New GPS Shows TomTom’s Pearly Whites

The new special edition TomTom White Pearl GPS sports a luxurious white design and promised to lower driver's stress.

GPS maker TomTom has introduced a new special edition vehicle GPS system in the form of the White Pearl, which offers a luxurious pearlescent design designed to add a touch of glamour to the boxy-and-plastic world of GPS’s…along with offering all the features of TomTom’s IQ Routes edition for less stress while driving. And, just in case the White Pearl attracts too much attention while parked, TomTom includes a silk drawstring bag for carrying the unit around and protecting it from bumps, scratches, and unwanted pilfering.

"We designed the White Pearl to appeal to anyone wanting to give someone (or themselves) a very special gift, spicing up an already excellent navigation product with some fun, exclusivity and style," said TomTom’s managing director Corinne Vigreux, in a statement. "From birthdays to anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, as well as Christmas, we believe this will make an extremely useful and desirable gift."

Based on TomTom’s One IQ Routes edition GPS system, the White Pearl features TomTom’s Map Share service (so users are always updated with new road information from TomTom users), a Help Me feature for emergency phone numbers, and a "Where Am I?" function for helping assistance locate drivers in the event of a breakdown or emergency. TomTom is also keen to let potential customers know that the mere availability of a GPS system has been found to reduce stress while driving: some 74 percent of drivers have reported feeling less stressed when driving with a satellite navigation system.

The White Pearl also has some unique features for the luxury GPS set, including a "Shop ’til you drop" category of places to explore premiere retail experiences, and a "places to be seen" feature that will enable White Pearl owners to show off the unit’s subtle swirl pattern and lavish startup screen.

The White Pearl comes with maps of 42 European countries, and should go on sale in the UK for a suggested price of £179.99.