''New'' iMotors.com Breaks Into Top Ten Online Automotive Properties; Debut Marks First for Resurrected Automobile Buying Brand

    WALNUT CREEK, Calif.--Aug. 13, 2002--Fueled by a new focus on driving high quality traffic, iMotors.com made its debut in the Media Metrix list of top ten automotive properties in June of this year. The iMotors.com service, which provides the fastest, easiest way for consumers to buy a car online, drew more than 1.1 million unique visitors during June, based on Media Metrix data.
    iMotors' traffic has increased more than 240 percent since the service was relaunched under a new business model last year, according to John Truchard, vice president of automotive services for Next Phase Media, which owns the iMotors service as part of its network. The company's internal Web Trends data showed the service as drawing more than 7.1 million visitors in the second quarter of 2002. When the service relaunched last October, it drew about 300,000 visitors -- mainly due to brand awareness.
    "We have focused on providing high quality service to consumers and dealers, and are drawing a tremendous amount of traffic as a result," Truchard says. "With this type of constant, exponential growth, iMotors has become the fastest-growing automotive service on the Internet. Now there are independently published numbers to prove it."
    Along with the growth in visitors to the service, Truchard also notes that the iMotors' network of partner automotive franchises has grown by more than 500 percent over the past six months.
    Truchard adds, "iMotors.com consistently draws qualified consumers who want to buy a car in the near future. Our partner retailers realize that we're the next best thing to having a customer actually walk through their lot,"

    IMotors, a Next Phase Media company, is the premiere online referral source for qualified business services, leads and professionals. Founded in 2001, Next Phase Media Inc. develops and maintains a network of interactive online marketplaces connecting buyers and sellers in an efficient manner. Other Next Phase Media companies include Carclub.com and iCastle.com. The privately-held company is headquartered in Walnut Creek, California. For more information please visit www.NextPhaseMedia.com.