14 DAY TRIAL // A recent rumor attracted mass media's attention because it sustains that Apple signed a deal with Mercedes-Benz to create a brand new navigation system for all the car models included in the 2009 model. The German magazine Focus sustained that the product is exclusively addressed to Mercedes, other car producers being allowed to implement it after about 6 months from the initial release date. LeftLaneNews went even further and added that 2008 is the first year to bring the Mercedes cars equipped with Apple technology although the car producer is already testing the solution.
Obviously, the speculations are also related to the latest Apple products such as iPhone and iPods because they include revolutionary functions to migrate to an in-car system. Let's begin with the iPhone - Google Maps interoperability that would allow a car driver to choose a certain location with ease. Moreover, the touchscreen abilities would bring even more functionality to the product. However, it's not quite clear if the solution is based on the same Google Maps technology used by the famous iPhone, because the handheld device doesn't include GPS functions to support an in-car navigation system.
This is not the first time when Apple and Mercedes are partnering for innovative car technologies because in 2005, several cars added iPod support. Mercedes-Benz B-Class, A-Class, C-Class, E-Class, M-Class, CLK-Class, CLS-Class and SLK-Class, followed the Smart models and included several iPod features to enhance the driving experience. At that time, the technology was available as a stand-alone package, compared to the upcoming solution that will be included by default in the Mercedes cars, and which was valued at 183 euros. The supported iPods were included in the third generation models. Currently, there are no official statements or even approximate prices of the upcoming Mercedes cars.