Mio Knight Rider GPS on sale at Radio Shack

Mio's endearingly-geeky Knight Rider GPS – which guides you with the authentic voice of K.I.T.T. from the original TV series – goes on sale today exclusively at Radio Shack in the US.  The deal will see Radio Shack as the sole place to get the device until the end of October.  Aside from the retro styling and voice-synchronized flashing lights, the Knight Rider GPS allows users to pick from more than 300 common names (i.e. not just Michael) and have K.I.T.T. welcome them personally whenever the unit is switched on.

Of course, it wouldn't be much fun after that if it were a rubbish GPS, so Mio have slotted in a 4.3-inch touchscreen with anti-glare coating, preloaded maps of the US and Canada, and over four million Points of Interest.  In the box you get the GPS itself, a car mount, in-car charger, USB cable and documentation kit.

Menus are Knight Rider themed, and the car icon has been replaced with a miniature K.I.T.T. If you get bored of William Daniels there are also generic English, French and Spanish voice-prompts. The Mio Knight Rider GPS is available from Radio Shack, with a MRSP of $269.99.

Press Release:

RadioShack Announced as Exclusive Retail Destination for Knight Rider GPS by Mio, Featuring Distinctive Voice of K.I.T.T.

GPS device offers look, sound of K.I.T.T. from classic crime-fighting television series

FORT WORTH, TEXAS, and FREMONT, CALIF. – (Sept. 26, 2008) – RadioShack Corporation (NYSE: RSH) and Mio Technology today announced the retail launch of the Knight Rider GPS by Mio at RadioShack. Exclusively, until October 31, 2008, customers may purchase the Knight Rider GPS online through www.RadioShack.com or at more than 2,500 select RadioShack stores nationwide.

To create an authentic Knight Rider experience, Mio partnered with Universal Studios Digital Platforms Group to become a Knight Rider licensee and Navtones® to include exclusive voice guidance and turn-by-turn directions featuring the original voice of K.I.T.T., (Knight Industries Two Thousand). K.I.T.T. is a talking car with artificial intelligence featured in the Knight Rider television series that is being revived this fall on NBC television.

With a sleek, jet-black design inspired by the original K.I.T.T., the Knight Rider GPS by Mio brings the magic of the original television series to your daily commute. Through collaboration with Navtones®, a Los Angeles-based provider of celebrity voice sets for GPS devices, users will ride with the original voice of K.I.T.T providing turn-by-turn guidance. Users can also pick from a menu of more than 300 common names, which are then paired with randomized voice greetings, giving a personalized experience every time the device is turned on. Also included are red LED lights flanking both sides of the screen that flash in sync with K.I.T.T.'s voice – much like the original K.I.T.T.'s hood-mounted illuminating lights – providing the ultimate Knight Rider experience.

The Knight Rider GPS features a 4.3-inch color LCD touch screen with an anti-glare coating that makes it easy to operate in bright lighting conditions. In addition to the voice of K.I.T.T., directions and guidance are offered in the user's choice of English, French and Spanish in standard voice. Even the special graphic user interface simulates the overall K.I.T.T. experience, with jet-black menus and a miniature black car to indicate your location on the map display. The device comes preloaded with maps of the U.S. and Canada, including more than 4-million points of interest, along with a car mount, in-car charger, USB cable and documentation kit. Mio Technology's enhanced software ensures touch screen responsiveness and smooth transitions between menu screens. The manufacturer's suggested retail price is $269.99.

"The original K.I.T.T. inspired us to combine unstoppable navigation power with a design that looks cool on your dashboard, and as a result navigation across the country or to the local grocery store will never be more fun," said Kiyoshi Hamai, senior director of sales and product management, Mio Technology USA. "This exclusive launch with RadioShack is ideal, because their knowledgeable associates are uniquely qualified to present this one-of-a-kind device in a fun and accessible way."

To order this unique GPS device, visit www.radioshack.com. To locate a store participating in the exclusive launch, visit radioshack.com, type "Knight Rider" in the search bar, click on the "available at most stores" link and enter a ZIP code. The product is also available through RadioShack's Ship-to-Store ordering system offering secured delivery to any participating RadioShack retail location.