Every year, in January, the Detroit
Auto Show starts off with a Sunday fanfare worthy of
Hollywood celebrities. The stars are the concepts launching
us into the future. If new cars are interesting, then
futuristic cars are exciting. Will these cars be built?
If the public likes them, then there is that possibility,
say the automakers with a wink and a nod. The idea is
to get journalists excited and watching them scramble
for press kits reinforces that they are achieving their
goal. All the pushing and shoving can retrieve an impressive
press kit of photographs, CD-ROMs and commentary, usually
bound in an impressive case, notebook or pouch. And
there may even be a model car or embossed car lapel
pin.
The
Automotive Chronicles' Top 10 Concept Press Kits
Click
for larger view
AUDI, 2004, "Audi
Press Info: Audi LeMans Quattro", Press
Kit: 22 page color catalog, with pocket,
9x7. Cover has drawing showing three-quarter
frontal view of Audi LeMans Quattro concept
sport coupe. Inside front cover has two
additional drawings showing frontal and
three-quarter rear views of car. Brochure
consists of eighteen full page photographs
showing exterior and interior of Audi LeMans
Quattro mid-engined sport coupe and view
of Audi Pikes Peak, Nuvolari Quattro and
LeMans Quattro models driving on race track.
Pocket contains CD-ROM diskette of photography
and press release information. Click
here for photographs and full description
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for larger view
GENERAL MOTORS (Chevrolet
Nomad, Saturn Curve and Hummer H3T), 2004,
"GM Concepts", Press Kit:
Portfolio, 10x7. Heavy textured white cover,
with embossed white-on-white GM emblem,
is circled by black satin elastic band which
holds metal "2004 Concepts" titleplate.
Portfolio opens to 10x36 layout with four
attached folders: a) "Kappa Architecture":
8 page color folder, 9x6. Seven photographs
show 2002 Pontiac Solstice and 2004 Chevrolet
Nomad and Saturn Curve concept cars and
discuss the principle of Kappa Architecture
by which they were designed; b) "Chevy
Nomad": 8 page color folder, 9x6. Seven
photographs, with discussion and specs;
c) "Saturn Curve": 8 page color
folder, 9x6. Eight photographs, with discussion
and specs; and d) "Hummer H3T":
10 page color folder, 9x6. Eight photographs,
with discussion and specs. Also includes
CD-ROM diskette of photography and press
release info. Dated Jan. 4, 2004 Click
here for photographs and full description
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for larger view
CHRYSLER, 2004, "ME
Four-Twelve", Press Kit: Portfolio,
9x13. Hardbound navy blue covers with embossed
metal title plate. Contains: a) CD-ROM diskette
of photos and press release information;
b) "Chrysler ME Four-Twelve: Chrysler's
First-Ever Mid-Engine Super Car": Spiralbound
notebook (21 single-side printed pages),
8x12. Heavy double textured gray cover with
silver lettering and silver embossed Chrysler
emblem. Ten photographs and photo renderings,
including four full page photographs of
car, show exterior, interior and features
of Chrysler's ME Four-Twelve quad-turbo,
V-12 (850 h.p.) powered, mid-engined sports
car concept; and c) heavy metal ballpoint
pen with ME Four-Twelve nameplate. Nice! Click
here for photographs and full description
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for larger view
FORD, 2004, "Ford
Shelby Cobra": Press kit, 11x9.
Silver cover, with gray lettering and blue
and white Ford emblem, frames photographs
showing three-quarter frontal view of Ford
Shelby Cobra concept roadster. Thirty-eight
photographs, including five full page or
larger views of car, show exterior, interior,
engine, chassis, mechanical parts and features.
Includes forty-six pages of press release
information, with specifications, historical
photograph of Carroll Shelby with his 1960's
Cobra models and two of Shelby with the
new concept. Click
here for photographs and full description
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for larger view
HONDA, 2004, "Honda
SUT Concept Press Information", Press
Kit: Portfolio, 12x9. Gray and white
cover, with white lettering and Honda emblem,
has three photographs showing Honda recreational
bicycle, motorcycle and boat. Inside covers
of portfolio have two photographs showing
three-quarter rear and side views of Honda
SUT concept sport utility truck. Contains:
a) CD-ROM diskette of photography and press
release information which is attached to
sheet with ten thumbnail photographs of
images on diskette; and b) twelve pages
of press release information. U.S. Dated
Jan. 4, 2004. Click
here for photographs and full description
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for larger view
CHRYSLER CORPORATION
(Jeep Treo and Rescue and Dodge Sling Shot),
2004, "Chrysler Group Concepts 04",
Press Kit: Portfolio, 11x6. Silver and
gray cover with silver and gray lettering
and Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep emblems. Contains
three 12 page color catalog, 6x6, on the
models: a) "Jeep Treo", an "urban-active"
Jeep concept, has ten photographs and drawings;
b) "Jeep Rescue", "the ultimate
type of search and rescue vehicle",
has eleven photographs and drawings; and
c) "Dodge Sling Shot" sports coupe
has fourteen photographs and drawings. Each
brochure has discussion and has pocket which
holds a CD-ROM diskette of photography and
press release information. Click
here for photographs and full description
JEEP, 2004, "JEEP RESCUE DIECAST
1:43 MODEL BY MAISTRO": Green Jeep
Rescue concept vehicle model is one of a
limited edition production of 10,000. These
Hot Wheels size models were given out to
journalists at the Detroit Auto show and
are sealed in a blister package with card
which has two photographs showing front
and three-quarter frontal views of vehicle.
