washingtonpost.com Rolls Out Cyber-Sport Utility Vehicle to Deliver Web to the Community

Arlington, Va. - Dec. 22, 1998 - Today, washingtonpost.com introduced the ultimate concept car of the future. "washingtonpost.com on wheels," or "WOW," is a super-cyber-sport utility vehicle designed for cruising the information superhighway and the streets of greater Washington. Built from a 1998 Lincoln Navigator stretched to 27-feet long, loaded with six computers, armed with a satellite dish and instant Internet access from anywhere, WOW delivers the world of the Web and washingtonpost.com to the community.

Loaded with technology, WOW enables seamless connection to the Internet and fast delivery of Web pages from virtually any location. WOW's on board local area network (LAN) connects to the Internet via a signal transmitted from a space-based satellite. The vehicle is jam-packed with an on-board router, transceiver, hub and proxy server. Flexible connections, including Ethernet and ISDN in addition to satellite, allow for rapid transfer of data (between 1.5 and 2.0 megabits per second) regardless of where it is parked.

When deployed, WOW's two side gull-wing doors open to reveal six surfing stations, three on each side, for users to access. A 400-MHz computer, a 21-inch monitor, and an adjustable keyboard and mouse make up the surfing station. The vehicle's roof-mounted satellite dish connects the surfing stations to the Internet at the touch of a button. Just to be sure the vehicle wouldn't be overlooked in traffic, it was painted "True Blasberry," an iridescent blue color that changes depending on the light and the angle.

The development of WOW was a well-orchestrated co-marketing effort. Brown's Car Stores, of Virginia and Maryland, provided the 1998 Lincoln Navigator that is the "HEART" of "washingtonpost.com on wheels." Easy Computer Solutions, Inc., of Beltsville, Md., provided WOW's six computers and monitors. Intellicom, Inc., of Fremont, Calif., is providing the high-speed, two-way, satellite-based Internet access. DuPont Automotive Finishes, of Wilmington, Del., provided the ChromaLusionTM Color "True Blasberry" paint.

The vehicle was stretched and customized by Craftsmen Limousine in Ozark, Mo. Alexandria, Va.-based Propeller Works conceptualized the exterior design. ADWORKS, based in Washington, D.C., conceptualized the graphic design. The satellite dish, featuring an automatic GPS (global positioning satellite) system, is by IGP, Holland. The vehicle was painted by Advanced Collision Technologies in Beltsville, Md., using DuPont ChromaLusionTM paints.

"washingtonpost.com on wheels" is administered by Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive, the new-media and electronic-publishing subsidiary of The Washington Post Company. For more information on WOW, access www.washingtonpost.com/onwheels.