Garmin to Add Customizable Gauges to GPS

Garmin says it will add customizable diagnostic gauges to their Nuvi GPS devices. The new system, EcoRoutes ESP, will connect to your car’s onboard diagnostics port (OBD-II) to deliver previously inaccessible information about the car’s performance and likely more accurate driving data such as arrival times.

Available sometime next year, the EcoRoutes ESP module will send information to the GPS unit through Bluetooth. You’ll be able to choose which information you want displayed on the screen, including things like fuel economy, throttle position, intake manifold pressure, intake air temperature, coolant temperature and emissions.

The iPhone has similar programs available, but the Garmin module looks preferable because of its bigger screen, which makes room for more gauges covering more information. As Gizmodo points out, though, Google Navigation is also on the way and will make the competition in this realm fierce.

Garmin Communicates With Your Car Via ESP (CNET via Gizmodo)

Comments

Nothing new here. The Drew Tech DashDAQ has been on the market for a couple of years now. Garmin may be in the car but they are not car guys and they are way behind the curve when it comes to getting information out of vehicles. If you are serious about getting data out of a car you need to look at the DashDAQ. It has won over 20 SEMA new product awards and is built by car guys for car guys.