One of the major uses of GPS is navigation. Top car brands these days, allow customers to opt for an in-built GPS navigation system, when buying a car. Mercedes-Benz models come with an array of advanced features to make driving and navigation a pleasant experience.

Most Benz models have a GPS tracking system and a hard drive, which allows the storing of maps, points of interest and so on. A survey and rating application is also included, which rates restaurants, hotels, golf courses etc., to help customers make a choice, based on their requirements. The maps are generally 3-dimensional, giving a realistic view of the path and the surroundings. When driving in unfamiliar places, the GPS can play the role of a virtual co-pilot, giving driving directions to the destination. Selecting a destination is extremely simple. It can be directly selected on the map using the cursor, or by using the zip code or address entry.

The navigation system from Mercedes-Benz can be integrated with the audio system of the vehicle for getting detailed voice instructions as well. This makes it convenient for the drivers, who can drive without having to look into the maps. Features such as optimal lane recommendations, display of high-way signs, exit ramps and other lane information are as well available.

The COMAND system is a Mercedes-Benz proprietary system, which forms a centre that controls all audio, telecommunications and telematics functions in the vehicle. The term COMAND stands for Cockpit Management and Data system. This system allows functions like GPS navigation, CD and DVD playing, radio, amplifier-functions and so on to be integrated and controlled from a single point. This COMAND system is equipped with a color-screen, which is usually a widescreen TFT one, with a multi-directional wheel, which allows the user to control the various telematics functionality inside the vehicle. Thus, the driver can use this COMAND system for viewing maps, selecting destinations, getting voice directions to the destination, among other things.

Special services like the mbrace Navigation and Destination Planning Services are as well offered to customers. This service has a feature called Send2Benz™, which lets the customer send a destination to the Benz vehicle remotely, from another device, such as a smartphone or a computer. There is also a feature called Drive2Friend™ which allows a friend’s location to be sent to the navigation system of the vehicle. Features for downloading points of interest at a specific destination, or getting traffic and weather updates, and so on are offered too.

Apart from navigation and destination planning, Mercedes-Benz also uses the GPS system for speed regulation in its cruise control system. The company has been working on yet another aspect that uses GPS tracking system for saving fuel when the cruise control is engaged. The new cruise control system in these vehicles is supposed to employ GPS technology, to scan the road’s topography, and then shift the gear to an optimum level, so as to save fuel. This particular feature is supposed to increase fuel efficiency by 3%. At present this feature is employed in the trucks only. It has not yet been announced for passenger cars.

Author Bio: Trinity Nick has about 3 years of experience in blogging. She also regularly contributes his findings related to GPS tracking & technology and other technical stuff, to several websites.

In the UK, it’s illegal to own a car without insurance, whether or not you’re actually using it (unless it’s officially ‘off road’). For that reason, it should be a key consideration in the financial planning of any motorist.

There’s no denying the fact that car insurance can be expensive. There are various things that can affect the cost, such as age, occupation, driving experience and previous claims. The level of insurance you choose can also have an impact. However, this may not always work out the way you may expect.

Information on declaring your car as ‘off road’ can be found here.

Types of car insurance

There are three main types of car insurance, each providing an increasing level of cover.

Third party car insurance
This is the most basic level of car insurance. It can insure you for damage or injury caused by you to someone else (including your own passengers). So if they incurred any costs as the result of an accident that was your fault, your insurance could cover it.

Third party, fire and theft (TPFT) car insurance
This can insure you for the above, plus damage caused by fire – or the theft of your vehicle. However, it still won’t cover you for accidental damage to your own vehicle.

Fully comprehensive car insurance
This should offer the maximum level of protection – all of the above, plus cover for accidental damage to your own vehicle and more (as long as you make a valid claim).

Keep in mind that all policies vary slightly – and you should always check that the policy you choose meets your individual needs – but nonetheless a fully comprehensive policy should give you a better level of cover than the other types of car insurance.

To find out more about what car insurance is click here.

Which type of car insurance is the cheapest?
Traditionally, the level of cover you choose has always had a big impact on price – with fully comprehensive the most expensive, and third party only the cheapest. However, these days this often isn’t the case.

Many drivers now find that third party only car insurance isn’t the cheapest – in fact, fully comprehensive can be the cheapest for some people.

This is largely because many young drivers tend to opt for third party or TPFT cover in order to save money – but they are also (generally) more likely than other age groups to make a claim. Some insurers have responded by charging more for these ‘lower’ levels of cover. As such, it makes sense to compare the cost of various levels of cover before you buy.

However, this may not always work out the way you may expect. You can also check against the Hybrid and Green Car Buyer’s Guide and see if you can get additional savings from buying a hybrid vehicle.

Mercedes-Benz vehicles are among the favorite cars to give away during Casino promotions. The Hard Rock Casino in Tampa gave one away last year, and now the Grand Falls casino is also giving a Mercedes-Benz vehicle to it’s customers.

It’s not just a great way to get more traffic to the casino, but also a way to increase its own branding with the help of the MB brand. Grand Falls casino had a record $4.4 million in revenue for the month of June, just a month after they opened their doors to the public.

General Manager says that she’s really excited that much revenue has come in along with attendance numbers and that the casino is hoping that this will continue. Guests are able to chose from hundreds of slot machines and many poker rooms in the brand new casino Resort in Larchwood, Iowa.

The casino will surely continue to increase attendance and record even greater profit, maybe even give a few more Mercedes-Benz vehicles away.

A drive train with hybrid technology lowers fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. At the same time this introduces high-voltage electricity and sophisticated battery systems into passenger car engineering, how-ever. Thanks to their long experience with fuel cell technology, Mer-cedes development engineers are extremely well prepared for the new challenges this presents. A comprehensive, seven-stage safety con-cept is the result.

The challenge lay in not only complying with all the worldwide and in-house crash test requirements, but also in ensuring the greatest possible safety for the electrical components. This safety system already applies in production, includes workshop personnel during servicing and maintenance, and also takes the emergency services into account when passengers need to be re-covered following an accident. The seven-stage concept in detail:

1. In the first stage all the wiring is colour-coded to eliminate confusion, and all components are marked with safety instructions. This makes the regular technical inspections easier to carry out.

2. The second stage comprises comprehensive contact protection for the entire system by means of generous insulation and newly developed, dedi-cated connectors.

3. As part of the third stage, the lithium-ion battery has been given a whole package of carefully coordinated safety measures. This innovative battery is accommodated in a high-strength steel housing, and also secured in place. Bedding the battery cells in a special gel effectively dampens any jolts and knocks. There is also a blow-off vent with a rupture disc and a separate cooling circuit. An internal electronic controller continuously monitors the safety requirements and immediately signals any malfunctions.
4. The fourth stage of the safety concept includes separation of the battery terminals, individual safety-wiring for all high-voltage components and con-tinuous monitoring by multiple interlock switches. This means that all high-voltage components are connected by an electric loop. In the event of a malfunction the high-voltage system is automatically switched off.

5. Active discharging of the high-voltage system as soon as the ignition is switched to “Off”, or in the event of a malfunction, is part of the fifth stage.

6. During an accident, the high-voltage system is completely switched off within fractions of a second.

7. As the seventh and last stage, the system is continuously monitored for short circuits.