Finalists Announced in the Best Automotive Dealer Web Site Contest
17 January 2000
Automotive News and Ziff-Davis Publishing Announce Finalists in the Second Annual Best Automotive Dealer Web Site Contest
DETROIT, Jan. 16 -- Automotive News and Ziff-Davis
Publishing, publisher of Yahoo! Internet Life, PC Magazine, PC Computing and
FamilyPC, today announced the 24 finalists in the Second Annual Best
Automotive Dealer Web Site Contest. The contest, which is based on entries
from automotive dealerships and the general public, awards the automotive
dealer Web sites that are most effectively using the Internet to market
themselves to prospective automotive buyers.
The winners of the contest will be announced at a breakfast during the
National Auto Dealer Convention on Saturday, January 22, from 8:30-10:00 a.m.
at the Orlando World Marriott Hotel.
A panel of judges comprised of Ziff-Davis Publishing and Automotive News
editors and Web professionals reviewed the contest entries and selected
finalists in the following categories:
Most User Friendly: Gunn Automotive Group, San Antonio, Tex; Bellavia
Audi, West New York, N.J.; Clearwater Toyota, Clearwater, Fla.
Most Innovative: Liberty Auto City, Libertyville, Ill.; Al Serra
Chevrolet, Grand Blanc, Mich.; Barwick Automotive, San Juan Capistrano,
Calif.
Best Content: Berlin Chrysler Plymouth, Berlin, N.J.; Rowe Auburn,
Auburn, Maine; Bellavia Audi, West New York, N.J.
Best Interactivity: Burt Automotive Network, Englewood, Col.; Mitchell
Buick Sales Inc., Clinton Township, Mich.; Berlin Chrysler Plymouth,
Berlin, N.J..
Service & Parts: Jaguar of Troy, Troy, Mich.; Patrick BMW, Schaumburg,
Ill.; Manhattan Ford, New York, N.Y.
New Cars: Arlington Heights Ford, Arlington Heights, Ill.; Bill Brown
Ford, Livonia, Mich.; Dean Sellers Ford, Troy, Mich.
Pre Owned Cars: Select Transportation, Waterloo, N.Y.; Gregory Dodge
Hyundai, Highland Park, Ill.; and Matway Automotive, Belle Vernon, Penn.
Best Overall Site: Arlington Heights Ford, Arlington Heights, Ill.; Jaguar
of Troy, Troy, Mich.; and Bellavia Audi, West New York, N.J.
According to Peter Brown, executive editor and associate publisher of
Automotive News, "The Internet has forever changed the way buyers and sellers
interact with one another. In order to maintain a competitive advantage,
dealers need to design innovative, user-friendly Web sites and we are happy to
recognize their efforts through this contest."
"Ziff-Davis Publishing is proud to co-sponsor with Automotive News this
important contest recognizing automotive dealerships for their Web site
achievements," said Jim Spanfeller, Ziff-Davis Publishing executive vice
president and publishing director. Spanfeller added, "This contest
underscores Ziff-Davis Publishing's commitment to delivering unparalleled
Internet editorial expertise and a premium readership with the highest
concentration of online users and buyers."
Members of the press are welcome to attend the breakfast at the National
Auto Dealer Convention.
About Automotive News
Automotive News began publishing as Automotive News Daily on
August 25, 1925. It became a weekly in June 1938 and was purchased by Crain
Communications in 1971. Since then, the Automotive News editorial staff has
grown to more than 50 reporters and editors with bureau offices in New York,
Washington, Los Angeles, Nashville, London and Tokyo. The newsweekly provides
in-depth coverage of the auto industry and is written for original equipment
manufacturers, their franchised dealers and suppliers. Automotive News'
circulation is over 81,000, and is the only 100% paid publication in the
industry.
About Ziff-Davis Publishing
Ziff-Davis Publishing is the largest computing and Internet magazine
publisher and the sixth largest magazine publisher in the U.S. With more than
80 worldwide publications serving the consumer and business-to-business
markets, Ziff-Davis' publications cover everything from the Internet economy
to family computing and gaming. Among Ziff-Davis Publishing's U.S.
publications are Yahoo! Internet Life, PC Magazine, PC Computing and FamilyPC.
Yahoo! Internet Life has firmly established itself as the Voice of the
Net, by covering how and where to find the best of the Web. In turn, readers
have made Yahoo! Internet Life the fastest growing and best-selling consumer
Internet magazine in the nation with a 900,000 strong rate base.
PC Magazine (http://www.pcmag.com), America's leading technology magazine,
delivers the most authoritative, labs-based comparative reviews of computing
and Internet products to more than 6.4 million highly engaged technology
buyers. It's the only magazine with in-depth reviews and accurate, repeatable
testing from PC Magazine Labs placed in the unique context of today's business
technology landscape.
PC Computing's award-winning editorial delivers technology-based business
strategies and solutions to help companies prosper in the Internet age. A 1999
National Magazine Award winner written for business leaders intent on
leveraging technology for competitive advantage, PC Computing is a trusted
guide for 5.8 million monthly readers.
FamilyPC educates, inspires, and empowers families to get the most out of
life in the 21st century. FamilyPC, the new parenting headquarters, connects
real families to real answers, speaking to the issues that touch the lives of
today's concerned parents.