Remote Start - It's Not Just for Automatic Transmissions Any More!

VISTA, Calif., Sept. 20 -- Fall is in the air, and remote start season is coming to the Great Lakes, New England and the Mid- Atlantic regions -- anywhere that gets cold. However, this winter there's good news: Directed Electronics , the largest designer and marketer in North America of consumer branded vehicle security and remote start systems based on sales, with leading brands like Viper, Python and Clifford, today announced the availability of an interface that permits the installation of remote start systems on manual transmission vehicles.

That means that, starting this fall and winter, owners of stick shift vehicles can press a button on their keychain remote from the comfort of their home or office, and from up to a mile away their vehicle's engine will start remotely, and its climate control system will pre-warm the car and defrost the windows. In other words, the comfort and convenience of remote start is no longer limited to automatic transmission vehicles.

According to Jim Minarik, President and CEO of Directed Electronics, "Our new 689M Neutral Safety Module will make the comfort and convenience of remote start available to millions of potential users in the cold weather states, who previously couldn't enjoy it because they don't drive automatics." With an MSRP of $99, the 689M is now available at thousands of authorized Viper, Python and Clifford retailers across North America and around the world. (Remote start systems sold separately, and authorized dealer installation of the 689M is required.) For more information and a store locator, please visit http://www.directed.com/

About Directed Electronics

Headquartered in Vista, California, Directed Electronics is the largest designer and marketer in North America of premium home theater loudspeakers, consumer branded vehicle security, vehicle remote start and convenience systems, and the largest supplier of aftermarket satellite radio receivers based on sales. Directed is also a major supplier of mobile audio and video systems and has exclusive rights to market and sell certain SIRIUS-branded satellite radio receivers and accessories to Directed's existing U.S. retailer customer base. In the home audio market, Directed designs and markets award-winning Polk Audio(R) and Definitive Technology(R) premium loudspeakers. Directed's broad portfolio of security products, remote start, hybrid systems, and GPS tracking systems are sold under leading brands including Viper(R), Clifford(R), Python(R), Astroflex(R) and Autostart(R). Directed's mobile audio and video products include speakers, subwoofers, amplifiers and video screens, sold under its Polk Audio(R), Orion(R), Precision Power(R), Directed Audio(R), Xtreme(R) and Directed Video(R) brand names. Directed was founded in 1982 and markets its broad portfolio of products through many channels including leading retailers and specialty chains throughout North America and around the world. More information is available at http://www.directed.com/.