GM as a whole is behind the curve IMO in terms of implimentation of navigation as well as the abilities and specs of most of the nav systems that they do offer.

Honda/Acura has lead since 2003 IMO.

 

I think it went more like. Well we could give them the option and it would cost us nothing or we could NOT give them the option and it would cost us nothing. Ehh, let them have it as an option.

 

Even if 10% of Camaro buyers got it, it would be worth it to GM to offer it. Plus it makes Chevy as a company look good by offering the latest options. Add in Platform sharing (Camaro won't be the only Sigma-lite) and it would cost GM almost nothing to give the Camaro Nav.

For $800 I'd get the Nav option, that is my price point. MP3/WMA should be standard too on all GM CD players too. MP3 is a big reason I got an '05 Colorado instead of an '04.

If I buy a 1-2 year old used CTS in a few years instead of a Camaro I will be looking for the Nav option.

 

800???? Try 1200 to 1500!

 

I'll make a prediction that all cars redesigned from the ground up starting in the 2011 model year with the possible exception of super-budget cars like the Aveo or whatnot, will come with an LCD screen in the center stack. I'll also predict that these LCD screens will not necessarily include satellite navigation by default, and might possibly be missing some other new features as well. But the physical touchscreen as well as the ability to control a myriad of car features and monitor the various functions/maintenance status/etc of the car will be within the screen no matter what.

Why? Becasue it's already getting to the point that the additional cost of equipping ALL cars with an LCD screen instead of just nav-equipped models is almost as great as the cost and added complication of designing two seperate center stacks, setting up two seperate assembly lines/stations for them, two seperate parts bins, and double the required proficiency and troubleshooting skills of techs at the dealership too. Add an LCD screen to all models and reduce the design and production setup costs, while increasing the per unit production cost slightly, although at the same time tout it as an additional feature that the competition doesn't have.

The 2006+ Lexus GS for example has a nav screen in it no matter if you have nav or not. It's just without checking off the nav option you get all the functions except for the map and voice directions.

Again... give it 5 more years and then all cars redesigned from the ground up from that point forward I suspect will be as described above.

 

I think Threxx is right (god, I can't believe I just said that), except that I think it will take more than five years for that to trickle all of the way down.

 

Maybe Onstar was GMs cheap attempt at a navigation system.

 

lol

Well for what it's worth I can definitely see it taking a little longer than I predicted if we remain with LCD screens. If the industry embraces OLEDs sometime in the near future I think it could actually be sooner, as the cost of OLEDs could conceivably be even cheaper than just the standard center stacks. Then again you still have to give people physical buttons and such... but still.

 

A 7" 16x9 LCD touchscreen can already be had for just under $400. Thats in 1's, in bulk the discount is significantly cheaper. The cost to produce LCD displays drops every day. It's a no brainer that this is the next step. Especially since the trickle down effect will occur from higher end models just like with every other automotive tech. You are not really making a prediction as much as an observation

 

I'm looking forward to that. I just hope that they never try to do digital dashboards again.

I want six dial gauges on my gauge cluster (speed, tach, oil pressure, voltage, coolant temp, fuel), and I want an LCD screen in the center console with physical buttons along the sides. The screen should be tilted towards the driver just a little, but the viewing angle should be awesome.

I want the stereo to have absolutely nothing to do with the LCD screen (aside from DVD video functionality). HVAC and other stuff should be on the screen.

The computer responsible for running the LCD screen should have absolutely nothing to do with Microsoft.

-Jake

 

An observation is that of something that is currently happening. It has not happened yet and there are plenty of people whom I'm sure would disagree with the timing of my prediction, though not many who would disagree that it will eventually happen.

 

Personally, I would love a digital dashboard. I would love a configurable digital dash even more. Where the placement of the gauges could be customized on the fly(with the car in park!). The look, the font, bar graph, gauge or analog look could all be selected. The only problem would be brightness and reflections. Those problems could be corrected by using OLED in the future.

 

Trickle down.......it is happening the same way that windshield wiper delay eventually appeard on all cars. Everything starts at the top.

 

Sure... anyone could tell you that nav would trickle down, but how many would necessarily deduce or predict the use of nav screens without actual maps or nav connections in models where it isn't optioned? I've been saying that for a couple of years now even before it started showing up on a couple of high-end cars.

 

A couple of thoughts...

First, Camaro is a "guy's" car. Guys don't ask for directions!!!

Second, and much more seriously, if I'm not mistaken adding a nav system to Camaro's options list will ultimately cost everyone who buys a Camaro whether they go for the system or not. Think about it, GM would have to design two different dashes....one with the hole and hardware for the system and one without...which costs money...which certainly gets passed on to the consumer somehow. Maybe Scott can chime in with thoughts.

I just think before we all get gung-ho about all the latest gadgets being on the next Camaro we should know all the facts. Mustang is not available with a nav system, correct?