Autoblog

Pioneer says its newest GPS unit, the memorably-named AVIC-F500BT (fondly called the AVIC LINC by its creators), "changes the face of navigation."

Foremost, it's an in-dash GPS device bringing everything you expect from a high-end direction-finder. In addition to those standard features, the AVIC-F500BT brags of 1.2 million points of interest, has an SD slot for updating your system's navigational information and uses MSN traffic, weather and gas price information.

LINC is an acronym for Lifestyle Innovation Network Console, and it's what makes the F500BT more interesting than most GPS boxes. Using Pioneer's "VoiceBox Conversational Voice Search Platform," basically an advanced voice recognition system, you can totally control your iPod or other MP3 players as well as your Bluetooth-connected phone.

Much like Ford's SYNC, Pioneer's LINC lets you ask your system for a song or your phone to dial a number.

Unlike Ford's SYNC, LINC is compatible with most OEM systems and aftermarket head units according to Pioneer.

There wasn't a chance to try out the system at Pioneer's Sunday morning press conference, but we hope to get our hands on one later in the week. At the press conference, Pioneer reiterated its objective to be a top-end automotive aftermarket supplier. Larry Rougas, Pioneer mobile business group's VP of marketing, said, "We are car people. We are all about pulse rates, not bit rates."

Check out high-res photos here, and read the entire press release after the jump.

Just as the Prius is an essential piece of kit if you desire to wrap yourself in the color green, if being ever-ready is what you'd like to exude, buy a house. Not just any house, mind you - that'd be like a Greenie stripped of their Starbucks intravenous drip, Livestrong bracelet, and Macintosh laptop. If it's backwood rancher/Eagle Scout that you're looking to portray, no domicile will do better than a log cabin. Of course, while the outside says 1885, modern log cabins are a luxury item commonly purchased as a weekend home for the well-heeled, or as a retirement home. Canada-based Pioneer Log Homes has just launched a UK branch, and customers that purchase a model called "The Anchorage" will be rewarded with a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited left in the drive when construction's done.

The two products definitely go together. Both the home and the 4-wheeler look like they could've been hewn with the same axe, offering a certain rugged charm. We like the idea, mainly because a vacation home is a delightful aspiration, as is a Wrangler. Pioneer says you don't have to be a millionaire to afford one of their homes, with a starting point of £650 per square meter. Let's see, multiply by two, divide by nine, hot damn - that's actually not terrible! At today's exchange rate, that square meter cost works out to about $150 per square foot. You could always turn around and sell the Jeep to pay down the mortgage.

press release after the jump

[Source: Pioneer Log Homes]

click above image to view XX high-resolution images of the redesigned Scion xB

Scion VP Mark Templin claims that his company is more in touch with its buyers than any other brand, and what xB owners wanted even more than another Toyota-sponsored group hug (or Second Life virtual conference) was a larger vehicle. The 2008 xB addresses this request with a foot more overall length and three more inches of width, while an inch decrease in height yields somewhat more traditional proportions.

With the expanded sheetmetal comes an upgrade in components under the skin, starting with a 158-hp, 2.4L DOHC inline-four. Under the larger standard 16-inch wheels lie a set of disc brakes that are a touch smaller than 11-inch, and anti-lock, stability control, and traction control are standard. Inside, the cargo area grows by nearly 40%, and a storage area is provided underneath the rear seats for laptops, cameras, and various other consumer paraphernalia. The still center-mounted gauge cluster includes what Scion refers to as a "combination meter", which offers up various information related to fuel economy and outside air temps, the Pioneer sound system offers up an iPod interface, and the driver now gets a spot to set his or her right arm.

Click on the photo above for live and studio shots of the production and customized 2008 Scion xB!

Having reviewed many vehicles in my day, I can tell you unequivocally that not all satellite navigation systems are created equal. Just checking the sat nav box on the options sheet doesn't guarantee you'll be getting a system that's easy to use and will get you where you want to go. Those who know me will tell you that I've often sung the praises of Ford's sat nav systems, specifically the ones found in Lincoln models. My first experience with these factory-installed Pioneer units came from a review of the Lincoln LS I did back in the day, and I was happy to find an equally agreeable sat nav in the Lincoln Zephyr we tested back in March. So permit me to feel vindicated when I inform you that J.D. Power and Associates has just released its 2006 Navigation Usage and Satisfaction Study in which the Lincoln Zephyr's navigation system received the highest rankign. J.D. rates these factory installed nav systems in six areas that include (in order of importance) ease of use, routing, system appearance, speed of system, voice directions and navigation display screen. The Zephyr's Pioneer unit did particularly well in the those first three areas that are weighted the most. One feature of the system with which I became particularly infatuated was its ability to leave a trail of electronic breadcrumbs on the screen's map showing you where you've driven. And in case you're wondering, the same unit is also available in the 2007 MKZ.

[Source: J.D. Power and Associates]

We couldn't be more surprised and impressed at the response we've gotten to the Autoblog Redesign Our Business Cards Contest. About 38 people have entered the contest so far, but even more amazing is that we have over 100 submissions! It seems that a pair of Pioneer AVIC-D2 satellite navigation systems worth $1,500 apiece is a pretty good motivator. As we suspected, the submissions are getting better and better as the contest goes forward. We're especially jazzed to see what fruits an entire weekend's worth of work will bear. Everybody's asking for direction on what we're looking for, and all we can say is creative, clean and professional, with a bit of outside-the-box thinking. Remember, we need separate business cards for both Autoblog and AutoblogGreen, so follow this link to original post to read the rules and regulations and gather all the materials we can offer to help you out.

After two days, we have received submissions from 24 readers for the Redesign Our Business Cards Contest, with many submitting multiple entries already. Some people are using the two Pioneer AVIC-D2 satellite navigation systems we've put up as prizes for motivation, but many of you have also told us that you're happy to use your talents to help out Autoblog, which we sincerely appreciate. If it were us, we'd be doing it for the sat nav, but we're shallow like that.

What really impressed us is how fast the submissions came rolling in after the contest was announced on Monday. Literally within a half hour the first submission was in, and though the author admitted it was a simple design, he told us he was just getting started and would submit more entries in the next few days. Some of you have clearly thought outside the box, which is what we said we were looking for (see comments on original contest post), while others have actually surprised us with some traditional designs that have knocked our socks off. We wish we could show you some, but it wouldn't be fair so we'll keep them all under wraps until the contest is over, then we'll reveal the best and worst submissions along with, of course, the winners.

Also, we want to reiterate that the Autoblog business card and the AutoblogGreen business card will be judged seperately. There's no benefit at all in designing a matching set for both sites, since there's no way you can win both Pioneer AVIC-D2 sat navs. We treat Autoblog and AutoblogGreen as two separate, stand-alone sites and their business cards should reflect that, so keep them separate. So far there's been more submissions for the Autoblog design, so you may have better chances to win if you put more energy into a submission for the AutoblogGreen design. Although there might be more glory in designing the winning submission for the Autoblog business card.

Thanks to everyone who has entered so far! We love watching the submissions roll in and can't wait to see some more.

CLICK HERE FOR THE CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENT WITH RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO ENTER.