Freezing Weather Meets Its Match - Remote Starter Wins 2004 Innovations Award at Consumer Electronics Show

VISTA, Calif., Jan. 16, 2004 -- Harsh, unusually cold weather has its icy grip on the Northeast, but not everyone is suffering. Millions of consumers already have remote start systems installed, allowing them to prewarm their vehicles by remote control from the comfort of their home or office. They simply push a button on their keychain remote and their engine starts up, while their climate control system warms up the cabin and the defroster de-ices their windshield.

At last week's International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, one particular remote start system was recognized with a prestigious Innovations Award, given jointly by the Consumer Electronics Association and the Industrial Designers Society of America. Directed Electronics won the award for its 2-Way Viper 791XV Remote Start/Security system with Responder Technology. The award, the company's 43rd, recognized Viper's outstanding Remote Start technology, which makes the Northeast's harsh winter weather a lot more bearable.

The Viper 791XV is a 2-Way system, meaning the sleek futuristic remote with its LCD screen is really a transceiver, which is able to communicate back and forth with the vehicle. When the remote start button is pushed, a puff of smoke icon shows on the LCD, indicating that the vehicle has successfully started and is beginning to warm up, while users sit in comfort in their kitchen enjoying their morning cup of coffee. For the first time, the system features a built-in dedicated defroster output, to assure the vehicle's windshield is clear of ice and ready to drive.

The Viper 791XV and its companion systems from Clifford and Python are available at retailers from coast to coast. MSRP uninstalled is $549.99. For more information and a zip code-based retailed locator, please visit www.directed.com .

Directed Electronics manufactures such well-known security and remote start brands as Viper, Clifford, Python, Avital and Valet. Directed is also a prominent manufacturer of car audio equipment with their Directed Audio line, as well as a/d/s/ Mobile, Precision Power (PPI) and Orion. The company also manufactures a/d/s/ Home & Architectural, as well as a full line of mobile entertainment products including LCD screens, DVDs, etc. in the Directed Video line. Directed is registered in the ISO 9001 + QS 9000 international quality standards.

Directed Electronics is a portfolio company of Trivest, Inc., a private equity firm based in Miami, Florida. Since its founding in 1981, Trivest has sponsored more than 105 acquisitions and recapitalizations totaling more than $2 billion in value. For more information, please visit www.directed.com and www.trivest.com .