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Inside Automotives International Crowns the Best Automotive Interiors of 1998

14 November 1997

Best Automotive Interiors of 1998 Crowned at Inside Automotives International's Black Tie Affair

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Nov. 14 -- The best automotive interior
designs for the 1998 model year were honored last night at Inside Automotives
International's "Interior of the Year Awards" banquet at the Westin Hotel,
Renaissance Center, Detroit.
    Before an elite audience comprised of the leading automotive interior
suppliers and the chief interior design teams from the finalists, one award
was given to the best-in-class vehicle interior from each of four categories
-- Car, Truck, Luxury, and Best Re-Design.  The winners are:

    INTERIOR OF THE YEAR AWARD -- Car Category
    Winner: Dodge Intrepid
    Award accepted by: Frank Klegon, executive engineer of interior and
thermal systems engineering, large car platform, Chrysler Corp.

    INTERIOR OF THE YEAR AWARD -- Truck Category
    Winner: Lincoln Navigator
    Award accepted by: Graham Symonds, chief designer, Lincoln

    INTERIOR OF THE YEAR AWARD -- Luxury Car Category
    Winner: Cadillac Seville
    Award accepted by: Dennis Little, vehicle chief designer, and Liz Wetzel,
vehicle chief designer, Cadillac Studio

    INTERIOR OF THE YEAR AWARD -- Best Re-Design
    Winner: Ford Escort ZX2
    Award accepted by: Kaywin Goodman, chief program engineer, Ford Escort ZX2

    Although keynote speaker Apollo 13 Astronaut Jim Lovell received a
standing ovation, the real stars of the evening were the vehicle finalists.
KPMG compiled the results of the judging process, which took several months
and included such criteria as design, styling, innovative use of materials,
attention to safety, value, and consumer appeal.
    There was a heightened sense of excitement to this year's black tie affair
because no one knew the results ahead of time, as they did in year's past.
The top interior designer teams from every vehicle finalist were present, and
those accepting awards spoke candidly about the challenges they overcame in
making their winning vehicle's interior successfully execute their vision.
    Complete coverage of the winning vehicles and exclusive interviews with
the design teams and key interior suppliers will appear in the January 1998
issue of Inside Automotives International.  For immediate coverage and
pictures of the event, visit the magazine's website at
http://www.insideautomotives.com.

SOURCE  Inside Automotives International