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Newsweek Calls Car and Driver Editor 'Car King'

23 July 1998

Csere, Car and Driver Editor, Named 'Car King' Buzz-Maker by Newsweek Magazine

    ANN ARBOR, Mich., July 23 -- Csaba Csere (pronounced: Chubba
Chedda), editor-in-chief of Car and Driver magazine, joins the likes of
Madonna, Rosie O'Donnell, Oprah Winfrey and Regis Philbin by being named among
Newsweek magazine's top buzz-makers of the moment.
    In an article entitled "The Buzz Machine" (July 27, 1998 issue), Newsweek
writers Rick Marin and Sarah Van Boven describe who's hot buzz-wise and try to
define what buzz is.  They dub Csere "Car King" and write, "Car and Driver
magazine is the country's most popular 'buff book' for a reason -- the editor
in chief has been mouthing off on muscle cars since 1993.  When TV people need
an industry talking head, they call Csere."
    The article defines buzz as "infectious chatter; genuine, street-level
excitement about a hot new person, place or thing."
    "I guess I'm flattered," said Csere whose tart columns, test drive
reports, vehicle reviews and frank observations of the auto industry are read
by car enthusiasts and industry insiders the world around.  "But it's our
talented staff at Car and Driver that creates most of the buzz.  I just get to
be the most visible spokesman.  At least, now I know what it's like for a car
to be named to our 10Best list.  It's great at the moment ... but there's that
awful apprehension about having nowhere to go but down."
    The Newsweek authors write, "Buzz is not hype.  Hype is PR, manufactured
buzz.  Real buzz is organic."  They also explain who's listening to Csere:
"Car dealers nationwide -- it's not unusual to see one of his reviews taped to
the wall."
    Csere has been gaining significant exposure as an industry observer in
past months due to industry events such as the Daimler-Chrysler merger, the
GM-UAW dispute, new vehicle introductions, and Car and Driver's own 1OBest
Tour Across America, a recently completed multi-state exhibition of the 10
best vehicle picks of 1998.
    Car and Driver magazine, headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., is the world's
largest circulation automotive magazine and the premier source of information
for automobile enthusiasts.  Content includes everything from new car
previews, road tests and features to industry news and automotive humor.