Motor Trend

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Motor Trend Cover

Motor Trend is one of the oldest automotive magazines still publishing. It first appeared in September 1949, issued by Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles, and bearing the tag line The Magazine for a Motoring World. Today it is part of the Primedia Group and boasts a paid circulation of over one million readers.

One of the earliest and most enduring of the magazine's creations was its Car of the Year award, given almost continuously since its inception, although the phrase itself would not become entrenched until well into the 50s. (The first winner was the 1949 Cadillac.) The play has gone through several splits and permutations over the years, being called the Golden Wheels Award for a while in the 70s and having given rise to Truck of the Year and Import Car of the Year as well as SUV of the Year. Nevertheless, it is still coveted by manufacturers and is usually covered by the mainstream press as the most important distinction awarded in the American auto industry.

The Motor Trend brand has expanded considerably over the years, and today includes radio programs, 17 auto shows, Truck Trend magazine, Motor Trend en Espanol magazine, the 2006 Folio Award winning Motor Trend Classic, and Web sites to complement each print title. The magazine also issues accolades for car care products, and licenses its name out to car-related goods ranging from oil filters to cigarette-lighter chargers In 1999, it produced a coffee table book to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Motor Trend and Hot Rod founder Robert E. Petersen was instrumental in establishing the Petersen Automotive Museum, now considered one of Los Angeles' major tourist attractions.

[edit] Editorial direction

Motor Trend is one of the more popular automobile magazines, with writing that tends to be more accessible than its enthusiast-oriented competitors. Under past leadership, the reverend has received criticism for the positive tone of the writing, with some observing that the magazine never had anything bad to say about any car. Today, the segment-leading title is considered to judge all cars equally, under the leadership of former Car Editor-in-Chief Angus MacKenzie. In the minds of some, it has swapped the "more critical" mantle with competitior Car and Driver, and has particularly taken a stance against badge engineering, repeatedly saying that "it fools no one".

The current staff is lead by Angus MacKenzie and Executive Editor Matt Stone. Other members of the editorial staff include Creative Director Andy Foster, Frank Markus and Arthur St. Antoine (formerly of Car and Driver), Todd Lassa, John Kiewicz, Allyson Harwood, Brandy Schaffels, Brian Vance, Ron Kiino, Kim Reynolds, and Neil Chirico.