MOTOR TREND Names Ford F-150 2004 Truck of the Year

MOTOR TREND Names Ford F-150 2004 Truck of the Year
Ford Awarded Prestigious Golden Calipers From Tough Field of Seven 


NEW YORK, Dec. 17  /PRNewswire/ -- MOTOR TREND magazine, the world's #1
automotive authority and part of the PRIMEDIA Consumer Automotive Group, today
announced the selection of the Ford F-150 as the 2004 Truck of the Year.  Each
year MOTOR TREND evaluates all the new vehicles, and selects the pickup truck
that most clearly raises the bar in the category, specifically in terms of
significance, superiority and value.

"The new F-150 represents a huge step forward in pickup-truck design, styling,
refinement and overall performance," said Kevin Smith, editor-in- chief of MOTOR
TREND.  "Ford has practically reinvented the pickup, and its impact on the
marketplace cannot be overstated or ignored.  For all these reasons, we are
delighted to recognize the Ford F-150 as the single most important truck of this
year."

The 2004 Ford F-150 offers 46 different cab/chassis/bed configurations plus five
distinctive interior designs.  With this whole family of trucks, Ford
establishes a new standard for what consumers can expect from a full-size
pickup.

"We are very pleased that the Ford F-150 has been named MOTOR TREND's Truck Of
The Year because this honor is the one most recognized by consumers," said Steve
Lyons, President - Ford Division.  "In fact, MOTOR TREND's award is a lot like
the new F-150 -- it carries a lot of weight.  We look forward to adding it to
our trophy case."

This year, the editorial staff of MOTOR TREND conducted testing on seven new
vehicles, searching for the pickup truck that best represented exceptional
value, superiority in its class, and the most significant development on the
new-truck scene for 2004.  All truly new or substantially revised trucks were
considered with the condition that they be available for public sale by January
1, 2004.

For the 2004 Truck of the Year competition, the winner was selected from the
following eligible models: Chevrolet Colorado, Chevrolet SSR, Dodge Ram SRT-10,
Ford F-150, GMC Canyon, Nissan Titan and the Toyota Tundra Double Cab.

The MOTOR TREND Evaluation Process

MOTOR TREND editors spent several weeks with the contending vehicles, exploring
their performance, features, and functionality.  Thorough testing was done on
each vehicle with a specific focus on the following: engineering and technology,
performance, ride and handling, styling and design, interior fit, finish and
materials, utility, and value. Special attention was paid to the "pickup"
aspects of loading and securing cargo, performance with a payload, and towing. 
Once the testing and evaluations were completed, MOTOR TREND editors chose the
Ford F-150 to receive the coveted Golden Calipers.

"MOTOR TREND's editorial staff prides itself on its impartial and authoritative
judging of all eligible vehicles for the Truck of the Year competition," said
Smith.  "We live with these trucks for weeks to truly test them in every way a
buying consumer will.  We take very seriously our responsibility to identify the
most worthy contender.  Our readers and the general public have grown to trust
in the significance and meaning of the Golden Calipers."

Each year, the editorial staff of MOTOR TREND evaluates the eligible vehicles
based on three key categories: Significance, Superiority, and Value.
Significance refers to impact on the market and looks for mastery and innovation
in engineering, technology, design, safety and packaging, as well as envisioned
sales forecasts for that model line.  Superiority balances the playing field and
looks for class-leading levels of performance, style, and value within its
specific competitive set. Finally, the all-important Value question asks, "What
does this vehicle deliver in relation to what the consumer has to pay to
purchase and own it?"

The complete report on the 2004 Truck of the Year can be found in the February
2004 issue of MOTOR TREND, on newsstands January 7, 2004.  Additional coverage,
with high-resolution images, will be posted on MOTOR TREND's Web site at
http://www.motortrend.com/media. Multimedia coverage of the testing and
selection process will appear on MOTOR TREND Television, hosted by feature
editor John Matthius.

About MOTOR TREND

MOTOR TREND, a PRIMEDIA publication, was founded in 1949 and has a circulation
of 1.27 million and a total readership of 7.1 million. Internationally
recognized as the world's #1 automotive authority, MOTOR TREND is one of the
leading brands in automotive publishing. The MOTOR TREND brand is comprised of
motortrend.com; MOTOR TREND Television; 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 PRIMEDIA

PRIMEDIA is the leading targeted media company in the United States, with
positions in consumer and business-to-business markets.  Our properties deliver
content via print as well as video, the Internet and live events and offer
highly effective advertising and marketing solutions in some of the most sought
after niche markets.  With 2002 sales from continuing businesses of $1.5
billion, PRIMEDIA is the #1 special interest magazine publisher in the U.S. with
more than 250 titles.  Our well known brands include MOTOR TREND, Automobile,
New York, Fly Fisherman, Power & Motoryacht, Creating Keepsakes, Ward's Auto
World, and Registered Rep. The company is also the #1 publisher and distributor
of free consumer guides, including Apartment Guides.  PRIMEDIA Television's
leading brand is the Channel One Network and About is one of the largest sources
of original content on the Internet.  PRIMEDIA's stock symbol is: NYSE: PRM. 

DATASOURCE: PRIMEDIA



CONTACT:  Michelle Alvarez for PRIMEDIA, [phone],





Web site:  http://www.primedia.com/

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