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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lisa Shenkle
VERB! Communications
Telephone: (410) 439-4695
E-mail: lshenkle@worldnet.att.net
MPT'S MotorWeek announces 2002 Drivers' Choice Awards
"Made in America" resurgence attributed to competition-driven
innovation
OWINGS MILLS, MD (February 6, 2002): Maryland Public Television's
original automotive magazine, MotorWeek, announced its 20th annual
Drivers' Choice Awards at the Chicago Auto Show today. The winners in
12 categories will be featured on MotorWeek on MPT on February
23, 2002 at 5 p.m., with a repeat on February 28 at 8:30 p.m.
Crowding the list of winners this year are U.S. manufactured vehicles,
which made a better showing than in years past, scooping up the majority
of the awards.
"It's all about competition and good design," said John Davis,
host and executive producer of MotorWeek.
"U.S. auto manufacturers are continually taking an established theme
and driving it to the next level," he said. "This year's crop
of winners shows how the intense competition spurs manufacturers to make
bold moves."
As examples, Davis points to the Cadillac CTS, a design capable of taking
on the best luxury sports sedans from Asia to Europe. From the MotorWeek
team's perspective, the new Dodge Ram sets new standards for trucks that
can be used for either work or play, and the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 can
easily take on the most exotic vehicles in the world, yet costs about
a third as much.
The Drivers' Choice Awards also single out innovative SUVs, such as the
Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer, which pack more space for cargo
and people than anyone ever thought previously possible. The new Ford
Thunderbird proves that the heyday of American motoring is not past, it's
just reborn.
The complete list of award winners is:
1. Best Small Car - Nissan Sentra*
2. Best Family Sedan - Nissan Altima
3. Best Minivan - Dodge Caravan*
Chrysler Voyager*
Chrysler Town & Country*
4. Best Convertible - Ford Thunderbird
5. Best Luxury Sedan - Cadillac CTS
6. Best Sport Sedan - Subaru Impreza WRX
7. Best Performance Car - Chevrolet Corvette Z06
8. Best Small Sport-Utility - Saturn Vue
Vehicle
9. Best Family Sport-Utility - Ford Explorer
Vehicle Mercury Mountaineer
10. Best Pickup Truck - Dodge Ram
11. Best Cross-Over Vehicle - Chevrolet Avalanche
Cadillac Escalade EXT
12. Best Dream Machine - Ferrari 360 Spider
Mercedes-Benz S55 AMG
Porsche 911 GT2
*Denotes repeat winner from 2001
This year's Drivers' Choice Award trophy was created by Maryland artist
Dennis Simon, whose automotive illustrations have been seen nationwide
on the pages of Road & Track, Sports Car International, Automobile
and Vintage Motorsport magazines. Simon's commissioned trophy design evokes
the passion of driving, an underlying principle of the Drivers' Choice
Awards.
The Drivers' Choice Awards were chosen by a team of 10 judges, comprised
of the journalists, staff and crew of MotorWeek. Judges' decisions
were based on superior performance, technology, practicality and dollar
value.
Produced by Maryland Public Television, MotorWeek is nationally
underwritten by eBay Motors. Check out MotorWeek online at www.mpt.org/motorweek.
Maryland Public Television (MPT) is among the largest producers of national
and international programs for public television. Major series include
Wall $treet Week With Louis Rukeyser, MotorWeek, HealthWeek, Mollie
Katzen's Cooking Show and Baking with Julia, hosted by Julia
Child. For more information, visit MPT's Web site at www.mpt.org.
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