Car and Driver Rolls '10Best' Tour Into Malls
4 May 2000
Car and Driver Rolls '10Best' Tour Into Malls; Somerset Collection Next Stop
ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 4 And they're off! ... again. Car
and Driver magazine is rolling its annual "10Best Tour Across America" into
malls across the nation. The tour stops next in metro Detroit at the Somerset
Collection North, May 5 - May 14. Mall hours are as follows: Monday-Saturday,
10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.
For eighteen years, Car and Driver has been selecting the 10Best vehicles
sold in America. This year 63 nominees were selected from the nearly 300
vehicles offered on the market. They were gathered for an intensive week of
objective and subjective testing after which 15 editors rated every vehicle.
This year's ten winners are: the Audi A6 2.7T/A6 4.2, the Audi TT, the BMW 3-
series, the BMW 5-series, the Chrysler 300M, the Ford Focus, the Honda Accord,
the Honda S2000 and the Porsche Boxster.
"The car industry is red hot and ultra-competitive. With this year's
outstanding crop of cars and trucks, our 10Best selection were more
challenging than ever," said Csaba Csere, (pronounced: Chubba Chedda), editor-
in-chief of Car and Driver. "The tour provides anyone in the market for a new
vehicle with an excellent opportunity to learn about some of the best cars
available, by reading our evaluations, studying the manufacturers
specifications, and examining several of the cars in the metal."
The exhibit, features five of the 10Best selections along with interactive
kiosks, graphic displays, and product specialists. Vehicles that will be on
the tour are the Chrysler 300M, Ford Focus, Honda S2000, Audi A6 2.7T/A6 4.2,
and Audi TT.
"The tour allows us to bring the editorial pages of our 10Best issue to
life," said Peter Saad, vice president/associate group publisher, Car and
Driver. "The combination of interactive displays and exhibits along with a
product specialist for each of the vehicles lets consumers evaluate each car
in a non-pressure environment. The specialists, trained by Car and Driver,
are totally versed on the vehicles. If they do not have the information that
you need, they can direct you to where you can get it. The interactive
program allows you to go through the process of selection, and read reports
from the manufacturer on why they believe their product was chosen."
The 10Best award is given only to those 10 models that best address the
driving habits, lifestyles, and budgets of their intended buying audience
while also meeting the discerning standards of Car and Driver's enthusiastic
readers.
Contenders must go on sale by the end of January 2000. Base price,
including freight, dealer prep, luxury and gas-guzzling taxes, if they apply,
must not exceed Car and Driver's price cap of $61,000 for this year. The cap
ensures that the list is not populated by vehicles that only Donald Trump can
afford.
Last year's winners are automatically re-nominated provided they are still
for sale and under the price cap. Information is gathered through new-car
introductions, press kits, and data banks to identify all the models that have
been significantly upgraded since the previous year.
Members of the Car and Driver staff give vehicles making the final cut a
week long test. They rate each vehicle on a scale of 0 to 100.
For updates, manufacturing reports and information regarding designer and
engineering "chat room discussions" with some of this year's 10Best winners,
enthusiasts can visit: http://www.caranddriver.com , or the dedicated 10Best website:
http://www.10Best.com .
Car and Driver magazine, headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., is the world's
largest circulation automotive magazine and the premier source of information
for automobile enthusiasts. Content includes everything from new car
previews, road tests and features to industry news and automotive humor.