Chrome Data Announces Carbook 4.0; Delivers Intuitive User Interface and Unprecedented Customization Capabilities With New Administrative Design Tool
13 November 2000
Chrome Data Announces Carbook 4.0; Delivers Intuitive User Interface and Unprecedented Customization Capabilities With New Administrative Design Tool
PORTLAND, Ore.--Nov. 13, 2000--Chrome Data Corporation, the automotive industry's most accurate independent business-to-business provider of data and configuration technology and software for pricing and specifying cars on the lot and on the Web, today announced the availability of Chrome Carbook(TM) 4.0, the latest in a series of upgrades to its leading vehicle research, pricing and specification platform.Carbook 4.0 delivers a number of enhancements, including a more intuitive user interface and a new administrative design tool, Chrome TouchUp(TM), that provides Chrome clients with a fast and easy way to seamlessly integrate Chrome Carbook into the existing look and feel of their Web sites. Chrome Carbook 4.0 enables Chrome clients -- including dealers, online portals and finance and insurance companies -- greater customization of their Web sites and allows them richer functionality with access to the most accurate vehicle pricing and specification data available.
"Our clients are our number one priority so when they ask for something, we listen," said Chrome CEO Bob Navarre. "We're focused on delivering the most accurate vehicle data and configuration intelligence that allows only orderable cars to be specified. With Carbook 4.0 our clients can offer their customers great functionality while preserving their own brand."
The new features in Carbook 4.0 are a direct result of client feedback and independent consumer research and include the following enhancements:
| -- | A new user interface that is more reflective of the usage patterns demonstrated by consumers visiting auto-selling Web sites. |
| -- | A side-by-side vehicle comparison feature that is easier to use and allows only orderable vehicles to be compared for the most accurate comparison. |
| -- | A new TouchUp administrative Web design tool that allows Chrome clients to easily customize the `look and feel' of Chrome Carbook to match their existing user interface, preserving the font and color schemes of their Web site. The tool allows changes to be uploaded to the Web site in minutes so the changes can be seen immediately. |
| -- | A modified payment method calculation feature that provides consumers information about what vehicles they can afford for the monthly amount they wish to pay, earlier in the process. |
| -- | A new trade-in feature that helps consumers begin their trade-in process online, shortening the sales cycle. |
As in previous versions, Chrome Carbook 4.0 also provides consumers with a wide range of vehicle information including the most accurate MSRP and invoice pricing, extensive technical specifications, consumer ratings, vehicle news and reviews and safety, recall, rebate and warranty information.
The Web-based software upgrade automatically became operational today to current Chrome clients at no additional cost.
About Chrome Data
Chrome Data pioneered the technology behind electronic vehicle configuration and for the past 14 years has collected, analyzed and enhanced "raw" automotive data from all manufacturers. Chrome's configuration technology platform allows dealers, Internet portals, financial institutions and insurance and warranty companies to provide their customers with tools to configure vehicles both online and on the desktop -- including specifications on all new vehicle makes and models, standard and optional equipment, vehicle pictures and accurate pricing. This information precisely matches manufacturers' invoice and MSRP pricing, enabling users to configure and order any vehicle sold in the U.S. with the confidence that the delivered product and price are exactly what was expected. Chrome's flagship product, the desktop research, pricing and ordering tool PC Carbook(R), is widely accepted as the standard in automotive data. Chrome's Web-based product, Chrome Carbook(TM), can be accessed from more than 1,000 Web sites across the Internet. The company is based in Portland, Ore., and may be reached at 800/936-8906. Company information is available at http://www.chrome.com/.