Frank Markus Joins Motor Trend As Technical Director

NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2003 -- MOTOR TREND, the world's number one automotive authority and part of the PRIMEDIA Consumer Automotive Group, today announced that Frank Markus will join the editorial staff of MOTOR TREND as Technical Director. He will be based in the Detroit office. Mr. Markus is an experienced journalist who has worked as a writer, test driver, and Technical Director for Car and Driver magazine. He succeeds former MOTOR TREND Detroit Bureau Chief Jack Keebler who has joined General Motors in vehicle development and analysis.

In his new position, Mr. Markus will have the dual role of heading up MOTOR TREND's technical and testing operations, as well as representing MOTOR TREND in the Detroit area. On the technical front, he will have lead responsibility for vehicle testing and evaluation, including an overall upgrade of MOTOR TREND's test procedures to incorporate new GPS-based timing equipment. Additionally, Mr. Markus will oversee the creation and presentation of all technical material in the magazine, as well as write tests and feature stories. Mr. Markus will work with Detroit Editor Todd Lassa, and report directly to editor-in-chief, Kevin Smith.

"We are thrilled to welcome Frank to the MOTOR TREND team," said Kevin Smith, Editor-in-Chief of MOTOR TREND. "He is a gifted journalist and automotive engineer with years of solid experience under his belt. His skills, creativity and leadership will be huge assets for our operation. We're proud to have him represent the MOTOR TREND name in this senior position and look forward to the significant contributions he will make to our publication."

Mr. Markus' notable career in the automotive industry began at Chrysler where he graduated from the Chrysler Institute of Engineering, and later went into Advanced Vehicle Packaging. In 1991, Mr. Markus joined Car and Driver magazine and was appointed to the Technical Director position there in 1995. Mr. Markus earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan Rackham School of Graduate Studies.

About MOTOR TREND

MOTOR TREND, a PRIMEDIA publication, was founded in 1949 and has a circulation of 1.27 million and a total readership of 7.1 million. Internationally recognized as the world's #1 automotive authority, MOTOR TREND is one of the leading brands in automotive publishing. The MOTOR TREND brand is comprised of motortrend.com; MOTOR TREND Television; MOTOR TREND Radio; Truck Trend; MOTOR TREND International Auto Shows; MOTOR TREND en Espaqol; and the renowned MOTOR TREND Car, Sport/Utility and Truck of the Year Awards program.