3D Navigation
PerformanceAverage price
500€ - 2500€
3D navigation is an advanced GPS guidance technology that displays maps and routes in a realistic three-dimensional format. Unlike traditional 2D navigation, which presents a flat, top-down view, 3D navigation offers an elevated perspective that simulates the driver's viewpoint. This system models buildings, landmarks, terrain (hills, mountains), and sometimes even vegetation in 3D, creating a visually rich and intuitive representation of the environment. The primary objective is to facilitate driver orientation by making it easier to connect the map displayed on the screen with the real world outside. Iconic landmarks are often modeled with a high level of detail, helping to confirm one's position in complex urban areas. Powered by powerful graphics processors and high-resolution screens, this technology transforms a simple map into an immersive guidance experience. It is often paired with real-time traffic information and can be projected onto the digital instrument cluster or the head-up display for safer viewing.
Benefits
- ✓Significant improvement in spatial orientation
- ✓Easy recognition of landmarks and intersections
- ✓More intuitive and less stressful guidance experience
- ✓Better anticipation of turns and road terrain
Learn more
3D navigation has become an essential feature of modern infotainment systems. By transforming the traditional flat map into an interactive three-dimensional landscape, it revolutionizes the way drivers perceive their route and interact with their vehicle. More than just an aesthetic gadget, this technology delivers real benefits in terms of comfort, safety, and guidance efficiency.
How does 3D navigation work?
The principle of 3D navigation relies on the combination of several cutting-edge technologies. The system uses standard cartographic data (roads, points of interest) and enriches it with topographical data (terrain elevation) and three-dimensional models of buildings and landmarks. A powerful graphics processor, similar to those found in computers or video game consoles, handles calculating and rendering this 3D perspective in real time. The viewing angle is generally dynamic, adjusting to the vehicle's speed and approaching intersections to provide the best possible visibility. This realistic representation is then displayed on the vehicle's high-resolution central touchscreen, or sometimes directly in the driver's field of view via a head-up display.
The benefits of relief mapping
The adoption of 3D in navigation systems is not just a matter of appearance. It offers concrete benefits for everyday driving:
- Improved orientation: By visualizing buildings and terrain, the driver can more easily connect the map to their actual environment. Finding your way around an unfamiliar city becomes much simpler.
- Enhanced anticipation: The 3D perspective provides a better understanding of road topography, such as inclines, declines, or sharp curves, contributing to smoother and safer driving.
- Reduced cognitive load: An intuitive visual representation requires less interpretation effort than an abstract 2D map. The driver can grasp their position and the upcoming maneuver at a glance.
- Precise urban guidance: In complex highway interchanges or multi-lane intersections, the 3D view helps clearly visualize the correct lane to take, thereby reducing the risk of last-minute errors.
A technology integrated into the vehicle ecosystem
The strength of 3D navigation also lies in its integration with other advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). When paired with a Virtual Cockpit or another digital instrument cluster, the 3D map can be displayed in full screen behind the steering wheel, minimizing distractions. Coupled with real-time traffic navigation, it can display congestion zones directly on the 3D map for better visualization. Some premium systems, such as those from Audi or Mercedes, even overlay navigation instructions onto a live video feed of the road (augmented reality), taking intuitiveness to the next level.
Availability and cost of 3D navigation
Once reserved for luxury vehicles, 3D navigation has become widely democratized. Today, it is found as standard equipment on most high-end trim levels from mainstream manufacturers (Peugeot, Renault, Volkswagen) and premium brands (Audi, BMW, Mercedes). On mid-tier trims, it is often offered as an option, usually bundled within a "Navigation Pack" or "Technology Pack," with prices ranging from €500 to over €2,500 depending on the manufacturer, screen size, and associated features. This option frequently includes connected services, such as real-time traffic information, over-the-air (OTA) map updates, and online point-of-interest search, making 3D navigation the core of a connected and modern driving experience.
