MOTOR TREND NAMES CELICA SUPRA '82 IMPORT CAR OF THE YEAR

Motor Trend, a leading motoring magazine in the U.S. announced on March 22 that the Toyota Celica Supra (the export version of the Celica XX) will be the '82 Import Car Of The Year, the car which in Motor Trend's judgment is the finest 1982 model year foreign car imported to the U.S.

This is the seventh Import Car Of The Year award; the first was in 1976. Points considered in selecting a winner include performance, equipment, production technology, styling and potential impact on the future of the U.S. auto market.

This year Motor Trend selected 14 semifinalists from all the MY1982 foreign cars imported to the U.S. Ratings included computer checks of engine and other performance levels, while the magazine's editors test-drove the cars to assess their comfort, quality and styling. Also evaluated was potential impact on the U.S. market.

The field of 14 semifinalists from which the Celica was named the winner consisted of models from Japan and Europe. This was the third Import Car of the Year award won by Toyota. The first (for MY 1976 cars) and the third (for MY1978 cars) also went to Celica models.

The Celica Supra is the export version of Celica XX series which underwent a full-model change in July 1981 for marketing in Japan, and made its debut in the U.S. as a 1982 model. The Supra is equipped with a 2,759 cc, 5M-GE type, 6-cylinder DOHC engine. Its outstanding driving performance, equipment, safety and styling has already captured the hearts of drivers all over America, a fact reflected in appearances on the covers of all four of the U.S.'s leading motoring magazines―Motor Trend, Car & Driver, Road & Track and Road Test―last October.

The official award ceremony will be held at Toyota Motor Sales Company's Show Room in Kudan, Tokyo, at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 21. Those attending will include Robert E. Brown, publisher of Motor Trend, and Chairman Seisi Kato accepting the award on behalf of Toyota Motor Sales Company.