Car And Driver's 10Best Tour Across America to Premiere At Somerset Collection North
6 April 1998
Car And Driver's 10Best Tour Across America to Premiere At Somerset Collection North
ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 6 -- Car and Driver magazine will
kick off its "10Best Tour Across America" at the Somerset Collection North in
Troy, April 17-19.
10Best is Car and Driver's annual award to the manufacturers of the ten
best vehicles sold in America. Nominees go through a series of elimination
and scoring tests that result in Car and Driver's staff picks for the best on
the market.
"We decided to go a step further this year with our 10Best issue and put
together a tour so consumers could get an up-close and hands-on look at our
pick of the 10Best vehicles for 1998. Each was chosen for value, suitability
for its intended purpose and ability to satisfy a discriminating driver," said
Csaba Csere. (pronounced: Chubba Chedda), editor-in-chief of Car and Driver.
"This tour helps simplify the purchase experience for consumers. It offers
information that is useful, impartial, trustworthy, and easily accessible."
"Because Southeastern Michigan is the home of Car and Driver, it seems
appropriate to premiere this tour at the Somerset Collection North," said
Csere.
"We were looking for a setting to bring the editorial pages of our 10Best
issue to life," said Peter Saad, vice president/Midwestern Region, Car and
Driver. "What better way than to take some of the selected vehicles, combine
them with a host of interactive displays and exhibitry along with a product
specialist for each of the vehicles on display. The specialists, trained by
Car and Driver are totally versed on the vehicles. In some cases, they have
even gone through the manufacturer's training school. If they don't have the
information you need, they can direct you to where you can get it. The
interpretive program in the kiosks allows you to go through the Car and Driver
process of selection, read reports from the manufacturer as well as their
statement on why they believe their product was chosen. These components of
the tour will give the consumer the opportunity to interact with some of the
best vehicles in the world."
Vehicles on display will include BMW 3 Series, BMW 5 Series, Dodge
Intrepid, Lexus GS300/400 and Mazda Miata.
The 10Best award is given only to those 10 models that best address the
driving habits, lifestyles, and budgets of their intended buying audience
while also meeting the discerning standards of Car and Driver's enthusiastic
readers.
Contenders must go on sale by the end of January 1998. Base price,
including freight, dealer prep, luxury and gas-guzzling taxes, if they apply,
must not exceed Car and Driver's price cap of $55,000 for this year. The cap
ensures that the list is not populated by vehicles that only the wealthy can
afford.
Last year's winners automatically are re-nominated provided they are still
for sale and under the price cap. Information is gathered through new-car
introductions, press kits, and data banks to identify all the models that have
been significantly upgraded since the previous year.
Sixteen members of the Car and Driver staff give vehicles making the final
cut a week long test. They rate each vehicle on a scale of zero to 100.
"In the 16-year history of Car and Driver's 10Best Cars competition, there
never has been a year, until now, when six new vehicles forced their way into
our hearts and onto our annual list of favorites," said Csere. "To simplify
the purchase experience, we decided to take the 10Best story on the road. The
'Tour Across America' will appear in 20 of America's top markets so that
everyone can get a close-up look at the best the industry has to offer."
For updates, manufacturing reports and information regarding designer and
engineering "chat room discussions" with some of this year's 10Best winners,
enthusiasts can visit: http://www.caranddriver.com, or the dedicated 10Best website:
http://www.10Best.com.
Car and Driver magazine, headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., is the world's
largest circulation automotive magazine and the premier source of information
for automobile enthusiasts. Content includes everything from new car
previews, road tests and features to industry news and automotive humor.
SOURCE Car and Driver
