Press Kit: 2004 Chrysler Pacifica Launch

Chrysler Pacifica Offers DVD-Based Navigation System

Auburn Hills February 16, 2003 -

  • Keeps Eyes on the Road

  • System Safely and Conveniently Housed in Center of Instrument Panel

  • Cleverly Packaged with Eight Different Ways to Seek Destinations

Driver safety and customer-friendly features were top-of-mind when Chrysler Group engineers designed the innovative new DVD-based navigation system for the 2004 Chrysler Pacifica.

The navigation system's display is conveniently located in the instrument cluster - within the speedometer, making it easy to read and safe to use, day or night. The Pacifica is the first Chrysler Group vehicle to offer a factory-installed, DVD-based navigation system.

"We went straight to Chrysler Group customers to ask what they were looking for in a navigation system," said Mike Evans, Vice President of Product Planning. "Not surprisingly, they wanted a system that was safe and simple to operate, in the driver's general line of sight, and loaded with practical features. Pacifica's navigation system hits the mark in all categories."

The navigation system includes a small button pad located to the right of the instrument cluster, within easy reach of the driver. Inputting a destination by address, phone number or points of interest category selections are easily accomplished by following the user-friendly screen prompts. The system allows full access to input information when the vehicle comes to a complete stop, however, certain tasks are purposely limited while the vehicle is in motion.

For instance, programmable options such as editing the personal address book or inputting a new address are unavailable until Pacifica comes to a complete stop for safety reasons. Prior destinations, emergency locations (hospitals, police and fire departments) and previously stored address book locations may be selected at any time. The navigation system also works with the vehicle's audio system to deliver voice commands so that the driver may keep his or her eyes on the road.

Chrysler Group selected Alpine Electronics, a supplier of high-performance mobile electronics systems, to provide the navigation unit, GPS antenna, and map database information. The map database information is housed on a single DVD-ROM.

This single DVD solution contains mapping, points of interest, and business phone numbers throughout the United States (where digitized mapping data and information are available), which makes travel destination routing an easy step. The single DVD solution eliminates the need to handle and store multiple discs needed in CD-based solutions. In addition, route calculations may be made quickly due to Alpine's proprietary software algorithms that provide routing information within ten seconds. This becomes very important when a driver misses a turn and needs an immediate re-route.

The navigation system receives its GPS or global positioning system signals from up to eight satellites. A gyroscope and the vehicle's speed sensor enable the system to display the present vehicle position even in locations where a GPS signal may not be available. When a destination is entered, the navigation system uses data from the DVD to quickly calculate a route. As the user drives, pictorial displays and voice command prompts serve as guides.

The navigation system is another example of Chrysler Pacifica's clever packaging, and underscores how Chrysler Pacifica is a fresh alternative in the premium vehicle market," said Evans.

Navigation System Buttons

Up/Down/Left/Right:

Selects menu options and destination entry. Also enables you to change scale of map

  • Enter: Confirms selections and changes map scale

  • Nav: Activates the system. Also used to access the main menu.

  • Cancel: Backs up one screen, allows cancellation of the existing route guidance and turns off system

  • Navigation System Features

Destinations may be selected from eight categories:

  • Address: Enter address

  • Intersection: Enter two cross street names

  • Point of Interest (POI): Select a destination from a list of locations and public places, which are grouped by category

  • Recent Route: Choose from one of the 10 most recent route calculations entered

  • Personal Address Book: Select an entry from the personal address book

  • Phone Number: Use a business phone number to find the route to the location

  • Vehicle's Home Location: Provides a quick and easy method to calculate a route from the vehicle's current location to the home location

  • Location Selected from Map Display: Select directly from the map or point of interest

  • Re-route: This function allows a search by the quickest, minimum or maximum freeway, and minimum toll routes

  • Trip Itinerary: Calculates the most efficient route to multiple destinations

  • Personal Phone Number and Address Book: Allows user to store more than 100 entries

  • Map Scale and Map Scrolling: Use arrow buttons to zoom map in and out. Press the desired arrow button and the map scrolls in designated direction

  • Language and Unit of Measure: Display and voice prompt may be set for English, Spanish or French as well as metric or U.S. units of measure Map and/or Turn-by-Turn

  • Directions: The route may be displayed via map, turn arrows or both




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