ROAD & TRAVEL Magazine Announces
2003 - Top 10 Car of the Year Award

Detroit, MI - January 4, 2003 - ROAD & TRAVEL Magazine, a 14-year-old publication specializing in automotive and travel content for women, announced its “Class of 2003 - Top 10 Most Likely to Succeed” 7th annual automotive awards winners on January 4, 2003. The entertaining Grammy-style presentation, held at the Detroit Marriott Hotel, hosted more than 500 industry leaders and media on the evening before the official opening of the North American International Auto Show. And the winners are…

· Car of the Year: – Mini Cooper

· Best in Class- SUV: Most Likely to Survive Anything – Hummer 2

· Best in Class-Sports Car: Most Sex Appeal – Nissan 350Z

· Best in Class-Classic: Most Likely to Be Remembered – Mini Cooper

· Best in Class-Pick Up Truck: Most Athletic – GMC Sierra HD 1500 Quadrasteer

· Best in Class-Luxury: Most Likely to Inspire Leadership – BMW 7 Series

· Best in Class-Entry Level: Most Vivacious Personality – Mini Cooper

· Best in Class-Minivan/Station Wagon: Most Versatile – Volvo XC90

· Best in Class-Environmentally Friendly - Honda Civic Hybrid

· Best in Class-Sedan: Most Dependable – Infiniti G35 Sedan

The superlative theme on which the awards are presented is designed to demonstrate that vehicles represent more than just camshafts and chrome to consumers. According to publisher and event producer, Courtney Caldwell, “People buy vehicles that reflect their personalities and lifestyles so each RTM award represents those different stages in one's life."

The Awards Board of 12 nationally renowned automotive journalists selected the Top 10 with ballots tabulated by J.D. Power and Associates.

VIPs attending the unique award ceremony included; Senator Debbie Stabenow; Congressman John Dingell; J.D. Power III, Chairman & CEO, J.D. Power and Associates; Tom Purves, Chairman & CEO, BMW North America; Larry D. Yost, Chairman & CEO, ArvinMeritor; Ricardo A. Solomon, Chairman Wayne County Commission; Lynn Myers, General Manager Pontiac GMC; Jack Pitney, General Manager MINI USA; Mike C. DiGiovanni, General Manager Hummer, and a host of others.

Event sponsors include Yahoo! Autos; Detroit Marriott Renaissance Hotel, General Motors, Pontiac-GMC, Ford Motor Company, ArvinMeritor Inc., Subaru, Auto Nation, BMW NA, GMAC, Honda; Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan NA, Kia, and Bridgestone Tires.

For information on the awards, click here.