Chicago — Cobra and GPS newcomer RoadMax are readying new portable GPS products for shipment this summer, including one of the most competitively priced models to date from RoadMax.
Cobra’s new NavOne 2500 will ship in August with new wireless features to be announced in the next month. The unit will also ship with an SD slot for expansion cards, such as travel guides that Cobra will offer by the end of the year. The NavOne 2500 works with an optional Clear Channel traffic receiver. It has 2GB of onboard memory for preloaded maps, a 3.5-inch screen and a new user interface. The company claims the unit is especially designed for the car environment and can withstand temperatures down to zero degrees.
Suggested retail price for the NavOne is $499 and $149 for the optional traffic receiver. Travel guides and other SD cards will be available at $39 to $99, said Dave Marsh, director of navigation.
RoadMax, a new company started by car stereo veteran Phil Maeda, will launch the VMax 361 at a suggested retail price of $349 at the end of August or early September.
The VMax 361 includes preloaded maps of the United States and Canada and can include regions such as Puerto Rico or Mexico upon request by the retailer. It also has a 3.5-inch touch screen and 2D and 3D maps.
Maeda, who has held management positions at Eclipse and Clarion, said the company will also enter the in-car rear-seat entertainment market by the end of the year.
Cobra also announced it is offering a software upgrade to its current NavOne 4000 GPS, which allows increased levels of traffic alerts. Users can see traffic flow gradients from 10 mph to 45 mph.
