American Suzuki Rides With Colavita as New Sponsor of Men's and Women's Cycling Teams

Forenza Wagon to Be Featured as Official Team Vehicle Throughout 2006/2007 Racing Seasons

BREA, Calif., March 9 -- To further communicate its "Way of Life" brand strategy and illustrate how its products play an integral part of consumers' active lifestyles, American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) today announced a multi-year agreement with the Colavita men's and women's cycling teams. The team sponsorship makes Suzuki the official motor vehicle sponsor of both the Colavita Olive Oil/Sutter Home Winery Men's Cycling Team and Colavita/Cooking Light Women's Cycling Team.

"Suzuki and the Colavita men's and women's cycling teams are a perfect fit," said Tom Carney, director of sales and marketing of American Suzuki Automotive Operations. "ASMC's sponsorship of Team Colavita Cycling is a natural extension of Suzuki's 'Way of Life' philosophy, which focuses on adventure-seeking enthusiasts who choose to live life instead of watch it go by."

As part of the sponsorship agreement, both the Colavita Olive Oil/Sutter Home Winery Men's Cycling Team and Colavita/Cooking Light Women's Cycling Team will use a custom-wrapped Suzuki Forenza Wagon as their team vehicle throughout the 2006/2007 racing seasons. Additionally, the men's team will display the Suzuki logo on their race uniforms in 2007.

"We are pleased to welcome American Suzuki Motor Corporation as a sponsor of the Colavita men's and women's cycling teams," said John Profaci, vice president of marketing of Colavita Olive Oil. "The versatility of the Forenza Wagons will be a real asset for our teams as they travel across the country to race and train."

The Colavita Olive Oil/Sutter Home Winery Men's Cycling Team began the season ranked #2 in USA Cycling's standings after just three seasons on the pro circuit. Some of the team's top cyclists include Mark McCormack, ranked #2 in the NRC Men's Individual Standings and a former USPRO Road Champion; Belarus-native and two-time winner of the International Cycling Classic Viktor Rapinski; Kyle Wamsley, who ranked first at the Tour of Somerville and third at the USPRO & USCF Criterium Championships in 2005; and Davide Frattini of Varese, Italy, winner of La Vuelta de Bisbee and the Giro d'Italia Elite under 26.

With the signing of 2005 NRC Champion and four-time National Criterium Champion Tina Pic and other former members of the Quark squad, the Colavita/Cooking Light Women's Cycling Team enters the 2006 racing season with its strongest line up to date. The team's top returning cyclists include Canadian Time Trial champion and Fitchburg Longsjo winner Sue Palmer-Komar, and Dotsie Cowden, who distinguished herself with breakthrough rides at the Tour of Gila and Tour of Altoona in 2005.

Suzuki's sponsorship of the Colavita men's and women's cycling teams supports its emerging and invigorating "Way of Life" brand advertising campaign, designed to increase brand awareness and catapult the company into the outdoor enthusiast automotive landscape. In 2006, Suzuki will look to promote its sponsorship of the cycling teams through national and local programs/initiatives, including locally based dealer efforts.

2006 Forenza Wagon

The 2006 Forenza Wagon, which will be featured throughout the Team Colavita men's and women's racing season, offers a sporty appearance that provides first-class visibility, refined and spacious interior and overall versatility to meet the needs of consumers' adventurous lifestyles. The Forenza Wagon comes in one well-equipped model with one available upgrade package and a starting MSRP of $14,499.

Suzuki Product Line

Suzuki offers an impressive and versatile product line, which includes the 2006 Grand Vitara, the popular Forenza sedan and Forenza wagon, the five-door Reno, the Aerio and Aerio SX, the Verona and the Suzuki XL-7, one of America's most affordable seven-passenger SUVs.

About American Suzuki

The Automotive Operations of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), Brea, Calif., was founded in 1985 by Suzuki Motor Corporation. ASMC markets its vehicles in the United States through a network of more than 540 automotive dealerships in 49 states. ASMC's parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide automobile, motorcycle and outboard motors manufacturer with sales of more than 2 million new vehicles annually. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, it has operations in 125 countries. For more information, go to www.suzukiauto.com or www.media.suzuki.com.

About the title sponsors of the Colavita Olive Oil/Sutter Home Winery Men's Cycling Team and Colavita/Cooking Light Women's Cycling Team

Now celebrating its 25th year, Colavita USA LLC, headquartered in Linden, NJ, is a leading marketer of Italian specialty food products. A family-owned business, Colavita imports and distributes the #1 brand of Italian extra- virgin olive oil in the U.S. as well as durum wheat semolina pasta, a full selection of balsamic and wine vinegars, and many other fine Italian products. To learn more about Colavita USA, please visit www.Colavita.com.

Trinchero Family Estates is wholly owned and operated by the Trinchero family, Napa Valley vintners since 1948. The company produces the wines of Sutter Home, Trinchero, Montevina, Wild Bunch, Trinity Oaks, Folie a Deux, Menage a Trois, the number one alcohol-removed wine, Fre, and imports Angove's, Reynolds Vineyards and Little Boomey wines of Australia. For more information, visit www.tfewines.com.

Founded in 1987, Cooking Light (www.cookinglight.com) is the world's largest food magazine. Each month, more than 11 million consumers turn to Cooking Light to "eat smart, be fit and live well." CookingLight.com provides daily food and fitness updates, healthy recipes and nutrition advice to millions of unique visitors every year.