Mazda Brand-Essence Photo Contest Winner

IRVINE, Calif., March 25 -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today announced Joseph Corrigan of Hawthorne, N.Y., as the winner of a photo contest that asked consumers to capture on film the essence of "Zoom-Zoom," the company's brand slogan. Corrigan will receive a 2005 Mazda vehicle of his choice for his exhilarating and inspired shot of a young boy on a tire-rope swing.

The promotion was part of an integrated marketing campaign that launched with a 12-page advertising section in October 2004 issues of nine Conde Nast publications, including GQ, Details, House & Garden, Lucky, Cargo, Vanity Fair, Bon Appetit, Conde Nast Traveler, and Wired.

"For nearly five years, Mazda has used the words 'Zoom-Zoom' to describe the emotion of motion and the thrill of driving our customers have behind the wheel of our products," said Don Romano, vice president of marketing for MNAO. "This contest allowed thousands of consumers the opportunity to reflect on exactly what Zoom-Zoom meant to them, by capturing it in one simple photograph, and we think Mr. Corrigan hit the nail on the head with his snapshot."

Noted photographer Richard Bailey, who shot the Mazda advertising section for Conde Nast, including his personal vision of "Zoom-Zoom," served as the photo contest judge, ultimately selecting Corrigan's photo from a group of 50 finalists. Sharon Zartman of Carbondale, Colo., the contest's runner-up will receive a trip anywhere in the continental United States, and three third-prize winners will receive a Panasonic D-snap digital camera.

"I'm thrilled my photo was selected and most of all about winning a brand-new Mazda," said Corrigan. "Now I can get behind the wheel and experience the Zoom-Zoom I captured in my photo."

Participants submitted "Zoom-Zoom" photographs to a custom-built CondeNet mini-site (www.ZoomZoomToWin.com) for the chance to win the contest. Corrigan's winning photo, as well as the other 49 finalists' snapshots can be viewed on the Web site and will be featured in an ongoing Mazda-branded mall tour, encouraging Americans to vote for their favorite. Mazda awarded Nancy Wells with the first of two People's Choice Awards on March 15, 2005, and will award the second winner on May 15.

Mazda's highly recognizable "Zoom-Zoom" campaign launched in the summer of 2000, and the company recently unveiled a full-line advertising campaign highlighting the strength of its current lineup and emphasizing the emotion of motion. Mazda's strongest showroom to date now features a lineup of ten vehicles that collectively have won more than 130 industry and consumer awards worldwide, offering something for every driver yearning to add a little "Zoom-Zoom" to his/her driving experience.

Mazda North American Operations is responsible for the sales and marketing, customer parts and service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., MNAO has more than 700 dealerships nationwide.