Cars.com Launches 2005 Model Year Preview

Comprehensive Guide Showcases New and Redesigned Models

CHICAGO, July 9 -- Cars.com today announced the launch of its seventh-annual Model Year Preview -- the most comprehensive new-vehicle shopping guide available online. Cars.com's 2005 Model Year Preview offers a make-by-make overview and includes photos, pricing information, profiles and in-depth reviews of the season's premier vehicles and redesigns.

Consumers can access cars.com's 2005 Model Year Preview and browse 51 vehicle make pages for pricing and specification information, reviews, photos and rebate details. The Model Year Preview also offers:

  -- What's New for 2005 index page with thumbnail photos that make it easy
     to navigate all early-release new vehicle reports as well as sort
     vehicles by price or user rank
  -- Photo galleries of dozens of 2005 cars and trucks
  -- Information about all available rebates and special incentives by make

  2005 Trends

Based on the number of early introductions, the 2005 model year looks to be a strong season for new and redesigned models. Consumers will have plenty to choose from at new-car dealerships, and manufacturers are promising plenty of additional new models over the next year or two. A renewed emphasis on passenger cars -- particularly sports cars and family haulers -- is apparent among the new and redesigned models for 2005.

  Other trends include:

  -- Nearly a dozen new or significantly redesigned sports cars
  -- Sedans and wagons coming to the forefront
  -- Smaller SUVs
  -- Convertible, hybrid and diesel models of familiar cars
  -- The mainstreaming of tuner cars

  About cars.com

Partnered with 175 leading metro newspapers, television stations and their Web sites, cars.com is the one-stop shop for those looking to buy or sell a new or used car. The site places vehicle listings from more than 6,000 dealers alongside nationwide classified advertising and private-party listings to offer consumers the best selection of new and used cars online, as well as the content, tools and advice to support their shopping experience. Cars.com combines powerful inventory search tools and new-car configuration with pricing information, photo galleries, buying guides, side-by-side comparison tools, original editorial content and reviews to help millions of consumers connect with sellers each month.

Launched in June 1998, cars.com is a division of Classified Ventures, LLC, ( http://www.classifiedventures.com/ ), which is owned by six leading media companies including, Belo , Gannett Co., Inc. , Knight Ridder , The McClatchy Company , Tribune Company and The Washington Post Company. . For more information, visit http://www.cars.com/ .