Weber Introduces New Grills and Features for 2008

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March 12/PRNewswire/ -- Weber-Stephen Products Co., fresh off the success of its complete styling revamp of all its stationary cart gas grills last year, continues to add more new products and the best in features to bolster its 2008 Weber brand line-up. Available in stores later this month, seven new gas grills under the Weber brand will be added to an already extensive group of Spirit, Genesis, and Summit models.

"Our mission for this year is to continue listening to our consumers and improve upon our overwhelming success in 2007," according to Weber-Stephen Products Co. Executive Vice President Mike Kempster Sr. "We consistently ask for and get feedback from our consumers about how they use their grills and what kind of features they want. They're very much a partner in our product decisions, and our new grills reflect that."

The Best of Everything in a Single Grill
Two of the six new Weber Summit models offer the most comprehensive high quality features one can get in a single grill. In addition to expansive total cooking areas, Snap-Jet individual burner ignition with infinite control burner valves, flush-mounted side burners, and smoker burners with stainless steel smoker boxes, the new Summit S-470 and Summit S-670 have the groundbreaking Sear Station technology. The Sear Station is a dedicated area located in the middle of the grill which reaches temperatures of 800 to 900 degrees: The extra center burner, when fired up in tandem with the flanking burners on "high," gives food restaurant-quality sear marks and more caramelized flavor. However, unlike other grills that sear, the center burner can be turned off, transforming the Sear Station to a standard zone for normal direct or indirect grilling -- without losing an inch of precious grilling space.

Lighted control knobs are another innovative feature on these two top-of-the-line Summit models, which allow avid grillers to fine tune heat settings-even in the dark. With the push of a button, the knobs are illuminated with powerful LED lighting: Even if used as much as three or four times a week for an hour, the lighted control knobs will last for years.

The Weber Summit S-470 grill has four primary burners at 48,000 BTUs and costs $2,049; the Weber Summit S-670 grill has six burners at 60,000 BTUs and costs $2,599 (Manufacturer Suggested Retail Prices).

In Living Color
The four other new Summit grills are offered in beautiful porcelain-enamel -- a process that Weber-Stephen Products Co. revolutionized -- in a bold black and stunning copper that adds luxury to any outdoor room. "It pleasantly surprised a great deal of our retailers last year that many consumers chose colors that were introduced in our restyled Genesis gas grills when they also had choices in stainless steel," said Kempster. "With our customers then asking for color Summit grills, it was an easy decision to move forward."

With thoughtful touches such as polished trim, these new "E" series Summit models are priced from $1,499 for the four-burner Summit E-420 grill and $1,699 for the E-450 grill to $1,949 for the six-burner Summit E-620 grill and $2,249 for the E-650 grill. All have a flush-mounted side burner, and the E-450 grill and E-650 grill also have a smoker burner with stainless steel smoker box, an infrared rear-mounted rotisserie burner, and a spit fork rotisserie attachment with heavy duty motor.

While the above Summit E-450 and Summit E-650 liquid propane grills are offered in black and copper, the Summit E-420 and Summit E-620 natural gas grills are available only in black.

Weber Spirit SP-320 Grill: The Best for the Budget Conscious
In 2007, Weber-Stephen Products Co. set out to make the finest entry-level, full-size grill on the market with the launch of its Weber Spirit line. For 2008, the company introduces an upgraded model in the Spirit SP-320 grill. With features such as three primary stainless steel burners at 36,000 BTUs; a stainless steel shroud; stainless steel cooking grates; stainless steel Flavorizer bars; and a 12,000 BTU side burner (new to the Spirit line), this grill is for those who want Weber quality and high-end amenities with affordability. The Weber Spirit SP-320 grill is $649.*

* Prices are for liquid propane models. Natural gas models are additional.

Weber has the strongest consumer outreach program in the industry with its Weber Grill-Line (1-800-GRILL-OUT) and a content-rich website with grilling tips, techniques, and original Weber recipes at www.weber.com.

SOURCE: Weber-Stephen Products Co.