GPSReview.Net reports that Garmin announced four new Nuvi models in the 200 line this morning, rebranding them the 2x5 series. The new devices will offer MSN Direct traffic reports, which (theoretically) should warn you of upcoming traffic jams and offer alternative routes.

I say "theoretically" because in my extensive testing of a BlackBerry Curve 8310 with TeleNav's otherwise excellent voice-enabled GPS system, the unit's traffic reporting wasn't up to snuff. It repeatedly told me that I should exit whatever parkway I was on in NYC (which, granted, is usually one big traffic snarl). But whenever I ignored its warnings, I found that there wasn't any traffic up ahead.

At any rate, all of the new Garmin units include a faster 333-MHz processor for speeding up map drawing and route calculation time, the report said, along with a new "HotFix" feature to lock onto satellite signals more quickly. The 205 and 205W will offer U.S. maps, while the 255 and 255W will also include Canada as well as the States.