Panasonic announced that it has delivered its in-car Display-Audio system compatible with the new MirrorLink smartphone-to-car connectivity standard for the Toyota iQ city car. This genuine Toyota accessory named “Toyota Touch Life” is being offered as a dealer option for the iQ in Europe.

The 2-DIN-sized Display-Audio system features an AM/FM radio and a seven-inch WVGA TFT color touchscreen display, which literally mirrors the user’s smartphone screen, showing MirrorLinkTM-enabled applications running on the smartphone. Using the in-dash touchscreen display, the driver can access smartphone applications by the new industry standard connectivity technology, such as maps, car navigators and music players that are designed with driver safety and convenience in mind.

The MirrorLinkTM standard was developed and is promoted by Car Connectivity Consortium, which is dedicated to cross-industry collaboration in developing global standards and solutions for smartphone and in-vehicle connectivity.

Nokia provides the first MirrorLink-certified smartphone to work with in-car headunits. Nokia smartphone users can download the Nokia Car Mode app from Nokia Store for Nokia MirrorLinkTM-enabled smart phones to be connected with Toyota Touch Life. Nokia Car Mode app (available in December) which simplifies the user interface to give direct access to the device’s telephony, navigation, and music player functions. This easy-to-use GUI (graphical user interface) ensures that drivers can access only the most essential and non-distracting functions on the smartphone while the car is on the move.

Differently from MirrorLinkTM, Apple iPhone users can use iPhone applications, including navigators such as the Garmin StreetPilot app, internet radios and news apps such as AUPEO! and Stitcher, and social media such as Facebook and Twitter using the proprietary built-in application interface and the custom protocol with Apple’s product certification. Users of iPhones (running iOS 4 or later) can download the free Application Launcher app from the App Store to connect their devices with Toyota Touch Life.