SUPER SEVEN MAKES “CAR-A-DAY” CONTEST

A WORLD CLASS OPPORTUNITY!

When the “CARibbean CARnival” begins Feb. 6 - Feb. 10 at the 2008 Buffalo Auto

Show, Buffalo/Niagara Convention Center, show goers will have a chance to win

one of 12 new 2008-2009 vehicles. Here are the world-class manufacturers

providing the “Super Seven” of the prize vehicles for this unique contest:

2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible

Chrysler boosts the new Sebring Convertible with retractable hardtop or softtop

“Everything under the sun”. Indeed Chrysler’s Sebring convertible has been one of

the most consistent sellers in recent automotive history, and for good reason. The

company joined the retractable-hardtop market, which also includes the Pontiac G6

convertible and Mazda MX-5 Miata, but Chrysler is producing two soft-top versions

as well, one in vinyl and one in cloth. All will open automatically and feature a hard

tonneau cover. The cars meet various price points, with the soft-tops dominating

the lower end of the price spectrum and the hardtop being most expensive, but

Chrysler says they are all “surprisingly affordable.”

2008 Dodge Grand Caravan

Chrysler looks to have leaped straight back to the front of the minivan pack.

Astutely reworking its family favorite, the automaker has retained the innovative

good stuff and jettisoned the dated design, weak powertrains, and added a ton of

desirable new features. The new Grand Caravan scores on styling. This is a vehicle that plays to a vast spectrum of demographics and tastes. Its simple, broad shouldered lines the Dodge radiate a handsome, expensive presence. The roof is

six inches wider than before; the nose and glass proportions borrow from Dodge's

masculine Charger and Magnum. Some of the changes you can't see - for instance,

while frontal area is increased, the drag coefficient is down four percent. Others are

conspicuous. Shrivel no more at the thought of driving a minivan: The Grand

Caravan actually looks mean looming up in a rearview mirror.

2008 Ford Mustang Convertible

While the latest Mustang is more refined than its predecessors, styling cues are

borrowed from Mustangs of the 1960s, characterized by a forward-leaning grille

under an overhanging hood, C-scoops in the sides, tri-bar taillamps and a

"galloping horse" badge within the grille. 2008 models offer new paint colors,

additional safety and convenience features and yet another two versions that trade

on the name of legendary racer and car developer Carroll Shelby: the Shelby GT

convertible and, in the spring, the Shelby GT500KR. Ford's 4.0-liter V-6 produces

210 horsepower. A 4.6-liter all-aluminum V-8 in the GT pumps out 300 hp and 320

pounds-feet of torque. Both engines work with either a five-speed manual

transmission or an optional five-speed automatic.

2008 Jeep Liberty

Jeep's new Liberty is a huge improvement. An updated platform means bigger

dimensions all around, culminating in 3 1/2-inches more cargo space, plus more

rear seat room and more space for the driver. Changes include "more balance

between on- and off-road," by which Chrysler means a better on-road ride. But you

can bet the Liberty still is as off-road capable as it ever was, which means it's more

capable than all but a few SUVs on the market today. It's still available in a trail rated model, with Command-Trac four-wheel-drive, which includes a locking diff

and 4-Lo settings. The Selec-Trac II option is full-time 4WD, and rear-drive remains

standard. The engine is a 210-horsepower 3.7-liter V-6 coupled to a good-old fourspeed automatic, unless you choose the six-speed manual. The contest car features a Sky Slider Roof.

2008 Nissan Rogue

Nissan jumps into the compact-SUV fray with the all-new Rogue. The Rogue does stand out as a thoroughly Nissan product, particularly with its front end which resembles the larger Murano SUV. But the rear definitely stands out on its own on the attractive end of the design scale. Compared to its competition, Rogue's low height doesn't cut into headroom, but the design inside creates a cockpit feel that's more akin to a sports car. The interior is one of the Rogue's highpoints. The Rogue has plenty of headroom, hip room and legroom, especially in the rear seat. Nissan offers just one engine and transmission combination for the Rogue. That engine is a 170-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder and mates with a continuously variable automatic transmission. The SUV is available with either front-wheel drive or front biased all-wheel drive.

2009 Toyota Corolla

The 2009 Toyota Corolla hits dealerships February 2008. Corolla is arguably Toyota’s second-most-important model. The look certainly mimics the current-generation Camry, with an angled grille and sharp headlights. The exterior may not be radical, but Toyota rarely dares too much, especially in mainstream cars. The interior gets a new look — clean, simple and well laid out — with improved materials. Power for Standard LE, XLE and S trims is rated at 132 hp from a revised version of the previous four-cylinder engine, with mileage figures of 27/35 mpg city/highway, no specifics on mileage with the different transmission choices. A performance XRS trim level will reappear for 2009 with the same 158-hp four cylinder found in the Scion tC and xB. It gets 22/30 mpg in this application and is mated to either a five-speed manual or automatic.

2008 Volvo C70 Convertible

Volvo's hardtop convertible, the C70, gains horsepower, technology and some fine detailing for the 2008 model year. The news under the C70's hood comes in the form of a nine-horsepower bump; overall, the C70's turbocharged 2.5-liter in-line five now has 227 horsepower, up from 218 hp. A six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic gearbox is offered on the front-driver. The C70's folding hardtop mechanism soldiers on into the new year, while, inside the cockpit, Laminated Oak wood trim has been

added to the center control panel, console and door handle surrounds, in place of the aluminum trim of the first model year. Leather trim has been applied to the steering wheel and the gearshift knob, too. The handbrake has been redesigned for a more compact arrangement, and the clock has been moved to the information screen. Volvo's also added a standard tire-pressure monitoring system, along with improved air vents. A brighter finish is applied to the hardtop convertible button, and the Volvo "ironmark" has been added to the remote keyfob. Ice White paint is now offered, alongside Pearl White, and a premium Sovereign Hide leather trim is available.

THE CONTEST

To win a designated contest vehicle, the last four digits of your New York State

Driver License on your entry blank must match the last four numerical digits on the vehicle identification number of the pre-selected vehicle. Drawings will be held at or after the close of the show each day during the Buffalo Auto Show. It is not necessary to be present to win.

The 2008 Buffalo Auto Show hours are 11 A. M. to 9 P.M. Wednesday through Thursday, Friday, 10 A.M. to 10 P.M. Saturday, and Sunday 10 A.M. to 5 P.M.

The General admission tickets to the Auto Show will cost $8 at the gate and have a stub redemption offer for a free medium pizza at all area Pizza Hut restaurants.

Children 5 years and younger are admitted free to the 2008 Buffalo Auto Show.

A savings is available with advance single tickets to the 2008 Buffalo Auto Show exclusively at Tops markets. A special “Value Pack for 4” ticket for $20 – a $12 savings over four individual general admission gate tickets at the Show admits four

people to the show on the same day.