Take this, Detroit: American automakers may have staked a claim to the next wave of in-car infotainment technology (click here for our comparison test), but now Mercedes-Benz is combining the mapping powers of rival Internet giants Google and Yahoo with a new Web-to-dash crossover technology it’s calling “Search and Send.” With direct download capabilities integrated into Benz’s new C-, S- and CL-Classes, drivers can take advantage of high-powered map functionality without the hassle of inputting directions directly into a GPS system.

Both Google Maps and Yahoo Maps have integrated a “Send to Car” icon (Google has been experimenting with a similar function for BMW in Germany), which wirelessly sends directions to a vehicle’s navigation unit for download at the push of another button once you’re strapped into your Mercedes. You can also save directions for later use, with enough memory to store up to 50 destinations. As a perk, friends and family can send directions to other disoriented Benz drivers, whether the drivers are parked or en route.

This slick yet almost obvious upgrade for GPS navigational tech is only available on Mercedes-Benz products for now, but it’s likely that other automakers will follow suit soon. —Brittany Marquis