Subaru Invokes Interactive Web Strategy to Launch All-New Subaru B9 Tribeca

Subaru Invokes Interactive Web Strategy to Launch All-New Subaru B9 Tribeca

- Company Announces Winner of SevenSeats.com Contest; Announces 'Be First' Sweepstakes -

CHERRY HILL, N.J., March 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Subaru of America, Inc. continues to generate early buyer interest and enthusiasm for the launch of its all-new progressive SUV, the Subaru B9 Tribeca, through interactive Web initiatives. The company is attracting current Subaru owners and new customers to the Subaru brand by driving hundreds of thousands of visitors to its http://www.b9tribeca.com/ website through its recently wrapped SevenSeats.com contest and its current "Be First" Sweepstakes.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050110/PHM031 )

SevenSeats Spot Contest Winner

The company announced today that David Ciszweski, of the University of Southern California in Pasadena, Calif., is the official winner of its SevenSeats spot contest. The winning entry entitled "Business Trip" beat out a strong field of over 115 entries submitted between October and December 2004. Mr. Ciszweski chose from a grand prize selection of either a $10,000 scholarship to his/her school of choice or a combination of $5,000 cash and $5,000 in new media equipment.

For the SevenSeats contest, Subaru enlisted the help of students or amateur filmmakers to produce 30-second film shorts to generate awareness for the launch of the new vehicle that boasts the first ever seven-passenger capability for the brand.

Films submitted for the contest were posted online at SevenSeats.com, where other filmmakers, casual viewers and Web surfers viewed and rated their favorites. Online voting determined the seven spots that advanced to the final round where they were viewed and rated by a guest panel of judges that included:

-- Lee Garfinkel, CEO - DDB New York -- Bob Greenberg, CEO - R/GA -- Jamie Kitman, Regional Bureau Chief/Editor-Automobile Magazine -- Phil Patton, Author and Automotive Journalist -- Zack Snyder, Feature Film Director -- Andrew Sullivan, CEO - Refinery -- Paul Swann, Film Professor - Temple University

All entries can be viewed at http://www.sevenseats.com/.

"Be First" Sweepstakes

The Subaru "Be First" Sweepstakes (http://www.b9tribeca.com/BeFirst), running through March 31, 2005 gives interested participants the chance to be the first to own a 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca. The grand prize of the "Be First" Sweepstakes is a top-of-the line Subaru B9 Tribeca with leather-trimmed interior, DVD rear seat entertainment system, touch-screen navigation system, and premium audio package. Additional second and third prizes will also be awarded. Participants are asked to take a short survey to enter. Visit http://www.b9tribeca.com/BeFirst for specific information and official rules.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes all-wheel drive Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of nearly 600 dealers across the United States. Subaru is the only car company that features Symmetrical All-Wheel drive as standard equipment on every vehicle in its product line. For additional information visit http://www.subaru.com/.

Contacts: Lisa Fleming Subaru of America (856) 488-5093 lfleming@subaru.com

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050110/PHM031 PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Source: Subaru of America, Inc.

CONTACT: Lisa Fleming of Subaru of America, +1-856-488-5093, lfleming@subaru.com

Web site: http://www.sevenseats.com/

Web site: http://www.b9tribeca.com/BeFirst

Web site: http://www.subaru.com/

------- Profile: Ent