Brandimensions Launches First Annual Automotive Consumer Voice Awards; Toyota Earns ''Best-in-Class'' for Three Vehicle Segments

CHICAGO & TORONTO--Feb. 8, 2006--At the 2006 Chicago Auto Show, Brandimensions announced the winners of its inaugural Consumer Voice Awards, which recognize Best-in-Class vehicle buzz and sentiment across twelve vehicle segments, as expressed by online consumers. Winners are based on the Brandimensions consumer sentiment index, which takes into account over 200 vehicle attributes such as quality, safety, performance, style and reliability. Toyota ranked highest in three vehicle segments, outnumbering any other manufacturer in the industry. In second place behind Toyota was Ford, with awards in two segments. The Consumer Voice Awards program is the first of its kind to recognize top-ranked automobiles, based solely on unaided, unscripted and unprompted consumer opinion.

Through its proprietary technology engine, Brandimensions has mapped the automotive community on the Internet, covering over 150 million domains, five billion URLs and 28 billion links. As a result, it can capture new consumer commentary virtually as it happens across the entire North American automotive market. Brandimensions also uses human analysis to deliver its content, including a workforce of over 400 employees that read and contextualize targeted consumer discussion to determine what is and is not relevant.

The complete 2005 Brandimensions automotive content database was used to compile results for the Consumer Voice Awards and produce a detailed report distributed to all automotive manufacturers. The report empowers automotive executives with the most comprehensive and actionable selection of consumer insight within the industry, designed to shed light on an array of daily business challenges.

The complete list of winners includes:

-- Best Compact Car -- Mazda3

-- Best Standard Sedan -- Ford Fusion

-- Best Luxury Sedan -- Acura TL

-- Best Standard Specialty -- Scion tC

-- Best Luxury Specialty -- Chevrolet Corvette

-- Best Sports Tourer -- Dodge Magnum

-- Best Minivan -- Toyota Sienna

-- Best Mid-Size SUV -- Kia Sorento

-- Best Full-Size SUV -- Toyota 4Runner

-- Best Luxury SUV -- Volvo XC90

-- Best Mid-Size Pickup -- Nissan Frontier

-- Best Full-Size Pickup -- Ford F-Series

Key findings from the report include:

-- A comparison of consumer and media views for each segment -- in general, consumers tend to be more critical in their evaluation of vehicles.

-- Appeal, exterior styling, interior styling and image are key purchase drivers for consumers in today's crowded automotive marketplace.

-- Third-party testimonials (both media and consumer) are key influencers in shaping consumer opinions and purchase behaviors -- consumers today want to know the experiences of others relative to the vehicles that may be on their shopping list.

-- Import manufacturers continue to capture the imagination and preference of today's car buyer. For example, Toyota's reputation for superb quality, durability and reliability remains its primary product differentiator.

"We are excited to be launching the annual Consumer Voice Awards as it demonstrates the impact online consumers have in the automotive sector," said Randy Sears, vice president of automotive market intelligence at Brandimensions. "The Internet has become today's automotive showroom and consumers are not shy about voicing their opinions about new vehicles or potential purchases. As a result, we believe this award should be viewed by manufacturers and consumers as another significant benchmark to use as an independent, third-party evaluation of vehicle excellence."

About Brandimensions Inc.

Incorporated in 2001, Brandimensions delivers actionable market intelligence and brand protection solutions that solve everyday business challenges. The company's unique methodology, which combines the power of technology with the intelligence of human analysis, enables the delivery of industry leading practices and programs in market intelligence and brand protection. Brandimensions is a rapidly growing, client focused, ambitious company quickly establishing itself as the industry benchmark in both market intelligence and brand protection services. Brandimensions believes in its clients and is committed to delivering an actionable business service each and every day. Brandimensions is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with offices in the United States and Singapore.