---

North American Car and Truck of the Year 1998 Nominees Announced

20 November 1997

North American Car and Truck of the Year 1998 Nominees Announced

    DETROIT, Nov. 20 -- Nominees for the prestigious 1998 North
American Car and Truck of the Year awards were announced today.  Included
among the nominees were a record 33 vehicles from 21 manufacturers.
    Now in their fifth year, the North American Car and Truck of the Year
Awards are selected by an independent jury of leading North American
automotive writers and broadcasters.  This elite group of 48 journalists will
evaluate the nominees and submit their votes by December 15, 1997.
    Finalists for the North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards will be
announced in mid-December.
    The North American International Auto Show will host the awards ceremony
Monday, January 5, 1998.
    The Mercedes-Benz SLK and Ford Expedition won the 1997 North American Car
and Truck of the Year awards, respectively.
    The 1998 nominees are:

    Cars

    Audi A6                      Lincoln Town Car
    Buick Regal                  Mazda 626
    Chevrolet Camaro             Mercedes CLK
    Chevrolet Corvette           Mercury Grand Marquis
    Chevrolet Prizm              Nissan Altima
    Chrysler Concorde            Oldsmobile Intrigue
    Dodge Intrepid               Pontiac Firebird
    Ford Contour SVT             Porsche Boxster
    Ford Escort ZX-2             Toyota Sienna
    Ford Crown Victoria          Toyota Corolla
    Honda Accord                 Volkswagen Passat
    Lexus GS300/400              Volvo V70 XC AWD

    Trucks

    Dodge Durango                Mazda B Series Pickup
    Ford Ranger                  Mercedes ML 320
    Honda CR-V                   Nissan Frontier
    Isuzu Rodeo                  Subaru Forester
    Lincoln Navigator

SOURCE  North American International Auto Show