General Motors Presenting Sponsor Of Third Event; Concours To Broaden Automotive Activities To Attract More Diverse Audience

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. - The third annual Concours d'Elegance at Cranbrook will build upon the phenomenal success of the 2004 event, with a broadened program that will continue to appeal to automotive enthusiasts but also reach out to attract new and diverse publics within the community.

General Motors will return as the presenting sponsor of the Concours d'Elegance, which will be held again in the surroundings of the beautiful campus of the Cranbrook Educational Community in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

Serving as the Honorary Chairman of the 2005 Concours will be Gary L. Cowger, GM Group Vice President and President, GM North America. In his position at GM, Cowger has responsibility for all GM operations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Robert A. Lutz, GM Vice Chairman, Product Development and Chairman, GM North America, will serve as chief judge for the event. Lutz also is a member of the Concours d'Elegance at Cranbrook advisory board.

"The draw for the 2005 Concours d'Elegance at Cranbrook already includes the finest examples of many of the world's leading and most evocative brands, including Bugatti, Horch, Rolls Royce, Cadillac, Bentley and Hispano-Suiza, as well as stunning models from the high-performance marques of Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Maserati, and Lamborghini," said Marvin Towns Jr., President, CEO of the Concours d'Elegance at Cranbrook.

"We'll feature a reprise of 2004's remarkably successful 'Sweet Sixteen' 16-cylinder car class and added special classes to present exceptional examples of classic period hot rods, fire trucks and wood bodied vehicles and a tribute to great American Classics in the 'Heart and Soul' display," Towns added.

"In a targeted effort to broaden our appeal to a wider, more diverse audience, our Cars on Tour classic car drive will move beyond the confines of Bloomfield Hills and visit important heritage locations in South East Michigan," Towns said. "We've added AutoMotion in the Art Museum - to present a classic car movie on Friday night - as well as another event which will have great appeal to schoolchildren. We'll be releasing more information on these events in due course."

The 2005 Concours d'Elegance at Cranbrook Schedule of Events:

Friday July 22nd 7:00 pm-10:00 pm - AutoMotion in the Art Museum

Saturday July 23rd 9:00 am-2:00 pm - Concours Cars on Tour Event 7:00 pm-Midnight - Cars Under the Stars Gala and Auction at the GM Heritage Center, Sterling Heights, Mich.

Sunday July 24th 10:00 am-5:00 pm - Main Event: the Concours d'Elegance at Cranbrook

All net proceeds of the Concours d'Elegance at Cranbrook will be donated to the Variety FAR Conservatory of Therapeutic and Performing Arts and another local charitable organization. Variety FAR is located in Birmingham, Mich., and provides creative arts therapy, recreation therapy and leisure services to individuals with special needs.

The Concours d'Elegance at Cranbrook financially supports local charitable endeavors by producing classic automobile events that showcase the heritage and artistic significance of the automobile in the beautiful surroundings of the campus of the Cranbrook Educational Community.