Pioneer have outed their latest high-end in-dash navigation system, and it has brought along mobile Pandora access too. The Pioneer AVIC-Z120BT has a 7-inch WVGA touchscreen, 3D graphics accelerator, onscreen iPod/iPhone control, integrated Bluetooth for hands-free calling and wireless music streaming (along with USB connectivity and an SD card slot) and is SIRIUS XM satellite and HD Radio ready. As for Pandora, that’s courtesy of Pioneer’s PandoraLink for iPhone app, which as the name suggests requires Apple’s smartphone in order to funnel streaming music through the head-unit.
When running on the iPhone, Pandora shows up as a separate source on both the new AVIC-Z120BT and Pioneer’s existing AVIC-X920BT in-dash unit. A free download, the app allows for track rating – using Pandora’s thumbs-up/thumbs-down system – from the head-unit’s touchscreen.
Even if you haven’t got an iPhone, there’s plenty to like about the AVIC-Z120BT. Voice-controlled navigation, a customisable homescreen, choice of 30,000 different LED colors to match your car’s own scheme and an ECO Driving mode that plans navigation by fuel economy and CO2 emissions. The Pioneer AVIC-Z120BT will be available in June, priced at $1,599.