ESCORT Issues First Dual Product Release with Debut of New PASSPORT® and Max2™ Cloud Connected Radar Detectors

WEST CHESTER, Ohio, Sept. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The category leader and innovator of more than 85% of detection protection patents, ESCORT Inc., once again rocks the radar detector performance benchmark with the announced release of two new technology breakthrough radar & laser detectors – today ESCORT debuts the PASSPORT® and all-digital Max2™ windshield mount detectors, both featuring built-in Bluetooth® connectivity. 

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140902/142207)
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140902/142206)

The built-in Bluetooth technology is designed to easily accommodate direct connection to the very highly awarded ESCORT Live™ ticket protection app. 

ESCORT Live™ provides real time threat and information sharing among connected drivers. The self-contained tool delivers the power of the cloud directly to the windshield bringing endless information for significantly expanded driving awareness.

In addition to built-in Bluetooth connectivity, both models also feature a dual language set for audible voice alerts. User selectable for either English or Espanola (Spanish), engineers designed in state-of-the-art digitally controlled speech for crystal clear voice alerts and audible commands. 

"We are understandably excited about our all-new PASSPORT® and new Max2™ radar detectors which offer drivers convenient cloud connectivity to the award winning ESCORT Live™ social ticket protection app," said David Thornhill, ESCORT President and CEO. "Cloud shared alerts warn drivers many miles before arriving in range of upcoming radar guns."

Seen initially with the original Max™, the new PASSPORT® and Max2™ detectors also feature an OLED (organic LED) multi-color graphics display. Drivers can choose up to four different colors for operation.  Threat reporting and other notices such as red light and speed camera alerts, posted speed limits, over speed alerts, driving speed and more are displayed in full color images and icons. 

Both models include a USB port for Internet connectivity to enable software and firmware direct web downloads, a standard headphone port and a mechanically secure RJ power jack. 

The simultaneous dual product release is also a 'first' for ESCORT.

"PASSPORT® offers first time detector owners an inviting price point for unsurpassed value while the new Max2™ is the unchallenged performance leader for detection alert technology," added Thornhill.

By including the brand's flagship features and benefits, along with the Bluetooth automatic link to the ESCORT Live™ ticket protection app, the new PASSPORT® model elevates ESCORT's entry level position extensively for potential first-time detector drivers. Retailing at $349.⁹⁵, consumers can acquire an unequaled feature set and level of performance unobtainable from any competitor product at any price point. 

The new PASSPORT™ also includes controlled band segmentation for increased long range performance, user selectable preference settings and ESCORT's full warranty protection.   

The two detectors bookend the ESCORT corded windshield mount lineup.

On the high end, the new Max2™ (retail $599.95) is built on the same platform as the category leading SEMA Show "best new product" winner (2013), the original PASSPORT Max™. 

Like its predecessor, the new PASSPORT Max2™ radar detector is developed around ESCORT's unique Digital Signal Processing (DSP) patent that launched the industry's only all-digital design. DSP represents the pinnacle in RF (radio frequency) design engineers' ultimate expertise to achieve the three most critical benefits sought after in detector design: the fastest response, unprecedented range and DNA waveform analysis of radar signals for signal discernment and false alert rejection. 

With record-setting longer range, dramatically fewer false alerts and Bluetooth equipped, the dual language radar detector establishes another new set of category benchmarks. 

"As the category innovator, one year ago we again established completely new performance levels for the industry – this week we continue to keep pushing radar detector technology to even greater performance standards," said Tim Coomer, ESCORT Product Development Vice-President.  "Our new PASSPORT and Max2™ detectors demonstrate again that ESCORT delivers the best-in-class performance for all moderate and premium price points."

Both detectors use built-in Bluetooth to automatically connect with ESCORT Live™, ESCORT's multi-award winning ticket protection network app. 

ESCORT Live™ was named SEMA's 'best new product' (2011) making the two physical year back to back product introductions of the app and the PASSPORT Max™ and their both being named 'best new product' at SEMA, historically unprecedented.  No other manufacturer has ever achieved this feat.

The ESCORT Live™ app helps drivers to know sooner, prepare faster and share important information in real time.  When linked with the new PASSPORT® or new Max2™, the leading edge technologies provide unprecedented ticket protection and information sharing to drive smarter.

In an independent new product test conducted by the category's leading authority, Speed Measurement Labs (SML), Max2™ reaffirmed the already original Max™ established records for range at fifteen miles, fastest response and greatest sensitivity ever recorded. 

"Wow!  The Max2™ marries SEMA's only back-to-back 'best new product' winners into one convenient super powerful windshield mount platform - Ka line of sight alerts from beyond 14 miles, intelligent digital signal processing, no false alerts and a fully descriptive voice for audible information awareness makes this detector the most technically sophisticated and accomplished performer that we have ever tested.  Do not expect such great range as we tested under ideal conditions, but it is in there," Speed Measurement Laboratories. 

In one of the SML tests, a typically difficult Ka band signal that most detectors simply cannot receive beyond several miles, the new Max2™ reported from over fourteen miles. 

The new high speed DSP detector also includes ESCORT's patented GPS Location Awareness technology which gives Max2™ the added ability to alert to fixed position threats including red light and speed cameras, major speed traps and future threat technologies yet to be released.  Max2™ also possesses AutoLearn™ – the patented technology that gives Max2™ the genius trait of scanning, analyzing and then locking out false alert sources, automatically.

"Our new PASSPORT and Max2™ detectors help drivers by providing the most complete and the most advanced radar detection protection available," Coomer added. 

PASSPORT® and Max2™ continue ESCORT's 35 plus year dominance of the radar detector category.

For more information on the new ESCORT PASSPORT® and new Max2™ Radar Detectors, and the ESCORT Live™ ticket protection app, see ESCORT on YouTube, visit ESCORTinc.com or, call the company direct at 800.433.3487.

ESCORT Twitter: https://twitter.com/escortradar
ESCORT Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DriveSmarter

About ESCORT Inc.

ESCORT Inc. is the leading manufacturer of high-performance radar and laser detectors, the patented ESCORT Live™ real-time ticket protection network and other Drive Smarter products.  ESCORT manufactures products under the ESCORT, PASSPORT, Max, REDLINE, SOLO, Vector and BELTRONICS brands. The company is headquartered in West Chester, Ohio, with its principal manufacturing facility located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

Editorial Contact:
Ron Gividen
513.870.8500
Email

SOURCE ESCORT Inc.