MotorWeek Names the Porsche(R) 911(R) GT2 'Best Dream Machine'; IntelliChoice also recognizes the Porsche 911 as the Best Value of the Year

ATLANTA, Feb. 6 -- The turbocharged Porsche 911 GT2, the most powerful production Porsche ever offered for sale on this continent, has been named the Best Dream Machine in the 2002 MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Awards. And for the 13th time, IntelliChoice has recognized the Porsche 911 as the Best Value of the Year in its sport class category.

``The Porsche 911 GT2 stands alone as the ultimate street rocket,'' said John Davis, host of the PBS automotive television show since its inception in 1981. ``It has the kind of performance usually found only in race cars, but we found it to be very comfortable and luxurious for daily driving. Not only did it record the quickest 0 to 60 acceleration time in over two decades of MotorWeek testing, 3.9 seconds, the GT2 beat our best-recorded lap time at our Georgia road test track by over a second. And, it didn't miss a beat as we drove it to dinner that night.''

Based on the new-generation 2001 911 Turbo, the 911 GT2 engine -- a modified version of the 911 Turbo 3.6-liter twin-turbo six-cylinder, horizontally opposed 'boxer' engine -- produces 456 horsepower (SAE) compared to 415 horsepower in the 911 Turbo. While the 911 Turbo comes equipped with all-wheel drive, the 911 GT2 features a rear-wheel drive system to help reduce overall weight by more than 200 pounds.

The Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) system, first offered as an option on the new 911 Turbo, is standard on the 911 GT2. The PCCB system is the first ceramic composite brake disc system offered on a production car, and its ceramic composite discs weigh about 50 percent less than conventional cast iron discs, which reduces unsprung mass and improves suspension response. The 911 GT2 also has larger wheels and tires than the 911 Turbo, a one-piece fixed rear spoiler, larger front air intakes and a new air intake ahead of the front hood.

``Porsche is very honored to receive this great award and to be recognized by MotorWeek, which every week offers objective and insightful information to automotive consumers,'' said Frederick J. Schwab, president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. ``This year the Porsche GT2 has taken its place at the top of the Porsche model line, and this award is a fitting jewel in the car's crown.''

The 2002 MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Awards are based on a compilation of criteria such as superior performance, technology, practicality and dollar value, and they are chosen by a 10-person team of judges comprised of the MotorWeek journalists, staff and crew. In addition to the Best Dream Machine category, the other categories include Best Small Car, Best Family Sedan, Best Minivan, Best Convertible, Best Luxury Sedan, Best Sport Sedan, Best Performance Car, Best Small Sport Utility Vehicle, Best Family Sport Utility Vehicle, Best Pickup Truck, and Best Cross-Over Vehicle.

Not to be outdone, the Porsche 911 Carrera took top honors in the sport class category of IntelliChoice's 2002 Best Overall Value of the Year (BOVY) Awards. The Porsche 911 amassed an impressive 11-year string of consecutive BOVY Awards from 1988 to 1998, and Porsche has received a total of 14 BOVY Awards in the past 15 years (12 for the 911, and two for the 911 Turbo).

The independent information research firm presents BOVY Awards to cars and trucks in 34 separate categories that it considers to be good values and projected to cost significantly less to own than other vehicles within the respective categories. According to IntelliChoice, a ``good value'' is a vehicle whose cost to own and operate is less than expected. The lower the cost to own and operate compared to what is expected, the better the value.

IntelliChoice's value calculation accounts for the price of a vehicle and the accumulated costs of depreciation, maintenance, repairs, fuel, fees, financing and insurance. It analyzes data compiled on more than 1,000 car and truck models and projects what these costs will be for the upcoming five-year ownership cycle.

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga., and its subsidiary, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd., are the exclusive importers of Porsche vehicles for the United States and Canada. A wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG, PCNA employs approximately 200 people who provide Porsche vehicles, parts, marketing and training for its 204 dealers in North America. They, in turn, provide Porsche owners with best-in- class service.