Cobra Updates Designs Of CBs To Court Youth
AMY GILROY -- TWICE, 12/18/2000
The CB market remains flat, with sales steady at approximately 1.2 million units annually, according to Cobra, which says it is looking for ways to jump start sales, including targeting the youth market.
"We're looking for ways to give it more appeal," said Cobra product manger Ramon Sandoval, "possibly targeting a younger generation with this new styling and giving it a new look to complement the vehicles of today."
Cobra is debuting two CB models at CES, one with enhanced weather-channel access and the other a downsized model for convenient installation.
The new 18 WX ST II comes with built-in 10-channel NOAA weather information (expanded from three-channel access). It adds full 40-channel scan to the previous version and has a Dual Watch feature to simultaneously monitor two channels.
The 18WX ST II has been redesigned to more closely resemble standard equipment in a vehicle. It has a suggested retail price of $79.95 and will ship in February 2001.
The new 19 DX III is a compact model with sculpted features and muted graphics to better match new vehicle designs. It also has access to all 40 channels, electronic tuning, instant emergency-channel access (channel 9), and a CB/PA switch, to switch from CB mode to public address mode. The 19 DX III, also shipping in February, will have a suggested retail price of $49.95.
