Audi plans to be the first automaker to offer Google Earth enabled navigation for the U.S. market when it begins selling the 2011 A8 next year.
As LeftLane reported back in 2006, VW had promised to have something in the works to bring Google Earth generated 3D mapping in the near future. Now, some three years later VW has finally delivered via their Audi brand’s flagship sedan.
In order to make the addition of web-based Google Earth possible, Audi will be turning the all-new A8 into a mobile Wi-Fi connection via high-speed cellular connection. This connection will allow the vehicle to download the data and images directly to the vehicle real-time.
Jens Redmer and Weiland Holfielder of Google Germany explained in a blog post the many features of this sytem beyond simply downloading destinations. This system will display 3-D satellite images, topographic details and Wikipedia tags and Panaramio photographs of popular tourist locations.
Unlike DVD or hard-drive based navigation systems, all features and content in the Google Earth navigation system will be capable of being updated online.
Honda too had reported something in the works for the Google Earth technology, but there are no known products desitned for U.S. soil with that technology at this time.
