Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive to be Showcased on NBC Live Special from Detroit on January 23

'International Auto Show' to bring famed Motor City extravaganza into America's living rooms with NASCAR announcers as hosts

DETROIT, Jan. 20 -- America's and the world's most popular hybrid vehicle, the Toyota Prius, will be one of stars showcased on NBC's two-hour special, the "International Auto Show," on Sunday, January 23.

The program will be broadcast live from the North American International Auto Show in Detroit's Cobo Center on the last day of America's premier automotive event.

The 2005 North American International Auto Show is a two-week event which attracts 800,000-plus visitors and 6,600 journalists each year. The NBC broadcast will enable millions of viewers to visit the show for the first time ever, in the two-hour live broadcast Sunday afternoon starting at 1 p.m. (EST).

The telecast will feature scores of production and concept cars, live political convention-type coverage from the exhibit floor, and test drives of select vehicles, including the 2005 Toyota Prius, by NASCAR stars Jeff Gordon and Kurt Busch, program host Bill Weber and reporter Marty Snyder.

"We are very pleased to have this opportunity to tell the NBC audience about the Hybrid Synergy Drive system in the Prius and the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Lexus RX400h," said John McCandless, Detroit-based national manager for Toyota Corporate Communications. "And, millions of Americans will be able to see what more than 800,000 visitors to the North American International Auto Show have seen over the past two weeks."

While other cars in the program were test driven by the NASCAR stars on high speed test tracks, Toyota delivered a 2005 production Prius to Marty Snyder's home in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Prius was driven to Detroit, with a single fuel stop. During the 700-mile trip over Interstate highways at posted speeds, the Prius averaged just under 50 miles-per-gallon. In addition to high mileage, Prius produces nearly 90 percent fewer smog forming emissions than a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle. Prius is the most popular hybrid vehicle in the United States and the world.

The show will be hosted by Bill Weber, along with Allen Bestwick and Benny Parsons, with reporters Dave Burns and Marty Snyder working the exhibits and special attractions.