Although the number of people who are actually willing to purchase a new car and outfit it with all sorts of extra gadgets has seriously declined since the start of the economic crisis, there's still a pretty strong demand for AVN (audio/video/navigation) systems out there, or at least that's what Alpine claims. Hence, the company has released no less than three new such products, designed for complete integration of multimedia and navigation features, namely two all-in-one, 2-DIN audio/video/navigation (AVN) systems (the IVA-W203/P1 and IVA-W505/P1), as well as the IVA-D106 Mobile Media Station, for those consumers who need a 1-DIN space solution.

As far as the navigation options are concerned, the three new devices from Alpine come pre-loaded with all the necessary maps (for the time being, just for the US, but it probably depends on the specific part of the world where it can be found). These maps are available via four different map viewing options, including 3D mapping, 2D full map, split map and turn-by-turn arrow view. The maps provide preloaded POIs, as well as turn-by-turn instructions delivered by Text-To-Speech (TTS) technology, which announces actual street names.

Now, for entertainment. All of the new AVN units from Alpine provide full iPod integration, either via dedicated connections or via a USB interface. However, the IVA-D106 also offers drivers an extra from this point of view, namely the possibility of controlling the device directly via the touch-screen.

Moreover, the IVA-W505/P1 and IVA-W203/P1 come with built-in Bluetooth modules, which allow them to be used as speakerphones (by pairing them with the drivers' mobile phones). Users can answer and place phone calls, with the conversation played through the vehicle’s speakers, and an external microphone has also been included in order to allow for optimal performance placement in the vehicle.

Of course, besides the common features mentioned above, the three navigators from Alpine also have their own special characteristics. For example, the IVA-W203/P1 features a 6.5-inch QVGA touch-screen display in a double-DIN form factor, and supports DVD-R/-RW/MP3/WMA playback, at the same time being compatible with various digital media sources such as satellite radio, HD Radio with multicasting and the iPod.

The IVA-W505/P1, on the other hand, sports a 7-inch WVGA touch-screen with a 1.15 million-pixel display, and supports DVD/CD/MP3/AAC/WMA/DivX playback. Last, but certainly not least, the IVA-D106 is a 1-DIN unit with a 7-inch touch-screen that motorizes out from the chassis. It plays CD/DVD and has built-in 18W RMS x 4 power.

Apparently, all of the three new systems can already be found on the market and retail for $1,100 (the IVA-W203/P1), $1,400 (the IVA-W505/P1) and $1,000 (the IVA-D106 Mobile Media Station).

 
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