Press Release

NAIAS Announces 1997 Nominees for North American Car and Truck of the Year

11/08/96

North American Car and Truck of the Year 1997 Nominees Announced


DETROIT, Nov. 6 -- Nominees for the prestigious 1997
North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards were announced today
and include 30 vehicles from 21 manufacturers.

Now in the fourth year of existence, the awards are judged by an
independent jury of more than 45 leading North American automotive
writers and broadcasters. Ballots will be distributed to this elite
group of jurors in early November, with voting for the car and truck
of the year to close December 15, 1996.

The winners of the 1997 North American Car and Truck of the Year
awards will be announced at Detroit's North American International
Auto Show on Monday morning, January 6, 1997.

Recipients of the 1996 awards were the Chrysler Minivans (Car of the
Year) and the Ford F-150 Pickup (Truck of the Year).

The 1997 nominees are:

Cars

Acura CL                            Honda Prelude
Acura RL                            Hyundai Tiburon
BMW 5-Series                        Infiniti Q45
BMW Z3                              Jaguar XK8
Buick Century                       Lexus ES300
Buick Park Avenue                   Mercedes-Benz SLK
Cadillac Catera                     Mitsubishi Diamante
Chevy Malibu/Oldsmobile Cutlass     Mitsubishi Mirage
Ford Escort/Mercury Tracer          Pontiac Grand Prix
Ford Taurus SHO                     Saturn Coupe
General Motors Minivans -           Subaru Impreza Outback
(Venture, Silhouette, Transport)    Toyota Camry

Trucks

Dodge Dakota                        Mitsubishi Montero Sport
Ford Expedition                     Toyota RAV4
Jeep Wrangler                       Toyota 4Runner
Nissan Pathfinder