News Release：Pioneer to Launch New HDD-based "CYBER NAVI" Car Navigation Systems in Japan

AVIC-ZH990MD

AVH-P7DV    +    AVIC-H990

May 11, 2005, Tokyo, Japan - Pioneer Corporation announced today that new HDD-based CYBER NAVI car navigation systems, AVIC-ZH990MD, AVIC-ZH990, AVIC-XH990, and AVIC-H990, will be available between late May and middle June 2005 in Japan. The AVIC-ZH990MD and AVIC-ZH990 are 2DIN-type DSP-control AV navigation auto servers with a built-in 7-inch wide touch-screen TV. The AVIC-XH990 is a 1DIN-type navigation auto server with an on-dash 7-inch wide touch-screen TV. The AVIC-H990 is a 1DIN-type navigation auto server (without a monitor). The suggested retail prices are ¥367,500, ¥346,500, ¥304,500, and ¥210,000 (including tax), respectively.

In 2003, Pioneer first introduced the Agent function into its HDD-based Cyber Navi car navigation systems, a new concept in car navigation that automatically tracked and stored the preferences and driving/operating patterns of individual drivers. In the 2004 Cyber Navi lineups, the company realized a high-class combination of navigation, audio and video functions by adding innovative new functions such as Traffic Congestion Forecast and Feeling Play.

In the 2005 Cyber Navi models, Pioneer has further advanced the Agent feature by adopting new functions, such as On-demand VICS and Route Equalizer, and upgrading the removable Brain Unit (the car computer section + HDD). Especially, the new Brain Unit employs PC Link function, which enables users to connect the Brain Unit to their PC and transfer the stored music tracks or location data found on the website to the Brain Unit at home. That means that the new Brain Unit has further enhanced home-use convenience in Pioneer Cyber Navi car navigation systems.

Main features

1 ) High-accuracy traffic congestion forecasts and route preference options produce more attractive drive plans.

Better routes can be found and driving time more accurately estimated with state-of-the art data analysis features that not only utilize information such as On-demand VICS and Traffic Congestion Forecast, but also take into account the type and width of the roads as well as the number of traffic lights or railroad crossings along the way. Additional features such as Route Equalizer and Drive Planner enable the driver to tailor route searches according to individual preferences.

• On-demand VICS^*1 (New)
  By using mobile phones, CF-based communications cards or other communications terminals, as well as a Living Kit, the VICS traffic congestion information can be obtained from the server for the On-demand VICS service even when FM VICS or beacon data cannot be received.
• Traffic Congestion Forecast
  This function utilizes the congestion forecast data ^*2 stored in the HDD, which has been processed statistically based on huge quantities of past congestion data by using congestion factors such as seasons, days of the week, holiday periods, and time. The new forecast data, covering three-consecutive holiday information newly added, has further improved traffic congestion forecast accuracy at various driving scenes.
• Route Equalizer (New)
  The driver can search for routes based on specific preferences by adjusting five parameters: Time Priority, Distance Priority, Lowest Cost, Main Route Priority, and Learning Priority.
• Drive Planner
  This function generates and manages a detailed driving plan, considering the driver's preferences and current conditions:
  • When the driver simply enters specific information, such as the date, time, companions and destination, the Drive Planner automatically suggests driving plans that include the best places to visit and best route with less congestion, based on the congestion forecast data.
  • If the driver specifies the desired arrival time to the destination, the Drive Planner calculates the departure time and proposes comfortable driving plans utilizing the Traffic Congestion Forecast and other functions.

2 ) Upgraded music server functions offer new ways of enjoying music.

The Feeling Play automatically selects and plays the music in accordance with the musical mood that the driver chooses. When the Auto Mode, newly employed, is selected, a track automatically changes to playback in accordance with changes in driving conditions such as the road, weather^*3, and time range of day. This allows the driver to enjoy a more relaxing environment while driving.

3 ) Home-use functions have been vastly improved with PC Link to the Brain Unit.

The Brain Unit, comprising the car computer unit and built-in 30GB HDD as the central section of the Cyber Navi systems, can be removed from the system's main unit. The Brain Unit then can be connected to a PC via a USB interface for downloading data from the Internet or updating map data over a broadband connection.

• PC Link^*4 (New)
  At home, the Brain Unit (inserted into the Living Kit) can be connected via a USB interface to a PC. After downloading the free Navi Studio^*5 from the Pioneer website, music tracks in WMA or MP3 format^*6 stored in the PC, or data on locations found on the Internet (linked with MapFan.net^*7 Internet map software), can be transferred and stored in the Brain Unit. Of course, the music and map data stored in the Brain Unit can be used at home as well as in the car.
• Updates^*8 via broadband connection
  The users can download the latest map data at home via a broadband connection^*9 to the Living Kit.
• Auto Track Separation during Analog Recording (New)
  When the Brain Unit is connected to a stereo component or other audio unit to record music in analog format from MD or other media, the Auto Track Separation feature automatically detects non-signal parts and separates the tracks. A single album is thus not recorded as a single track but with all its tracks individually identified so that users can select just the tracks they want to hear.

4 ) AVIC-H990 offers flexibility in system construction to enjoy full A/V functionality when combined with newly-introduced DVD Main Units.

When combined with the AVH-P9DVAII or AVH-P7DV, 1-DIN DVD main unit with a 7-inch wide touch-screen TV (both being released around late May), the AVIC-H990 can be developed into a full-featured 1DIN+ 1DIN A/V system. Car navigation functions can also be operated from the main DVD unit's touch-screen panel.

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