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Auto.com Expands Coverage for the Detroit Auto Show

31 December 1997

Auto.com Expands Coverage for the Detroit Auto Show

    DETROIT, Dec. 31 -- Auto.com, the premiere Web site for auto
news and reviews, will add around-the-clock coverage during the North American
International Auto Show in January.
    Auto.com ( http://www.auto.com ) is a daily online publication of
Michigan's largest daily newspaper, the Detroit Free Press
( http://www.freep.com ).  The Web site features reviews from the nation's top
auto writers, in-depth coverage of the auto industry, and news about driving
and motor sports.
    The Detroit show, expected to draw nearly 900,000 people, is one of the
biggest world events for automakers, consumers and car lovers.  More than
60 vehicles will make their debut this year, including 1999 Volkswagen New
Beetle, the 1999 Chrysler LHS and 300M sedans, the 1999 Chevrolet and GMC
C/K pickup trucks, the 1999 Mercury Cougar and the 1999 Mazda Miata roadster.
    Press previews will begin Sunday, Jan. 4. The show will be open to the
public Jan. 10-19.  Auto.com will provide full coverage of the event and will
also increase its offerings of international and financial news.

    Features will include:
    -- Streaming video from the show
    -- Photo slide shows of new production vehicles and concept cars
    -- In-depth reports by writers of the Detroit Free Press and other
       Knight-Ridder newspaper's
    -- Detroit hotel and restaurant information
    -- Automotive news as it breaks, from around the world
    -- Automotive stock reports, updated throughout the day.

    Since its launch in August 1996, auto.com has attracted an international
readership.  The site is especially popular with consumers researching car
purchases, people in the auto industry, investors and car buffs.
    Auto.com also provides editorial content for CarHunter, the Knight-Ridder
Real Cities service that gives consumers the best information about buying new
and used cars in their communities.
    Knight-Ridder is the nation's second largest newspaper
publisher, with products in print and online.  The company publishes
31 newspapers in 28 USA markets, reaching 9.6 million readers daily and
13.2 million on Sunday.  It maintains 32 associated Web sites and has
investments in two newsprint mills.

SOURCE  Detroit Free Press