Pioneer's do-it-all head unit
Pioneer AVIC-N2
The product: CES is awash in car stereo gear. The coolest products are multitalented navigation combo units. Nearly every vendor makes one, but our favorite is the Pioneer AVIC-N2, which, in addition to supporting the usual media formats (see list), also gets NavTraffic data from XM satellites and integrates it into the navigation system. It color-codes roads by how smoothly traffic is moving on them and can automatically route you around traffic jams and accidents. The technology is also built into the new Acura RL and will soon show up in the Cadillac CTS.

Features:

• Plays AM, FM, and satellite XM radio
• Plays CDs, including MP3 CDs
• Supports DVD video
• Navigation screen folds and hides in single DIN slot
• Has a vehicle dynamics monitor that displays slope, g-force, and so on
• Displays external rearview camera input on monitor
• NavTraffic subscription: $13.99
• Fits in a single car stereo DIN slot; double-DIN version of the product is the AVIC-D1

The price: Not announced.

The prospects: Adding traffic data to automotive navigation will help navigation products break out in 2005. Right now, it's hard to find an integrated aftermarket traffic/navigation system, but by this time next year, every manufacturer will offer products that do this.

By Rafe Needleman, editor, CNET Reviews