Jerry Flint to Receive ROAD & TRAVEL Magazine's 2nd Annual Lifetime Achievement Award at 2005 International Car of the Year Awards

Gala event includes the first ever HEART STRING AWARD for the most emotionally compelling car commercial of 2004

DETROIT, Dec. 22 -- ROAD & TRAVEL Magazine (RTM) will present its second annual Lifetime Achievement Award to veteran automotive journalist and native Detroiter, Jerry Flint of Forbes Magazine on January 8, 2005 at the 9th Annual International Car of the Year Awards (ICOTY).

Flint has achieved a lifetime of outstanding contributions to the automotive industry. He has covered everything from foreign policy makers, to the nation's economy, to the world scene, but has written most prodigiously about the auto industry. In addition to his 30+ years with Forbes Magazine, Flint has written for The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Ward's, and TheCarConnection.com. Although Flint "retired" in 1996, he still writes six columns per month and continues to receive numerous awards for his work.

"Tonight is not just about celebrating cars and trucks," said RTM EDITOR- IN-CHIEF Courtney Caldwell. "Last year we created the Lifetime Achievement Award to honor the people who help get the word out about the products themselves and the companies and people who create them -- and Jerry Flint has done just that. He has seen it all and reported on most of it."

Additionally, the first annual RTM HEART STRING AWARD will be presented to an automaker and its agency with the most emotionally compelling car commercial that ran on national TV in 2004. The three finalists with outstanding achievement in reflecting the connection between car and consumer are: Soap from Chevrolet/Campbell-Ewald; Steve McQueen's Mustang from Ford/J. Walter Thompson; and Saturday from Hyundai/The Richard Group.

The 2005 ICOTY Awards will feature three guest presenters. Recording artist Alexander Zonjic will present the award for Car of the Year. Former All-Star Tiger Pitcher Dan Petry will present the award for Most Resourceful in the SUV category. Lastly, Edward Foxworth III, host of CBS Detroit's Street Beat, will present the Most Versatile award for the crossover/sport wagon category.

Sponsors for the ICOTY Awards include Shell Oil Products US, Bridgestone/Firestone Tires, General Motors Corporation, Dolby Laboratories, Ford Motor Company, Detroit Marriott Renaissance Hotel, OnStar, Hyundai Motor America, BMW NA, DaimlerChrysler Corporation, GMAC Financial Services, Bose Corporation, Nissan North America, American Honda Motor Company, Subaru of America, U-Haul International, Google, Tower Automotive, and ArvinMeritor Inc. In addition, MSN Autos is the 2005 media sponsor.

ROAD & TRAVEL Magazine, established in 1989, is a comprehensive online magazine specializing in travel, automotive and personal safety topics. RTM provides content and resources from which consumers can make informed and intelligent decisions regarding their automotive, travel and personal safety needs. For more information, please visit our Web site at http://www.roadandtravel.com/ .