TT and Renault unveil Carminat SatNav

TomTom and Renault officially released their joint SatNav system and named it Carminat. The device is an in-dash unit and features a 5.8 inch display.

No touchscreen

Unlike all current TomTom units, this device will not be controlled via a touch screen. Instead the unit will be controlled using a central command or a remote control, depending on the car model it ships with. Neither will the Carminat feature real-time on-line services. Instead, updates are downloaded via your computer using "Renault TomTom HOME", a version of TomTom HOME specifically developed for Renault. The downloaded content can then be used for navigating by copying it to an SD card, which is then inserted in the card slot in the car.

Clio first

The Carminat TomTom system will be available at first in the new Renault Clio, which will be unveiled at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. It's an option when purchasing the car, but the price will be about 500,- euro (£ 433,-), which is considerably less than built-in car SatNavs usually cost.

The system will later become available in the Megane with other Renault cars getting it after that. For more photos, click here.