Chevrolet plans on introducing a clever solution to get satellite navigation into the subcompact Sonic and even smaller Spark for the 2013 model year here in North America through GogoLink what is now known as BringGo — a smartphone app that delivers full-on GPS navigation on 3-D maps and essentially streams through Chevy MyLink. No CDs, DVDs, or SD cards with map data required.
Yes, prospective 2013 Spark and Sonic buyers need a smartphone in order to utilize this feature, but GM estimates that as many as 90 percent of them already own such fancy pieces of technology.
BringGo navigation will include the following when it launches this fall on both the Sonic and Spark:
- Emergency information such as police, fire and the nearest hospital
- Thousands of points of interest
- Local Search via Google
- Where am I? locator
- Live traffic functionality provides crash reports and lane closures, and with alternative routes
- Ability to store native maps to the customer’s smartphone, giving them access to locations and turn-by-turn directions. This way, even when phone signal quality is poor, navigation is still possible.
We would have more hands-on details for you, but Chevy apparently doesn’t like us enough to invite us to their local media event not even an hour away.
Comments
Sounds like this could bite into OnStar’s market.
Aren’t all GPS systems on GM cars? Luckily, OnStar is evolving from the directional service it started as.
But MyLink uses your cell phone for navigation. Therefore, it’s “Good-Bye Directions and Connections: “Turn-by-Turn”.
I for one have always favored a screen based nav system over OnStar’s “Turn-by-Turn”.
Manoli, is it possible GM or Chevy is bitter because you haven’t had a good podcast to listen to since the last Ice age, I know I am…
Think I’ll be able to add this to my 2012 Sonic one day…? =(
You’re better off getting a Garmin to suction-cup onto the side of the windshield than hoping for that.