High Gear Media Names Best Cars To Buy 2013: Ford Fusion, Porsche Boxster, and Tesla Model S

Media company names 'Best Cars to Buy' for consumers, performance/luxury enthusiasts, and green-car fans

PALO ALTO, CA--Dec. 10, 2012: High Gear Media today named three cars as its "Best Cars to Buy 2013"--the Ford Fusion, the Porsche Boxster and the Tesla Model S. The awards were named by expert editors from High Gear Media's premium destination sites The Car Connection, Motor Authority, and Green Car Reports.

The Ford Fusion was named The Car Connection's " Best Car to Buy 2013 " after being chosen by the site's editors from amongst a field of 17 nominees. Candidates were judged using the site's unique "meta reviews," which combine reviews by staff journalists with opinions gathered from around the Web -- all presented together with a simple rating.

"The 2013 Ford Fusion has rock-star good looks and handling--and it doesn't cheat on room or safety to get them," according to Marty Padgett, editorial director of High Gear Media.

"The Ford Fusion earned the highest rating from editors this year, topping other brand-new vehicles such as the Honda Accord, Cadillac ATS, Cadillac XTS, and Audi Allroad," added Bengt Halvorson, deputy editor for The Car Connection. "With either of the EcoBoost engines, it feels like a premium sedan, at an affordable price."

High Gear Media's luxury and performance site, Motor Authority, awarded the 2013 Porsche Boxster as its "Best Performance/Luxury Car to Buy 2013." Motor Authority editors selected the single luxury/performance vehicle priced higher than $50,000, that appealed to enthusiasts most strongly with styling, features, acceleration and handling.

"Let the top down and step on the gas, and the Boxster gets down to serious business whenever you want to," said Motor Authority editor Nelson Ireson. The Boxster won in a narrow decision over the Cadillac ATS, with other close finishers including the Ford Focus ST, SRT Viper, and the Subaru BRZ/Scion FR-S twins.

Green Car Reports, High Gear Media's green and electric car destination, also named the 2013 Tesla Model S as its "Best Green Car to Buy 2013." Green Car Reports editors choose the most significant new green car made available to shoppers during the 2013 model year, taking into account new technologies, their practicality, and their impact on the environment. The other nominees were the Nissan Altima, the Ford C-Max, the Ford Fusion, the Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid and the Chevrolet Spark.

"The Tesla Model S is a sporty luxury sedan that just happens to be an all-electric vehicle with 160 miles of range--or more," said Green Car Reports Editor John Voelcker. "That makes it a milestone."