1999 Golden Tachometer Car of the Year Awards announced by The Auto Channel

11 August 1999

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 Volkswagens 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.

BMWs 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 Internets 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.

Company Contact:
Marc Rauch
(502) 584-4100
(916) 852-1956
email: mjrauch@theautochannel.com

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