CAR AND DRIVER'S "VIRTUAL TEST DRIVE" A CAR
SHOWROOM AT YOUR DESKTOP
Contact: Jade Dressler Communications
212.427.9331, http://pull.xmr3.com/p/244-BB19/4083556/http-mailot-news@jadedressler.com.html
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GO AHEAD, KICK THE TIRES FROM YOUR DESK
CARandDRIVER.comand ROADandTRACK.com’s “Virtual Test Drive” Brings
The Car Showroom Right To A Buyer’s Home or Office
January 8, 2007 – New York, N.Y. – Imagine shopping for your next car, taking a shiny, new model for a test drive, having knowledgeable experts show you the features and get a price quote – all at your own pace – and without having to move an inch. CARandDRIVER.com and ROADandTRACK.com’s “Virtual Test Drive” ( http://pull.xmr3.com/p/244-7F98/4083558/http-www.CarandDriver.com-vtd.html and http://pull.xmr3.com/p/244-4A59/4083565/http-www.RoadandTrack.com-vtd.html) now brings all the fun of visiting a new car dealership - without the hassles. Car-buyers can go online, thoroughly examine new models and virtually test-drive them along with expert commentary and reviews from the magazines’ editors, as well as from manufacturers' engineers.
“Virtual Test Drive’ is a pioneering venture from CAR and DRIVER and ROAD & TRACK which provides automotive manufacturers with a creative way to present their new models,” explains Rob Houghtlin, CAR and DRIVER, VP/Publisher. “The vehicle is digitally showcased along with expert independent editorial reviews and factual statistics from our well-respected magazine editors. This is an enjoyable new way for consumers to gather credible information to make informed purchases.”
Consumers can join famed automotive expert race car driver Tommy Kendall for a virtual one-on-one road test as he takes the vehicle for a drive on a winding country road. Tommy provides running commentary and on-the-spot impressions while the consumer can choose from four vantage points; from the driver’s seat, the passenger seat, the exterior side and over the hood.
You can virtually walk around the car in any direction with features that spin the car so it can be viewed from any angle from both the exterior and interior. The vehicle's features can be examined by clicking a “feature spotlight” to access detailed and colorful animated footage, as well as excerpts from CARandDRIVER.com and ROADandTRACK.com editorial reviews, which highlight and comment on specific features. The Chevrolet Silverado and the Ford Edge are the latest models to be showcased and Chevrolet’s Cobalt debuts in late February.
From details on the frame construction to the interior of the glove compartment, each vehicle can be thoroughly examined and explored. For example, a click on a “spotlight” on the hood of the new Chevrolet Silverado pops it open to slowly bring the viewer in for a closer look at the variable cylinder engine in action. As the demonstration begins, a quote from one of the magazine’s featured editors is displayed and read.
Additional features include access to full reviews and articles from CAR andDRIVER and ROAD & TRACK magazines. To take the process one step further, consumers can request a price quote; locate a dealer; view dealers' inventories; find all vehicles within 100 miles of an area that match the selected model and trim and view window stickers of actual vehicles.
“Virtual Test Drive” joins CAR and DRIVER and ROAD & TRACK’s stable of initiatives beyond the print magazines. Content online, radio, podcasts and the latest offering for mobile devices, round out the media experience for the venerable brands, making them increasingly relevant for younger consumers, in-market buyers, dedicated car enthusiasts, advertisers and the automotive industry.
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About Car and Driver ( http://pull.xmr3.com/p/244-8958/4083561/http-www.caranddriver.com.html)
With a circulation of 1,300,000 in the U.S., Car and Driver magazine is the world's largest, most comprehensive automotive enthusiast publication with six international editions which combine unsurpassed editorial and technical expertise with the ability to place readers in a virtual driver's seat. Car and Driver is a vibrant brand which currently offers interaction with its audience through a website, radio, mobile, podcasting and events. Over 10.5 million people read the magazine each month and more than 1 million go online for CD content. Car and Driver is available on Sirius and XM satellite radio and on Podcastgo. Also, enthusiasts interact with the brand through the ride and drive events conducted for auto manufacturers. Car and Driver is published by Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S.
About Road & Track ( http://pull.xmr3.com/p/244-7A98/4083554/clickto5_track.comwww.roadandtrack.com.html)
Road & Track is America's original car enthusiast publication, with a 60-year track record of providing its audience with the finest road tests of new cars, comparisons for car shopping, over-the-horizon looks at future cars and trends, in-depth technical updates on everything from future fuels to tire technology, and racing features that transport the reader into the pits and paddocks of racing teams around the world. Road & Track’s reputation for integrity and excellence extends from the magazine and into a robust website with interactive features, as well as a live radio program, events and licensed products.
Road & Track is published by Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S.
About Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. ( http://pull.xmr3.com/p/244-48D9/4083563/http-www.hfmus.com-.html)
Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. enthusiast brands reach over 50 million consumers through magazines and millions more on line and through mobile content. The company’s prestigious brands include American Photo, Boating, Car and Driver, Cycle World, ELLE, ELLE Decor, ELLEgirl, Flying, Home, Metropolitan Home, Popular Photography & Imaging, Premiere, Road & Track, Shock, Sound & Vision and Woman's Day. In addition to the print titles, each brand has a digital edition and a web site; and a growing number of Hachette brands, including Car and Driver, ELLE, ELLEgirl, Woman’s Day and Premiere, have brand extensions in television, radio, mobile services and consumer branded events. Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., Inc. also includes book and custom publishing, integrated marketing, database and market research, as well as licensing, and is part of the Lagardère Active Media division of Lagardère SCA ( http://pull.xmr3.com/p/244-8A98/4083564/http-www.lagardere.com-.html) headquartered in France.
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