lunapapa - Tell us about your NAV

[Tom H]

I just viewed some new pics in the photo gallery of the Black Saphire XC70 with a Panasonic Navigation System. I would like to no more about it and where it came from. You mentioned it as a Genuine Volvo HDD Navigation Option. Is it?

[Art]

Hi Tom,

Perhaps I can be of some help. I happened to meet lunapapa during my latest trip to Japan and even made arrangements to hand him his volvoXC.com decal in person. At the time, he spoke of trading in his current vehicle, a Toyota Harrier (aka Lexus RX300) for the new Saphire Edition XC70. :)

It appears as if the Panasonic HDD series (http://panasonic.jp/car/navi/products/HS400/) has been adopted as the car nav system of choice for Volvo of Japan, at least it was at the dealership that I visited in Nagoya City. Along side the wall of accessories, there was a large booth devoted to Panasonic’s newest nav system, the 400D. It has a built in 30G hard drive and a SD memory card slot with a 12G entertainment bank. The 400D is also available for installation in the new S40/V50 series. Unfortunately, it’s only for sale in Japan. :(

Cost of the 400D for a XC70 is 253,312 Yen or roughly $2400 USD.

Many of the Japanese XC members at the Nagoya GTG had similar 3D Panasonic HDD systems in their cars only with dash mounted displays.

Here are a few screen shots of a dash mounted HDD 400D. :cool:

http://volvolife.jp/volvo/s90/afterparts/carnavi/20040904_day_640.jpg
http://volvolife.jp/volvo/s90/afterparts/carnavi/20040903_evening_640.jpg
http://volvolife.jp/volvo/s90/afterparts/carnavi/20040903_night_640.jpg
http://volvolife.jp/volvo/s90/afterparts/carnavi/20040919_mp3_music_640.jpg

[Tom H]

Thanks Art. That is one good looking Nav system. It looks like lunapapa's system is after market because of the odd mounting bezel that sits atop the dash speaker grill. I wonder if Panasonic has plans to market the HDD in the U.S. anytime soon. I've been a fan of Garmin GPS for a long time but they still don't make a 3D version. Do you know if lunapapa's display retracts into the dash like the standard Volvo factory system? It looks like it may based on where it's located on his dash.

[pting]

Holy smokes 3D map display! Do all the new nav systems do that now? And can I get it on my cell phone?

I can see why it's in high demand.

[TrueBlue]

(3D) Isn't that what TomTom does? All you need is a PDA with an inbuilt phone, then I guess you've got what you want.

[vtie]

Holy smokes 3D map display! Do all the new nav systems do that now? And can I get it on my cell phone?

I can see why it's in high demand.

Most of the new high end, exchangeable ones have 3D maps these days (Garmin, Navman, Magellan, Tomtom)

[Art]

Thanks Art. That is one good looking Nav system. It looks like lunapapa's system is after market because of the odd mounting bezel that sits atop the dash speaker grill. I wonder if Panasonic has plans to market the HDD in the U.S. anytime soon. I've been a fan of Garmin GPS for a long time but they still don't make a 3D version. Do you know if lunapapa's display retracts into the dash like the standard Volvo factory system? It looks like it may based on where it's located on his dash.

I happened to snag an official Volvo/Panasonic brochure from the display booth during a brief stop at the Nagoya Volvo dealership. Below are some pics that I took of the 400D as it appears in the brochure for the S60/V70/XC70 and S40/V50 series ...right drive naturally. ;)

Can’t say for sure whether or not lunapapa’s display is retractable Tom. Judging by the information provided in the brochure, it’s likely the Panasonic units are stationery since nothing about this is ever mentioned.

The Panasonic systems are truly remarkable. During a ride in one of the XC’s that was present at the Nagoya meet, I found myself gazing at the animated 3D likenesses of bridges, buildings even traffic lights that we passed along the way. Instead of a using a regular cursor, an image of a car is even used to guide you to your destination. :cool:

http://www.xc70.com/pics/albums/userpics/Panasonic%20400D%20Nav%20System%20%28Side%20View%2 9.jpg
http://www.xc70.com/pics/albums/userpics/Panasonic%20400D%20Nav%20System%20%28V50%2CS40%29. jpg