then follow along in their vehicle using OnStar's turn-by-turn audio navigation service, with them still able to call up the help of a live advisor if they really fall off course. Not everyone will be getting the expanded service to start with though, with a pilot program encompassing some 3,000 users planned for this summer, followed by a full roll-out later this year or next once they've gotten all the kinks worked out.