Nitra Website Solutions to Help Auto Dealers

SEATTLE--Oct. 2, 20056, 2005--

Cobalt SearchStream(TM) Maximizes Search Engine Results

The Cobalt Group, the leading provider of marketing services for the automotive market, today announced the launch of Cobalt SearchStream(TM) a new website feature that works with interactive Flash(R) technology to create a lasting impression on car buyers and prospects while maximizing search engine results. SearchStream(TM) is the first in a series of search optimization enhancements coming from Cobalt.

Cobalt SearchStream(TM) works in conjunction with next generation Nitra(TM) website designs and interactive inventory features to ensure that major search engines like Google and Yahoo are able to "crawl" dealer websites and deliver higher search engine rankings without dealer editing or customization. All Cobalt dealer customers who are currently using the Nitra(TM) website platform can take advantage of SearchStream(TM) at no additional cost.

"The increasing use of search engines has created new opportunities for dealers to reach potential customers," said Scott Mathews, General Manager of Cobalt's Applications Business Unit. "With 70% of car buyers starting their buying process with search engines, Cobalt dealers will benefit by ranking higher with popular sites like Google, Yahoo, MSN and Ask Jeeves."

"Cobalt now offers dealers the best of both worlds: interactive design with search engine friendly content," said Jeff Walker, Group Product Manager of Online Retailing Solutions. "New Flash(R) designs are both professional looking and functional, with interactivity designed to pull consumers into dealer websites to submit a lead. SearchStream(TM) ensures that search engine spiders can index dealer website content, resulting in higher search placement and driving more customers to dealers using Cobalt Nitra website technology."

    SearchStream(TM) is included in the following new website
features:

    All Exiting Nitra(TM) Designs and Layouts
    All Nitra(TM) websites now include SearchStream(TM), making Cobalt
        websites organically search engine friendly with no extra
        effort from the dealer.

    New Digitalis website designs
    Digitalis designs make a big impact with widescreen resolution,
        interactive content, animated effects, and rotating vehicle
        images. Integrated dealership contact information and lead
        forms make it easier for customers to submit a lead inquiry.
        All Digitalis designs include SearchStream(TM) to optimize
        their search engine rankings.

    Interactive Flash Showroom
    Promotes new vehicle models with attractive graphics and
        animation, while providing online shoppers with one-click
        access to available inventory or quote forms to encourage more
        leads.

    Cobalt dealer customers can get better optics into how
SearchStream(TM) is boosting their website performance and visibility
by using the following new performance measuring tool:

    Dealer Dashboard
    Consolidates important performance metrics from Cobalt websites
        including search and inventory trends, email leads and Media
        Tracker phone-ups. Side by side phone lead and email lead
        information shows the true ROI of dealership websites. Search
        trending helps dealers make informed advertising decisions.
        Graphical dashboard displays allow dealers to easily
        understand and improve retailing processes and make informed
        decisions on how to get more, high quality leads at a lower
        cost.

About The Cobalt Group

The Cobalt Group is North America's leading provider of automotive marketing services. For more than a decade, Cobalt's exclusive mission has been to help automobile dealers and manufacturers increase their retailing effectiveness and profits. Cobalt provides marketing services to more than half the automotive dealerships in the United States, Canada and Mexico and is endorsed by more than two-thirds of the world's major automotive manufacturers. Cobalt is endorsed by the American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA) and the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA(R)).

Flash(R) is a registered trademark of Macromedia, Inc. Cobalt and The Cobalt Group are trademarks of The Cobalt Group, Inc. All other trademarks and tradenames are the property of their respective owners.