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Car and Driver Names Eight Foreign Models to 2001 10Best List

11 December 2000

Car and Driver Names Eight Foreign Models to 2001 10Best List

      Chrysler's PT Cruiser Makes Cut; Upgraded Mazda Miata Rejoins List

    ANN ARBOR, Mich., Dec. 11 Car and Driver magazine today
announced the winners of its 19th annual 10Best cars competition as detailed
in its January 2001 issue, on sale today.
    This year's 10Best cars are:

    *  Audi A6 2.7T/A6 4.2 (2)                 *  Ford Focus (2)
    *  Audi TT (2)                             *  Honda Accord (15)
    *  BMW 3-series (10)                       *  Honda S2000 (2)
    *  BMW 5-series (5)                        *  Mazda MX-5 (6)
    *  Chrysler PT Cruiser (1)                 *  Porsche Boxster (4)

   (Numbers in parentheses indicate total number of times the vehicle has been
named to the 10Best list.)

    New to the 2001 10Best list are the Chrysler PT Cruiser and the returning
Mazda MX-5 Miata, which replace last year's 10Best winners, the Chrysler 300M
and the Lexus GS300/GS400.
    A 15-member panel of Car and Driver editors with a combined 358 years of
experience gathered in Ann Arbor this past fall to determine the winners by
rating them on a scale of 1 to 100.
    While all cars, minivans, SUVs and pickups offered in U.S. showrooms by
January 2001 are eligible, only a select few make the cut.  Finalists must
fall below a price cap determined by multiplying the average transaction price
as of summer 2000 -- $24,800 according to National Automobile Dealers
Association -- by 2.5, which equals $62,000.
    To further streamline the process, the magazine automatically renominates
the previous year's winners if they are still available and under the price
cap.  It then identifies new or substantially upgraded vehicles for 2001.
Older vehicles that fall outside these two categories and have already had a
shot do not get a second chance.  This year, the process yielded 67 nominees.
    "Smart carmakers are devoting their efforts to developing cars and trucks
that are desirable enough to attract customers without heavy discounts -- ones
that deliver extra helpings of style, performance, value and driver
satisfaction.  Those are exactly the kinds of cars and trucks we look for in
making our 10Best selections," said Editor-in-Chief Csaba Csere.
    10Best began in 1983 with the desire to produce a list devoted to
automotive excellence.  However, in keeping with the personality of the
magazine, the staff did not believe that just one car could represent its
diverse readership and circulation.  So, they selected 10 cars.
    Articles, photographs and video of the 10Best cars can be seen on Car and
Driver's Web site, http://www.caranddriver.com .  Visitors are encouraged to join Car
and Driver's online, interactive forums to tell the magazine's editors if they
agree or disagree with their selections.
    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.