01-FEB-2005: AND NOW THERE ARE THREE....

Top Three Finalists Announced In Inaugural World Car of the Year Awards

TORONTO, Canada - For Immediate Release

The countdown continues !

From an initial entry list of thirty-six (36) new vehicles from all over the world, then a short list of ten finalists, the top three contenders for the inaugural World Car of the Year award were announced today by the international accounting firm KPMG.

The 2005 World Car of the Year top three finalists are, in alphabetical order:

* Audi A6

* Porsche 911

* Volvo S40

A jury of 48 international automotive journalists voted on the finalists based on their experience with all the entrants. The jury members constitute a balance of representation from Asia, Europe, North America, as well as other parts of the world. The jurors individually reviewed, evaluated, and voted on the entrants, by secret ballot, in two separate rounds of voting, considering a variety of parameters.

The inaugural World Car of the Year will be declared on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 during a press conference held at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, Canada.

Considering the ever-increasing globalization of the automotive industry, the concept of a World Car of the Year awards program was inevitable. Now, it's an idea whose time has come. It's an opportunity to recognize and reward automotive excellence on a global scale, and to make consumers aware of that recognition.

To be eligible for consideration in the 2005 WCOTY program, a vehicle must be in current production, and available for purchase in at least five countries on at least two continents, prior to January 1, 2005.

The World Car of the Year program is administered as a non-profit corporation with a Steering Committee of six journalist members who oversee and monitor the integrity of the voting process, the jury members, and the operation of program.

WCOTY is intended to complement, not compete with, existing COTY awards by raising consumer awareness of regional Car of the Year award programs as well as the World Car of the Year.

For more information about the WCOTY, please visit our web site at www.wcoty.com or e-mail or call Beth Xenarios, Executive Manager, at beth@wcoty.com, 1-905-342-2220.