Kevin
Smith and Dan Wiese Join Jury
for International Car of the Year Awards
DETROIT,
October 25, 2005 - The International Car of the Year Awards board (ICOTY) today
announced the addition of two new jurors to its jury; a group of 12 respected
automotive journalists from a variety of publications and broadcast.
Kevin
Smith, Editorial Director of Edmunds.com
has joined the ICOTY awards board, and will also co-host the 10th anniversary
show in January 2006 with producer and host, Courtney Caldwell.
Smith
is a 28-year veteran of motoring publications with former stints at Car and Driver,
Road & Track, and as Editor-in-Chief for Motor Trend. "We consider it
quite an honor to have Kevin on the ICOTY Award's board. He brings experience,
respected credibility and a knowledge base about cars that compares to few,"
says Caldwell.
Also
joining the board is Dan Wiese, 15-year automotive writer for the St.
Louis Post-Dispatch. Wiese's other passion is pounding a piano in "more
than one saloon over the years." His philosophy: "If you don't leave
blood on the keys, you're not really playing." Dan will also be providing
"Live Ivory" entertainment following the ICOTY awards. "We are
very excited to have Dan [and his talent] on board. He brings a unique combination
of talents to ICOTY," adds Caldwell.
A
jury of 12 nationally-renowned
automotive journalists will select ten vehicles for the new model year in
ten separate categories, with ballots tabulated by J.D. Power and Associates.
Among them are Car of the Year and Truck of the Year. CBS Detroit will televise
ICOTY's 10th anniversary show and air a one-hour special on the opening weekend
of the NAIAS in Detroit.
"The
ICOTY awards focus on the emotional connection car and consumer; how they
reflect our lifestyles and ownership experience, an attitude the average consumer
can identify with," says RTM Editor-In-Chief Courtney Caldwell.
Sponsors include DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Detroit Marriott Renaissance Hotel,
Dolby Laboratories, General Motors Corporation, GM's OnStar, Hyundai Motors America,
American Suzuki, American Honda, Nissan NA, and Subaru North America.
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