Automóvil Panamericano

"Automóvil Panamericano" (Spanish for Panamerican automobile) is a Mexican automotive enthusiast magazine founded in March 15 1995. Owned by Motorpress-Televisa and partner of the German magazine "Auto Motor Und Sport", it is the most-popular auto magazine in Mexico. Also a specialized publication dedicated to the car enthusiast and the respective market. Critical testing, motor sports, buyers guidance. Every issue is taken as reference for the Mexican market.

History

The actual logo was created in 2002, but the first logo remained 7 years on the covers.Early AP magazines had just 64 pages and the cover color was white. The first "facelift" of the magazine was made in February 2002 when editorial director Ricardo Chan Robles took the charge. The frame changed to black and the logo changed too.

"Auto Plus" (previously called "Guía Util del Automóvil") is Automóvil Panamericano's sister publication, directed to young people and focused on practical issues of the autmotive world and miscellaneous articles, founded in February 2002.

"Automóvil TV" was the television counterpart appeared from 2003 to 2008 in "Galavision" (Channel 9) of Televisa Network.

"Automóvil W" is the radio counterpart appeared in march 2007 in "W Radio" (96.9 MHz FM, 900 MHz AM & [http://www.wradio.com.mx/ Online] ) of Televisa Radio.

"Automóvil Online" is the internet counterpart appeared in march 2000 ( [http://www.automovilonline.com.mx/ WWW.AUTOMOVILONLINE.COM.MX] ) in a joint venture with Terra networks.

"Automóvil Digital" is a running online proyect appeared in July 2007 to distribute a digital version of the magazine to a VIP readers list.

"MyAutomovil.com" is the online counterpart appeared for the Latin market in North America in march 2008 ( [http://www.myautomovil.com/ WWW.MYAUTOMOVIL.COM] ).

pecial editions

In May 15th 2003 was launched the magazine number 100th. The cover was coloured yellow and were added up to 50 pages.

The cover showed 20 exotic cars that were considered the best of the world, featuring the Pagani Zonda S, the Ferrari 550 Maranello and the Mini Cooper.

The ten years anniversary commemorative was launched in February 15th 2005. The frame now changed to red and were added up to 30 pages. In the cover featured the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. The cover had remained the same since then.

Car of the Year prizes

Automóvil Panamericano started in 1995 the "Juzge su coche y gane un coche" (Judge your car and win a car) contest, where the readers chose the best car with a new car as a final prize.

Since 1999 the contest was renamed to Car of the Year, where the best car in each category was chosen. Since 2003, the best overall Car of the Year prize was added. The winner is still chosen by a special format included on the magazine sent by the readers by mail. Selected randomly, one of the readers that sent the voting chart, receive a prize car.

Some of the winners:
*1995 Prize: BMW 325i
*1996 Mercury Sable - Prize: Land Rover Discovery
*1997 Pontiac Grand Prix - Prize: Volkswagen New Beetle
*1998 Audi A6 (Mediano) - Prize: Peugeot 306
*1999 Volkswagen Jetta (Compacto) - Prize: Audi A3
*2000 Volkswagen Jetta (Compacto) - Prize: Volkswagen Jetta
*2001 Volkswagen Jetta (Compacto) - Prize: Volkswagen New Beetle Turbo
*2002 Renault Clio (Subcompacto) - Prize: Mercedes C200K Estate
*2003 Renault Mégane (Car of the Year) - Prize: Audi A3
*2004 Porsche Cayenne (Car of the Year) - Prize: Chrysler Crossfire
*2005 Volkswagen Jetta (Car of the Year) - Prize: SEAT Altea
*2006 Volkswagen Bora (Car of the Year) - Prize: Suzuki Grand Vitara
*2007 Volkswagen Golf GTI (Car of the Year) - Prize: Audi A3 TDI
*2008 Prize: Mazda Miata

Editorial direction

External links

* [http://www.automovilonline.com.mx/ Automóvil Online] - official site
* [http://www.motorpress-iberica.es/ Motorpress Ibérica] - official site
* [http://www.esmas.com/editorialtelevisa/ Editorial Televisa] - official site
* [http://www.mpi.de/ Motorpresse International] - official site
* [http://www.gobernacion.gob.mx/PR_PNMP/PNMP_resultadosmi.php?idr=597&medio=3/ DGMI] - government site