Garmin International has refreshed its Garmin Drive portable navigation device (PND) lineup with free live services* for the most up-to-date content and driver alerts to improve safety. These upgrades to the Garmin Drive, Garmin DriveSmart, Garmin DriveAssist, and Garmin DriveLuxe models show the company’s dedication to improving PNDs.
The base model Garmin Drive 51/61 includes helpful driver alerts. The Garmin DriveSmart 51/61 adds smart features. The camera-equipped Garmin DriveAssist 51 is for recording drives, while the premium Garmin DriveLuxe 51 has an elegant metal design.
“These new features make it easy to see how drivers can benefit from our 2017 Drive navigators,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin VP of worldwide sales. “Features like free live parking and traffic and new travel information help drivers enjoy the ride and save time on their way to work, on family road trips, or running errands.”
Like previous models, the new Garmin Drive navigators include driver alerts. These alerts warn of sharp curves, railroad or animal crossings, wrong-way driving, and more. Drivers also receive red light camera**, speed camera, and other alerts. Garmin Real Directions uses landmarks, buildings, and traffic lights for easy navigation.
The Garmin Drive 51/61 base model now includes free real-time services like live traffic* on select models when paired with a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone. Drivers can also use live parking* from Parkopedia, the world’s leading parking service, after pairing their smartphone. Parkopedia provides pricing and availability for on-street public parking. Other real-time services, such as LiveTrack*, allow drivers to share their location with friends. All 2017 Drive models include preloaded TripAdvisor data with ratings for popular points of interest.
The Garmin DriveSmart 51/61 has all of the features of the Garmin Drive, plus built-in Wi-Fi for easy map and software updates. Customers can choose between a 5" model and a new 6.95" edge-to-edge high-resolution touchscreen. The Garmin DriveSmart series keeps drivers connected with hands-free Bluetooth calling***, voice-activated navigation, and smartphone pairing to receive texts and app alerts on the navigation display*.
The 2017 Garmin DriveSmart models can be paired with a Connect IQ-compatible Garmin smartwatch, such as the new fēnix***** (sold separately), to provide compass guidance from a parked vehicle to a destination and back.
The Garmin DriveAssist 51 builds on the Garmin DriveSmart’s features with a built-in dash cam**** that records and saves video footage to the included microSD card upon impact. The camera improves advanced driver awareness alerts such as Forward Collision***** and Lane Departure Warnings*****.
Garmin Real Vision displays a live camera view on the screen with an arrow pointing to the destination, eliminating the guesswork of navigating to new addresses. The “Go” Alert notifies drivers when traffic ahead begins to move. The Garmin DriveAssist can also send an automatic text**** to a friend with the vehicle’s location if an incident occurs. Its Travelapse feature can condense long hours of driving footage into a short video. Drivers can use the free Garmin VIRB app to create and share Travelapse videos on social media.
The stylish Garmin DriveLuxe 51 is a premium navigator with all of the features of the Garmin DriveSmart series in a metal case. This navigator comes with a powered magnetic mount for easy storage.
Interested?
The Garmin Drive lineup has models with varying map regions, display sizes, and features. Pricing and availability will be announced later. Suggested retail prices in the United States range from US$149.99 to US$329.99, with availability expected in February 2017.
Read the WorkSmart Asia blog posts about new apps at the Garmin Connect IQ Store and about Garmin’s three multisport GPS wearables
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*To receive live services and smart notifications on your navigator, you must download the free Smartphone Link app. User’s data plan charges, if any, will apply. Contact your mobile service provider for more information about your service plan’s data and roaming rates. Requires Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, sold separately.
**Red light and speed camera warnings may not be available in your region.
***Requires Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, sold separately.
****Some jurisdictions regulate or prohibit the use of the dash cam feature. It is your responsibility to know and comply with applicable laws and rights to privacy in jurisdictions where you plan to use Garmin DriveAssist.
*****Certain conditions may impair the warning function. Visit Garmin.com/warnings for details.