The contest invites readers of leading automotive titles MOTOR TREND and AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE to test their automotive acumen by choosing the coolest XM-equipped new car against picks made by the editors.
The challenge, at www.XMCoolestCar.com, features 64 XM-equipped vehicles pitted against one another in a tournament-style bracket, similar to the NCAA basketball tournament. The editors of MOTOR TREND and AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE will select the winner of each head-to-head matchup, round by round, to determine the XM Coolest Car. The participants who match the editors pick for pick will be entered into a drawing and a chance to win $10,000 toward the purchase of the XM Coolest Car.
PRIMEDIA Enthusiast Media and XM are promoting the challenge via an integrated online and print campaign in MOTOR TREND and AUTOMOBILE.
"Obviously, 'cool' is a subjective measure, but it is something we all recognize when we see it," said Arthur St. Antoine, editor at large for MOTOR TREND. "As journalists who evaluate and drive cars every day, we regularly assign rankings based on a number of measures from performance and power to value and quality. But we're going to have a lot of fun determining the cars that are the coolest."
The field of 64 XM-equipped vehicles features a wide range of styles and makes, from the performance-first Ferrari 612 to the desirable and eco-conscious Toyota Prius. In many matchups, readers must make the difficult choice between different kinds of cool, like the luxurious strength of the Infiniti QX or the nimble speed of the Lotus Elise.
"Everyone has an opinion about what makes a car cool," said Jeff Curry, vice president, automotive marketing for XM. "What the vehicles in the 'Coolest Car Challenge' have in common is that they are all equipped with XM Radio, an entertainment feature that enhances and truly makes the driving experience 'cool.'"
To participate in the XM Coolest Car Challenge, contestants must visit www.XMCoolestCar.com to register and make their picks. The site also features links to Motortrend.com and AutomobileMag.com to allow challengers to research the cars and determine their own conclusions. After they complete and submit their bracket, readers should check back on the site after October 30 to see how their picks fared against the editors and find out who the lucky winner is.
About XM
XM is America's number one satellite radio company with more than 8 million subscribers. Broadcasting live daily from studios in Washington, DC, New York City, Chicago, the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Toronto and Montreal, XM's 2007 lineup includes more than 170 digital channels of choice from coast to coast: commercial-free music, premier sports, news, talk radio, comedy, children's and entertainment programming; and the most advanced traffic and weather information.
XM, the leader in satellite-delivered entertainment and data services for the automobile market through partnerships with General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota, is available in 140 different vehicle models for 2007. XM's industry-leading products are available at consumer electronics retailers nationwide. For more information about XM hardware, programming and partnerships, please visit http://www.xmradio.com.
About MOTOR TREND
MOTOR TREND was founded in 1949 and has a circulation of 1.1 million and a total readership of 7.1 million. Internationally recognized as the world's number one automotive authority, MOTOR TREND is one of the leading brands in automotive publishing. The MOTOR TREND brand is comprised of motortrend.com; Motor Trend Radio; Truck Trend; Motor Trend International Auto Shows; Motor Trend en Espanol; and the renowned Motor Trend Car, Sport/Utility and Truck of the Year Awards program.
About AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE
AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE was founded in 1986 by veteran automotive journalist David E. Davis, Jr., and has a circulation of 550,000 and a total readership of 3.6 million. Recipient of more editorial awards than any other major automotive publication, AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE is designed to appeal to the interests of passionate automotive enthusiasts. Its diverse editorial mix includes behind-the-wheel experiences in the world's most fascinating cars, as well as personalities, travel destinations, automotive art, vintage cars, and industry trends.
About PRIMEDIA Automotive Digital
PRIMEDIA Automotive Digital consists of more than 60 Web sites for its automotive enthusiast titles and the Primedia In-Market Network, each with their own unique content and dedicated editorial staff. The PRIMEDIA In-Market Network of sites focuses on serving the active auto buyer and includes Automobilemag.com, Automotive.com, IntelliChoice.com, and MotorTrend.com. PRIMEDIA Automotive Digital is one of the largest in the automotive category according to a March 2007 comScore MediaMetrix report. The group reaches more than 12 million unique visitors and generates over 75 million page views each month according to Nielsen//NetRatings SiteCensus.
Press release via PRIMEDIA Automotive Digital