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MSN CarPoint Steers Chicago Man to Unforgettable Detroit Auto Show Experience

2 February 2000

MSN CarPoint Steers Chicago Man to Unforgettable Detroit Auto Show Experience - From the Comfort of His Home

    Winner of MSN CarPoint Most Unforgettable Cars Sweepstakes Drives Away
                       In a 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle

    CHICAGO, Feb. 2 -- Two big winners emerged in the MSN(TM)
CarPoint(TM) Most Unforgettable Cars poll and sweepstakes:  the Volkswagen New
Beetle and a 44-year-old Chicago water department employee, Louis Atkins.
    To mark its third year as the exclusive Internet site for the North
American International Auto Show (NAIAS), the CarPoint online automotive
service offered visitors to its site the chance to win an "unforgettable" car,
by naming their most unforgettable cars in 10 categories that included Most
Unforgettable Family Car, Most Unforgettable Race Car and Most Unforgettable
Truck or SUV. Poll participants were automatically entered into a sweepstakes
drawing.
    The Volkswagen New Beetle, lauded at last year's NAIAS as the best car of
the year, was the only car in the poll to capture the hearts and votes of both
consumers and CarPoint editors alike, ranking as the "Most Unforgettable
Comeback Car." Atkins, a Chicago native and new user of CarPoint, was selected
as the sweepstakes winner in a drawing of more than 35,000 entries.
    Today, Atkins will receive the sweepstakes prize of an "unforgettable"
2000 Volkswagen New Beetle. Days after hearing the exciting news, the initial
shock had not worn off. "I'm kind of numb," Atkins said. "I still can't
believe it."
    What started out as a favor for a friend ended up paying off big for
Atkins. When a buddy asked him to help shop for a car online, Atkins clicked
on to CarPoint, which he says is the best place on the Internet to research
and buy a car. As he was checking the car reviews and pricing information,
Atkins became engrossed in the site's user-friendly technology and was
particularly impressed with surround video, offering 360-degree views of the
cars. He saw the Most Unforgettable Cars sweepstakes and entered on a whim,
and the rest, he says, was -- unforgettable!
    Another reason Atkins says he is thrilled about the arrival of his new car
is that his 1983 Chevy Impala is "ready to go at any minute." His only concern
about winning the car is figuring out how to fit his 6-foot-9-inch frame into
the compact Beetle. It promises to be an "unforgettable" experience.

    About CarPoint
    One of the Internet's most established sites, CarPoint is a comprehensive
automotive Web site offering users complete car-buying and car-care
information. First available in July 1996, CarPoint gives users fast,
convenient access to detailed specifications and pricing information, reviews
and advice from leading automotive writers, interactive decision-management
tools, and personalized maintenance and recall information. CarPoint is
available free on the World Wide Web at http://www.carpoint.com/ (connect-time
charges may apply).

    About Microsoft
    Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in
software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range
of products and services designed to empower people through great
software -- any time, any place and on any device.
    NOTE:  Microsoft, MSN and CarPoint are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. The
names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks
of their respective owners.