Finitions équipées
71 finition(s) proposent cet équipement
Jaguar Jaguar XF
Prestige (2nd generation) (2015-2020)
Jaguar Jaguar XJ
Premium Luxury (X351, facelift) (2016-2019)
Jaguar Jaguar XK
XK Portfolio (X150 facelift) (2011-2014)
Land Rover Land Rover Evoque
SE Dynamic (1st facelifted generation) (2016-2018)
Land Rover Land Rover Range Rover
SE (L405 - 4th generation) (2013-2021)
Land Rover Land Rover Velar
Velar S (1st generation) (2017-2020)
Land Rover Range Rover Sport
HSE (2nd generation L494) (2013-2022)
Mazda Mazda MX-30
Makoto R-EV (1st generation) (2023-2026)
Mini Mini Convertible
Business Design / Premium (F57) (2018-2024)
Peugeot Peugeot 2008
Allure (2nd generation) (2019-2026)
Peugeot Peugeot 2008
GT Line (1st generation) (2016-2019)
Peugeot Peugeot 208
GT Pack (2nd generation) (2020-2023)
Peugeot Peugeot 3008
Active Business (2nd generation) (2017-2021)
Peugeot Peugeot 3008
Allure Business (2nd generation) (2017-2022)
Peugeot Peugeot 308
Allure (2nd generation) (2013-2021)
Peugeot Peugeot 308
Allure Pack (3rd generation) (2021-2026)
Peugeot Peugeot 5008
GT Line (2nd generation) (2017-2020)
Peugeot Peugeot 508
Allure (2nd generation) (2018-2025)
Peugeot Peugeot Partner
Asphalt (Generation III) (2018-2026)
Peugeot Peugeot Rifter
Allure (1st generation) (2018-2023)
Associated equipment
Multimedia Touchscreen
The multimedia touchscreen, also known as the infotainment system or Human-Machine Interface (HMI), serves as the digital command center in modern vehicles. Positioned in the center of the dashboard, it replaces numerous physical buttons to provide a centralized and interactive graphical interface. Its primary functions include GPS navigation with real-time traffic information, audio source management (DAB+ radio, Bluetooth streaming, USB), and advanced smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Additionally, it allows control of essential vehicle settings such as climate control, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), drive modes, and ambient lighting. Technology has evolved from small resistive screens to large, high-resolution capacitive panels (LCD or OLED), offering responsiveness and image quality worthy of high-end tablets. Processing power, provided by high-performance processors, is crucial to ensuring a fluid interface. Today, ergonomics (UX) and interface design (UI) are major differentiators, directly influencing the driving experience and the vehicle's perception of modernity.
Real-Time Traffic Navigation
Real-time traffic navigation is an advanced GPS guidance system that integrates live traffic conditions to optimize routes. Unlike traditional GPS systems based on static map data, this system uses a data connection (via an integrated SIM card or connected smartphone) to continuously receive information on traffic jams, accidents, roadwork, and other disruptions. By analyzing this data, the algorithm dynamically recalculates the proposed route to suggest faster and smoother alternatives. It also provides a much more accurate Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) by taking current conditions into account. This technology relies on various sources, including anonymized data from other vehicles (crowdsourcing), road sensors, and official traffic information services. It transforms the navigation system from a simple map guide into a true proactive driving assistant, capable of saving valuable time and reducing the stress of unexpected road events. Today, it is a key feature of modern infotainment and connectivity packages.
GPS Navigation System
The GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation system is an essential in-car technology integrated into the vehicle's infotainment system. It uses a network of satellites to triangulate the exact position of the car in real time. This data is then superimposed onto a map database, stored locally (hard drive, SD card) or increasingly in the cloud, to display the position on a digital map. The interface, via the central screen, offers visual and voice 'turn-by-turn' guidance. Modern systems go far beyond simple routing by integrating real-time traffic information via an internet connection (4G/5G) to suggest optimized routes and avoid traffic jams. They are enhanced with millions of points of interest (POIs), including gas stations, restaurants, and electric vehicle charging stations. A key advantage over smartphones is 'dead reckoning': in areas without a satellite signal such as tunnels, the system continues guidance using the vehicle's speed and gyroscopic sensors, guaranteeing unmatched service continuity. Deep integration also allows instructions to be displayed on the instrument cluster or head-up display, improving safety.
Head-Up Display (HUD)
The head-up display, or HUD, is a technology transferred from military aeronautics to the automotive industry, aimed at enhancing driving safety and comfort. The system projects essential driving information directly into the driver's field of view. There are two main variants: the combiner HUD, which uses a small retractable transparent glass blade, and the more integrated windshield-projection HUD, which displays data on a treated area of the windshield. The virtual image thus created is collimated, meaning it appears to float several meters ahead of the vehicle, above the hood. This allows the driver to check their speed, navigation instructions, or advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) alerts without taking their eyes off the road and without having to re-focus their vision. The most sophisticated versions, known as augmented reality HUDs (AR-HUDs), superimpose dynamic information onto the real-world environment, such as directional arrows that appear painted onto the road surface. By minimizing distractions, the HUD is a key element of the modern human-machine interface and active safety.
Virtual Cockpit
The Virtual Cockpit, a term initially trademarked by Audi, refers to a fully digital dashboard that replaces traditional analog gauges (tachometer, speedometer) with a high-resolution screen. Generally based on a large TFT or LCD panel (often 10.25 or 12.3 inches), this equipment transforms the driving experience by offering a rich, dynamic, and highly customizable human-machine interface (HMI). The driver can choose from several display modes to prioritize the information most useful to them: a classic view with virtual dials, a display centered on the 3D GPS navigation map, information on currently playing media, or specific performance data such as power, torque, or an accelerometer (G-meter). Powered by a high-performance graphics processor, this technology enables seamless integration of driver assistance systems, communications, and infotainment, all directly within the driver's field of view. Although the name 'Virtual Cockpit' is specific to Audi, the concept is now widely used by many manufacturers under various names such as 'Digital Cockpit' or 'i-Cockpit'.