1999 TACH Car of the Year Awards

11 August 1999

1999 GOLDEN TACHOMETER CAR-OF-THE-YEAR AWARDS
ANNOUNCED BY THE AUTO CHANNEL

GOLDIES to be presented to Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Mitsubishi,
BMW, Volkswagen, Honda, Mazda, GMC, Lexus, and Audi

AUTO CENTRAL; August 11, 1999 -- For the second consecutive year, The
Auto Channel has selected twelve vehicles worthy of its Golden Tachometer
Award. The Golden Tachometer Awards, or Goldies, are being presented to those
cars and trucks that TACH's editorial staff believes are the best of 1999.
Due to an abundance of 'early release' model-year 2000 vehicles, which began
arriving in December 1998, The Auto Channel decided to accept nominations for
all models that were released on or before May 15, 1999.

The final results represent the vehicles with the highest votes in
each of the twelve respective classification categories: Luxury; Coupe;
Convertible; Sedan; Compact; Truck; Sport Utility; Minivan; Wagon; Sportscar; Fantasy; and
Best Overall.

Judgement criteria included price, design, comfort, handling,
performance, technological advancement, brand positioning, and overall value.
With exception of one category, The Auto Channel tried to limit the nominees to
vehicles that are easily accessible to the average consumer.

Complete descriptions, reviews, and streaming video clips of the winning
vehicles can be accessed directly on The Auto Channel Internetwork at
http://www.theautochannel.com/vehicles/new/awards/1999.

In the Best Luxury Car category, the Mercedes S-class won our unanimous
approval. Impeccable road manners, style, a plethora of gadgets, and an
extremely competitive price (about $9,000 less than originally estimated)
rocketed the re-designed 2000 S-Class to the top.

Audi's TT takes the Goldie for Best Coupe. Innovative and daring in
design, inside and out, the TT ups the ante in new millenium styling.
Combined with a powerful pedal punch, the TT is the height of fashion and
function. We can hardly wait for the introduction of the TT Quattro this
Fall.

Exemplifying freedom and fun, the Mazda Miata MX-5 captures our
Convertible-of-the-Year award. For ten years the Miata has delivered
pocketsize freedom to an extremely loyal following. Their 1999 redesigned
anniversary edition adds a surplus of plusses to this powerful little
package.

The winner in the highly competitive Sedan-of-the-Year category is the
Mitsubishi Galant. Now larger in stance and stamina, the Galant delivers
exceptional value for superior interior and exterior style, overall handling,
and copious accoutrements.

The 1999 Golden Tachometer for Compact Car-of-theYear goes to
Volkswagen’s Jetta. With the option of two decidedly potent engines, the
Jetta's updated styling, safety features and creature comforts make it a
stylish, yet affordable performer.

GMC Sierra captured our Truck-of-the-Year award. Powerful, sturdy,
cushy, with more extended cab room than its competition, the Sierra supplies
all of the ingredients necessary for a winning recipe. However, the single
feature that made the TACH team sit up and applaud, is the standard 4-wheel
antilock disc brakes, yup… all of them big beasts can stop!

The Lexus RX300 won this year's Sport Utility Vehicle-of-the-Year
award. Based on a car platform, the RX300 directly targets the majority of SUV
“city slicker” buyers. Loaded with luxury amenities, impressive road
handling, unique body styling, and all-wheel drive abilities, the RX300 is an excellent
on-road/off-road all-inclusive vehicle.

Excelling in safety and reliability, the Honda Odyssey and Volvo V70 AWD
vehicles were our choice for Best Minivan and Best Wagon top honors, respectively.
These two winning people movers are a complex combination of advanced technology,
attractive style, efficient load-carrying design, and enough get-up-and-go
to deliver an exciting drive.

BMW’s M Coupe takes home our Sports Car-of-the-Year Goldie. Boldly
meshing a dynamic retro-design with exceptional performance, the M Coupe is the
ultimate driving machine for automobile connoisseurs that are looking to stand
out in a crowd.

For best Fantasy vehicle, the award goes to the USS Voyager's Delta
Flyer. Truly testing imaginations and creativity, the TACH team of journalists
offered many ernstwhile nominees. However, none were as fanciful as the
Flyer. For those not familiar with the Delta Flyer, this 50's influenced
speedster can frequently be seen in the Star Trek Voyager television series.
We have been assured by Lt. Tom Paris (of the Voyager crew) that the Flyer will
be available to the general public sometime in the late 24th Century. As of
now, it can be only be purchased as a model-sized replica in toy stores around
the galaxy.

The winner of the Golden Tachometer Best Overall Car-of-the-Year award
goes to the Volvo S80 sedan. Demonstrating an impressive ability to provide
style, safety, and luxury at a fair price, the S80 epitomizes value for the
consumer.

The Auto Channel is the Internet’s most complete and comprehensive
automotive information resource. TACH covers 18 subject categories and offers
users more than 200,000 screen pages of information; 16 searchable databases
and price guides; hundreds of new vehicle reviews for each of the last five
model years; and the largest library of streaming video programs on the
internet, including full line video clips for most new automobiles.