CarsDirect.com Redefines the New Car Research Process by Introducing Autos.com - Sounds Familiar

LOS ANGELES--Aug. 3, 20041, 2004--CarsDirect.com, a leading online automotive research and shopping service, today announced the debut of Autos.com (www.autos.com), an all-new online destination that combines an industry-first "best-in-class" vehicle ranking system with a full suite of fast and easy-to-use comparison tools. The new resource center, which complements CarsDirect.com's award-winning one-stop new and used car buying site, has been designed especially for those consumers who are still fine-tuning their short-list of potential new vehicles.

"Autos.com provides expert advice about which vehicles are the very best," said CarsDirect.com CEO Bob Brisco. "We have more than 100 professionals doing the research for car buyers -- collecting the data, crunching the numbers and making it simple to understand. Shoppers shouldn't buy a new car before checking Autos.com's rankings and reviews."

The Website offers deep and rich information content for the complete range of today's new cars, SUVS, trucks and vans. Over 500 models are ranked from best to worst in 12 different categories that matter most to consumers, from invoice price and resale value to safety and performance features. Each model is not only assigned individual ratings for its performance in these categories, but can quickly be compared to all others. No other web site or publication matches Autos.com's breadth and depth of comparison data.

Following are the Ranking Categories:

Expert Reviews                         Performance & Handling
MSRP                                   Comfort & Convenience
Invoice                                Safety Features
0-60 Acceleration                      Cargo Capacity
MPG                                    Passenger Space
Resale Value                           Offroad Capability (SUVs &
                                        Trucks only)

Autos.com's unique ranking system was developed by a team of editors and data experts who continuously produce and distill the best and most current automotive research data available. These experts determine which features are most important to buyers, and then develop custom ranking formulas for each category, adding expert reviews and opinions from the country's most respected auto reviewers and publications. The result is a resource center that has the rich and objective content that only multiple information sources can provide.

About CarsDirect.com

Los Angeles-based CarsDirect.com (www.carsdirect.com) is a leading online automotive research and shopping service, providing new and used automobiles and related products and services, such as loan and lease financing and in-demand aftermarket products including extended warranties. CarsDirect.com is the first online provider to offer visitors a dedicated Research Center as well as three distinctive car buying options: buying a new car online through the company's award-winning direct channel; being matched with a top-quality new car dealer of their choice via the CarsDirect Connect channel; or locating and purchasing a previously owned vehicle through the CarsDirect Used channel.

CarsDirect.com has been named one of the "50 Best Websites" by Time Magazine, chosen a "Forbes Favorite" three times by Forbes Magazine and selected as a "Top 100 Internet Site" for three consecutive years in PC Magazine.