The Auto Channel Announces its First Annual Golden Tachometer Car of The Year Awards
12 August 1998
GOLDIES to be presented to Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Volvo, Mitsubishi, Buick, Saab, Volkswagen, Infiniti, Toyota, Honda, Bentley and Audi
For Immediate Release
LOUISVILLE, KY & SACRAMENTO, CA; August 7, 1998 -- For the first time in its eleven-year history, The Auto Channel has named twelve vehicles as winners of the Golden Tachometer Award. The Goldies are being presented to the cars and trucks that The Auto Channel believes were the best of the 1998 new model year.
Each of The Auto Channel's twenty correspondents and contributing editors were polled for their opinions on twelve classifications. The final results represent the highest number of votes in each class. Judgement criteria included design, comfort, handling, performance, technological advancement, and overall value. Vehicle price (MSRP) played a major role in the decision making process.
Although not a criteria in the selection process, The Auto Channel tried to limit nominees to vehicles easily accessible to consumers. The categories are: luxury, convertible, SUV, coupe, minivan, wagon, truck, sports car, sedan, compact, ultra luxury, and best overall.
The award for Best Luxury Car goes to the Infiniti Q45. With its elegant, understated appearance and amazingly smooth ride, it outpointed its more high profile competitors such as Lexus, Mercedes, Audi, and Acura.
Volvo's C70 is the hands-down favorite for Best Convertible. Its strict safety guidelines, un-stereotypical Volvo body design, superior handling, and luxurious creature comforts set it apart from all other vehicles in its category. The fact that Volvo decided to manufacture a type of automobile that is historically at the bottom of the safety chain proves that the C70 meets some hefty guidelines.
Mercedes-Benz captures the Best Sports Utility Vehicle for its ML320. Superior handling; imaginative utilization of size and interior space; and the relatively low cost of the vehicle propelled the ML320 to the top.
The Goldie for Best Coupe of The Year goes to Honda Accord. No longer just a shortened version of the sedan, the Accord coupe came into its own with a separate identity. The new distinctive body style, spacious interior, low cost, and V6 powerhouse separated it from the other nominees in its class. The overall package makes a sensible, yet stylish statement.
The Saab 9-5 wins the Golden Tachometer for the Best Sedan. An expansive interior with a decidedly Saab exterior, coupled with a multitude of standard creature comforts at a low cost, make the 9-5 an intelligent purchasing choice.
The Minivan of The Year goes to the Toyota Sienna. The Sienna combines outstanding safety with reliable handling, a sleek body design, comfortable interior, a powerful engine, and Toyota's well-earned reputation for reliability.
Audi's A4 Avant receives The Auto Channel's Golden Tachometer award for Best Wagon. It demonstrates superb handling, safety, and style without compromising its ability to carry a significant amount of cargo.
The Ford F-150, though previously under-powered, made a positive impression on the entire TACH team. It wins the Golden Tachometer for Truck of The Year. Cab comfort, class-leading towing capacity, and attractive body design elevated it above the other nominees.
The Award for Sports Car of The Year goes to the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder, which demonstrated superior overall design, performance, and driveablity. While overlooked by many enthusiasts, the highly popular Eclipse Spyder represents great value.
Volkswagen's New Beetle is still considered by many as being in a class of it own. However, The Auto Channel named it Best Compact Car. The bug was a unanimous decision. Although everyone at TACH was originally skeptical that Volkswagen could successfully introduce a second generation of its most famous product, once driven all hesitations were dropped.
The winner of the Golden Tachometer Best Overall Car of The Year goes to the Buick Regal. This American beauty is a superb combination of design, luxury, comfort, performance, and value. Dollar for dollar, it is the best buy in the new car market.
The Bentley Azure was too outstanding not to be considered for an award, so it receives The Auto Channel's Golden Tachometer for Best Ultra Luxury automobile. Everything about the Azure is first-class, exemplifying beautiful craftsmanship and design. While it carries a hefty price tag, for those who can afford such luxury, the Azure guarantees satisfaction.
Detailed reviews of all the winners can be found directly on The Auto Channel Internet Network at http://www.theautochannel.com/vehicles/new/awards/1998
The Auto Channel was founded in 1987 as a cable television network. TACH produced a nationally syndicated television show from 1989 to 1991. In 1995, TACH migrated to the World Wide Web as an interactive television network, signing online January 1996. It has become the Internet's most complete and comprehensive automotive information resource. TACH covers 18 subject categories; with more than 100,000 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 streaming video library on the internet, including full line factory footage for most of the automobile manufacturers.
The Auto Channel Internet Network can be accessed at "http://www.theautochannel.com". For best results, a 28.8 or higher speed modem and the latest Netscape or Microsoft Explorer Internet browsers should be used.
Company Contact:
Marc Rauch
(502) 584-4100
(916) 852-1956
email: mjrauch@theautochannel.com
