Route 66 enters car GPS market with Chicago series

It seems that yet another mobile electronics outfit is diving head first into the GPS arena, and this time its Route 66. The company's Chicago series GPS units is its first venture into automobile navigation, and although they manage to include a dash of unmistakable Americana in both the company and device's name, these units are strangely and ironically restricted to our pals across the pond. The Euro-only Chicago series sports a 4.3-inch touchscreen display, SD / MMC slot, MP3 player, integrated speaker, 4.5 hour battery life, and a variety of European maps depending on model. The low-end 6000 (€299.95; $384) and 7000 (€349.95; $448) units are tailored for the "regional traveler," and pack mostly major highways, while the 8000 (€399.95; $512) and 9000 (€449.95; $576) flavors house broader, more descriptive NAVTEQ maps. The 6000 / 7000 versions can be upgraded to match their more continental siblings via the Route 66 "Map of Europe" DVD (€79.95; $102), and the 7000 and 9000 units support free traffic information thanks to the integrated RDS-TMC receiver. The foursome also comes with automobile hookups and a (presumably) ho hum carry case, and are slated to hit stores far, far away from Chicagoland in November.

[Via GPSLodge]

[liquid @ Sep 25th 2006 3:24PM]

wtf, route66 chicago series GPS device, but only works in Europe!
lol.

[Brian Paul Ehni @ Sep 25th 2006 5:52PM]

And they've dropped their computer GPS naviagation software software, apparently moving to all cell phone/Palm/Windows mobile device only.

[Eli @ Sep 25th 2006 11:06PM]

When I got my Apple laptop a couple years ago, Route 66 was the only company I could find that made a decent mapping program for OSX. I tried to find a pirated version to try out, but couldn't, so I just bought it.

Worst mistake ever. I won't go into a long tirade about all that was wrong with it, but compared to MapPoint or Streets & Trips it was quite literally the worst mapping program I have ever used. The interface was terrible, and the maps themselves were outdated and inaccurate. As for portables, they have no chance of competing with TomTom, which has one of the best interfaces I've ever seen.

[Dana @ Sep 26th 2006 12:04AM]

Route 66? What a cheesy name.
Isn't that a generic brand of clothing that K-Mart used to sell?

[pwndizzled2k7 @ Sep 2nd 2007 2:39PM]

Dana,

I am not sure, you might want to go and check your closet with your Faded Glory stuff from Wal-Mart as well.

;-)

[YZ @ Nov 6th 2007 7:40PM]

I have tried Route 66 GPS software. It is really bad. Very poor interface. The map is outof date and no update service. It works and can take you to where you want, but it will cost a lot extra gasoline.