NOTE: Reliable sources have confirmed for
us that these will not be sold retail. Click
here for photographs and full description
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for larger view
LAND ROVER, 2004, "Ranger
Stormer", Press Kit: 38 page color
catalog, with pocket, 8x8. Bronze cover
with bronze-on-bronze embossed lettering.
Eighteen photographs show exterior, interior
and features of Land Rover Range Stormer
high-performance concept sport utility vehicle.
Includes discussion. Pocket contains CD-ROM
diskette of photography and press release
information. Detroit Auto Show, Jan. 2004.s
nineteen photographs of images on diskette
showing pre-owned Land Rover Discovery II
vehicles and their drivers participating
in the Longitude Expedition; and c) twenty-one
pages of press release information. Click
here for photographs and full description
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for larger view
LINCOLN, 2004, "Lincoln
Mark X", Press Kit: Notebook, 11x9.
Gray cover, with white lettering and Lincoln
emblem, frames photograph showing three-quarter
frontal view of blue Lincoln Mark X concept
convertible parked in outdoor desert setting.
Twenty-eight photographs show exterior,
interior and features. Includes sixteen
pages of press release information, with
specifications. Click
here for photographs and full description
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for larger view
MERCEDES-BENZ (Vision
[Concept], SLR McLaren, E320 CDI, A-Class,
C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLK, CL, SL,
ML, G-Class and E-Class), 2004, "Mercedes-Benz
North American International Auto Show Presse-Information",
Press Kit: Notebook, 12x10x1. White
cover, with black lettering and black and
white Mercedes-Benz emblem, frames photo
rendering showing three-quarter frontal
view of purple Mercedes-Benz Vision Grand
Sport Tourer concept vehicle superimposed
on photo rendering of dashboard. Contains:
a) CD-ROM diskette, with matching cover,
of photography and press release information;
b) 40 page color catalog, 5x5, with matching
cover, which has 166 thumbnail photographs,
photo renderings and drawings showing images
on diskette; c) ten 10x8 photo sheets with
seventeen color press photos; and d) fifty-five
looseleaf notebook pages, with matching
cover and six index-tab style divider pages,
of press release information, including
section on full model range. In German.
Dated Jan. 5, 2004.
MERCEDES-BENZ (Full Line), 2004, "Mercedes-Benz
News Media Information - North American
International Auto Show", Press Kit:
Portfolio, 12x9. Silver cover, with black
lettering and silver and black Mercedes-Benz
emblem, frames photo rendering showing three-quarter
frontal view of purple Mercedes-Benz Vision
Grand Sport Tourer concept vehicle. Contains:
a) CD-ROM diskette of photography and press
release information, including fifteen archival
photographs showing Mercedes-Benz 1886 models
(three) 1907 Simplex, 1911 Blitzen Benz,
1927 Type S, 1928-32 SSK, 1935 260D, 1936-39
540K, 1951-55 220, 1952-55 300S Cabriolet,
1954-73300 SL Gullwing Coupe and Roadster,
1955-63 190SL Roadster and 1952 300SL Carrera
Panamericana; b) twenty color slides; c)
twelve photo sheets, with descriptive captions,
which have twenty-three color press photos;
and d) fifty-five pages of press release
information. U.S. Dated Jan. 5, 2004.
MERCEDES-BENZ (Vision, SLR McLaren, E320
CDI, A-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class,
CLK, CL, SL, ML, G-Class and E-Class), 2004,
"Mercedes-Benz North American International
Auto Show Press Information", Press
Kit: Notebook, 12x10x1. White cover,
with black lettering and black and white
Mercedes-Benz emblem, frames photo rendering
showing three-quarter frontal view of purple
Mercedes-Benz Vision Grand Sport Tourer
concept vehicle superimposed on photo rendering
of dashboard. Contains: a) CD-ROM diskette,
with matching cover, of photography and
press release information; b) 40 page color
catalog, 5x5, with matching cover, which
has 166 thumbnail photographs, photo renderings
and drawings showing images on diskette;
c) ten 10x8 photo sheets with seventeen
color press photos; and d) fifty-five looseleaf
notebook pages, with matching cover and
six index-tab style divider pages, of press
release information, including section on
full model range. U.S. Dated Jan. 5, 2004. Click
here for photographs and full description
Click
for larger view
VOLKSWAGEN, 2004, "VW
Concept-T: Lifestyle Support", Press
Kit: 18 page part-color catalog, 11x8.
Red, silver and gray cover, with black lettering
and blue and white VW emblem, has four photographs
showing features of Volkswagen Concept T
off-road coupe. Back cover has four different
photographs and inside front cover has seven
photographs showing exterior, interior and
features. Brochure consists of fourteen
bound pages of press release information
which includes specifications. Dated 01/2004. Click
here for photographs and full description
