Here Comes Excitement! New Models Unveiled at South Florida Show

MIAMI, Nov. 3, 2004 -- Once again, major manufacturers are using the South Florida International Auto Show to unveil their newest models. The 34th annual exhibition has a full schedule of news conferences on Media Day, Friday, November 5, in the Miami Beach Convention Center. Pontiac will kick things off with a 9:15 a.m. media breakfast featuring Latina racecar driver Milka Duno.

Ford will spotlight the all-new Mustang (along with its new Spanish- language television commercial) and a 30th Anniversary edition of the Mercury Grand Marquis. Our show will host the first-anywhere look at the 50th Anniversary Thunderbird. And Ford will give South Florida its first look at the new Mercury Montego and Ford Five Hundred sedans and the Escape Hybrid.

Bentley will detail 2005 improvements to its popular Continental GT that include voice activation for its telephone, which operates in six languages, and the return of a Mulliner design influence to Bentley: two-toned leather and wood inside, and new 20-inch alloy sports wheels outside.

The Mercedes-Benz SLK for 2005 is slightly larger overall -- longer, wider and taller. The retractable hardtop fits into a trunk with more space than before. The CLS offers a sleek coupe with four doors and a 5-liter V-8. The SLR McLaren has a V-8, too, but it's hand-built by AMG and delivers 617 h.p. in this fast carbon-body touring car. Formula 1 features include shifter paddles and huge 8-piston ceramic brakes. A high tech 5-speed automatic makes it easy for anyone to just cruise to the mall.

The all-new 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee is even more grand, with an elegant new interior. And it's more maneuverable, with three full-time 4x4 systems, a HEMI V-8 for the first time, and a longer, wider platform with new suspension and steering systems. Jeep's mid-sized Liberty SUV gets an optional 2.8 liter diesel engine that delivers the torque of a V-8, the performance of a V-6 and the economy of a four.

Ferrari/Maserati will spotlight a pair at both ends of the budget. The updated versions of Maserati's Quattroporte start at under $100,000. Ferrari has a new 612 Scaglietti sports coupe with an all-aluminum chassis and a V-12 engine for just above $250,000. It offers a stability/traction control system and a specially tuned Bose sound system.

Subaru will share information about a new 7-passenger "crossover utility vehicle" it is developing and Nissan will highlight the distinctive 35th Anniversary edition of its legendary Z car.

Guest speaker for the annual media luncheon is Susan Docherty, new divisional marketing general manager for Hummer. She previously helped launch the Escalade as marketing director for Cadillac, managed marketing and advertising for General Motors in Germany and Switzerland, and helped establish franchises for Saturn, Saab, Isuzu and Geo.

Concept cars always draw a crowd and Chrysler leads the pack this year with two cars as different as can be. One offers three cylinders and 100 horsepower. The other hides a monster V-12 with 850 horses. The Dodge Sling Shot is an affordable, practical car with a 5-speed gear box that delivers fun and 45 mpg at the same time. Removable, storable roof panels make the Sling Shot perfect for Florida open air driving. Chrysler's ME Four-Twelve is a mid- engine brute with the svelte shape of a Formula 1 Euro-racer. The 6-liter engine spins four turbo-chargers and roars this two-seater to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds. Other features are the real deal: a 7-speed Ricardo transmission, paddle shifters, light weight carbon fiber body, huge brakes with 6-piston calipers and computer-controlled downforce devices. A commuter car? If you must, it's also at home on the highway.

                         SCHEDULE OF PRESS EVENTS
                         Friday, November 5, 2004

  EVENT                         LOCATION                       TIME

  GM                   Miami Beach Convention Center           9:15 a.m.
                             (Pontiac Display)
                       Milka Duno, Latina Race Car Driver

  FORD                 Miami Beach Convention Center           9:45 a.m.
                             (Ford Display)

  BENTLEY              Miami Beach Convention Center           10:30 a.m.
                             (Million Dollar Alley)

  MERCEDES-BENZ        Miami Beach Convention Center           11:15 a.m.
                             (Mercedes-Benz Display)

  PRESS LUNCHEON       Miami Beach Convention Center           Noon
                             (Mezzanine)
                       Susan E. Docherty, HUMMER

  SUBARU               Miami Beach Convention Center           1:15 p.m.
                             (Subaru Display)

  DAIMLER-CHRYSLER     Miami Beach Convention Center           1:45 p.m.
                             (Jeep Display)

  SOBRE RUEDAS         Miami Beach Convention Center           2:15 p.m.
                             (TBA)

  FERRARI MASERATI     Miami Beach Convention Center           2:45 p.m.
                             (Million Dollar Alley)

  NISSAN               Miami Beach Convention Center           3:15 p.m.
                             (Nissan Display)

  XM SATELLITE RADIO   Miami Beach Convention Center           4-5 p.m.
                             (Million Dollar Alley)

                             Press Reception