Press Kit: 2009 Dodge Journey Launch

Auburn Hills, Mich. January 31, 2008 - The all-new 2009 Dodge Journey offers a variety of innovative technologies and entertainment features designed to make the driver’s journey more enjoyable, including an iPod Interface using Universal Customer Interface (UCI), a cutting-edge MyGIG™ multimedia audio and entertainment system and Uconnect® Hands-free Communications system.

“The all-new 2009 Dodge Journey offers customers a full range of technologies designed to meet their entertainment and communication wants and needs, as well as technologies that will make every day driving a pleasure, “ said Jennifer Applebee, Senior Manager – Feature and Innovation Strategy, Chrysler LLC. “From innovative entertainment features to customer-friendly features such as YES Essentials® and our Chill Zone™ cooled beverage storage bin, Dodge Journey is loaded with advanced technologies and features.”

iPod Interface
The Dodge Journey offers a UCI connector located in the glove box. This allows an iPod to be plugged into the vehicle’s sound system to play music through the vehicle’s speakers, charge/recharge the iPod when the ignition is on, display artists and music choices on the radio and pause play when the UConnect system receives a phone call. The iPod can be controlled through the radio controls and the remote steering wheel switches (if the vehicle is so equipped).

Tuning in to MyGIG
The Dodge Journey is available with a variety of audio systems, including the innovative MyGIG multimedia navigation, audio, entertainment and communication system. Journey owners can use touch screen or voice commands to control MyGIG’s features. The system also includes a 30-gigabyte hard drive for owners to store their favorite music, photos and voice messages.

Chrysler LLC also is the first automaker to offer an integrated music jukebox, supported by Gracenote™ music-file management in North America. This adds song, artist and album information to the music files automatically. In addition to the navigation software and mapping, the hard drive can hold approximately 2,400 songs, which equals more than 150 hours of music. There also is a voice-memo recorder feature, which allows a message up to 3 minutes long to be recorded using the microphone integrated into the rearview mirror so Journey owners can leave themselves convenient reminders. Available through SIRIUS Satellite Radio, MyGIG also supports real-time traffic and can even provide re-route navigation based on current traffic patterns.

MyGIG’s voice dialogue system recognizes more than 100,000 words and is capable of learning and growing. The navigation has both 2-D and 3-D bird’s-eye views of roads and multiple route calculation. Maps and guidance are displayed on 7-inch VGA Thin-Filament-Transistor (TFT) display. The TFT screen uses active matrix for viewing from angles up to 180 degrees—perfect for the center of an instrument panel.

All of Journey’s available radio head units feature a 3.5-mm audio input jack for easy connection to any MP3 player. The base audio system offers six speakers, AM/FM stereo and CD playback. An available, premium Sound System with six Infinity speakers plus subwoofer and eight-channel amplifier delivers excellent sound quality and loudness with improved amplification and sound clarity. An optional radio head features an integrated six-disc CD/DVD changer and also can play back CDs with MP3 and WMA files. Loading the changer with CDs or discs full of MP3-formatted music provides thousands of miles worth of music.

Video Entertainment System (VES)
The Dodge Journey also offers a rear-seat video entertainment system (VES). This system allows Dodge Journey’s rear seat passengers to enjoy movies, music and external audio/video devices such as video games and MP3 players. The system consists of a console-mounted DVD player with an 8-inch LCD screen, a battery-powered remote control and two wireless, multichannel headsets. The system will play DVDs, WMAs, MP3s and audio and video CDs. Additionally, auxiliary input jacks on the faceplate show video directly from a video device, so Journey’s rear seat passengers can play games from a video game console or listen to music directly from a portable MP3 player.

When the Journey’s VES system is not playing a video, the video screen displays information in a split screen format, with two channels. The VES remote control is designed to control either channel by the use of a selector switch on the control. The headphones are designed to listen to either channel by use of the selection switch located on the right ear cup. Using the included dual channel wireless headphones allows rear passengers to listen to two different sources simultaneously. The audio from the VES can be heard through either the Journey’s speaker system, the wireless headphones, or both.

UConnect Hands-free Communication System
UConnect uses Bluetooth® technology to provide wireless communication between the customer’s compatible mobile phone and the vehicle’s onboard receiver. The UConnect control buttons are integrated into the Journey’s radio head unit.

UConnect features include: 

• Voice dialing: Voice commands may be used to digit-dial the phone or access pre-stored voice tags
• Audio address book: Thirty-two names, four numbers per name, for a total of 128 phone numbers can be stored in the system 
• Emergency calls and towing assistance: Voice command dials 911 or towing assistance 
• Audio-system mute: Mutes the microphone for privacy 
• Call transfer: Allows the customer to transfer a call from the vehicle’s system to the mobile phone 
• Three language options: Provides English, French and Spanish language capabilities 
• Multi-phone recognition: Can recognize as many as seven phones that can be used within one Journey system

SIRIUS Satellite Radio
SIRIUS provides Journey customers with more than 130 channels, including 100-percent commercial-free music, as well as sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic and weather. SIRIUS also broadcasts live play-by-play games from the NFL, NBA and NHL and is the official satellite radio partner of the NFL. Journey owners also may stream SIRIUS programming through their home computers via a high-speed Internet connection at no additional charge.

Real-time traffic navigation is enabled by SIRIUS Satellite Radio. SIRIUS utilizes its nationwide satellite-radio broadcast capabilities to provide subscribers with updated traffic information where available, which is displayed on their navigation screen to help select the best available route.

In total, the all-new 2009 Dodge Journey offers the following features: 

• Available full-color, Global Positioning System (GPS) Map Navigation System with 7-inch display provides convenient directions and traffic alerts 
• Available ParkView Rear Backup Camera displays the view behind the vehicle in the navigation display when backing up or parking 
• Light-emitting Diode (LED) directional interior lighting with high-focus white lights in both the front and rear seats 
• Auxiliary audio input jack that provides MP3 connectivity on all Journey audio systems 
• Available Remote Start, which starts the engine from outside the vehicle via a button on the key fob when the vehicle is in park and locked 
• Available SIRIUS Digital Satellite Radio 
• Four 12-volt power points for powering small electronics 
• 150-watt, 115-volt power outlet for powering small electronics 
• Cabin air-filtration system 
• Sliding center console armrest 
• Available HomeLink universal garage door opener