Budget Car and Truck Rental gives consumers opportunity to "test drive" Clarion voice-interactive car navigation system.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 20, 1996--Finding your way to business appointments or vacation hot spots in an unfamiliar city has just gotten easier.

Budget Car and Truck Rental is trying to alleviate the anxiety of out-of-town driving by offering the Clarion Interactive Voice System (IVS) navigation system to consumers. This innovative new technology, developed by Amerigon Inc., is currently being tested in key national markets.

Consumers can now use a rental car that can actually "talk" to them, providing step-by-step directions to a desired location. Designed like a voice computer, this proprietary, cutting-edge technology allows users to ask directional questions ... and the computer responds. Using an interactive voice interface, drivers can spell a street name or a word within a landmark location while keeping their eyes on the road and hands on the steering wheel.

The system then asks the driver to verify its selection and proceeds with step-by-step directions. It can also guide drivers to nearby services such as gas stations, ATM machines, hotels, shopping centers and golf courses.

With the system being installed in test vehicles in the Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles markets, Budget is providing its customers, at no additional cost, with the opportunity to sample the IVS navigation system. Customers are also being encouraged to provide their feedback on the system which Budget is currently evaluating for use in its fleet nationwide.

"Through the years, Budget customers have come to trust us to provide them with a dependable, high-quality fleet of vehicles offering the latest amenities to enhance the driving experience," said Jim Sweeney, vice president of fleet, Budget Car and Truck Rental.

"Our test studies of the Clarion IVS further demonstrate our commitment to offering products and services that will make the lives of our customers simpler and safer while they are using our vehicles."

The Clarion IVS navigation system is available nationwide where Clarion products are sold. The IVS map software is contained on a standard audio CD, categorized according to major metropolitan areas within a state.

Metro locations currently available include: Atlanta; Boston; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Detroit; Houston; Indianapolis; Las Vegas; Los Angeles/Orange counties; Los Angeles five-county extended coverage; New York/New Jersey; Orlando, Fla.; Philadelphia; Phoenix; Sacramento, Calif.; San Diego; San Francisco; Seattle; and Washington, D.C./Baltimore.

Budget Car and Truck Rental is one of the world's top three car and truck rental systems. The Budget system has more than 3,200 airport and local market locations in more than 118 countries and territories, with nearly 1,100 corporate and licensee-owned locations in the United States.

Budget's WorldClass Fleet offers the industry's largest selection of specialty vehicles -- ranging from sport utility vehicles, convertibles and mini-vans, to top-of-the-line Jaguars and Lincolns.

The IVS system was developed by Amerigon of Monrovia, Calif., in conjunction with Clarion. Amerigon designs and manufactures proprietary products for the conventional automotive industry and emerging electric vehicle market.

In addition to IVS, Amerigon is also developing an Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Radar System to aid in detecting blind spots, pre-collision airbag deployment, and distance control; and a Climate Control Seat System that provides cooling and heating comfort through solid state technology.

CONTACT: Amerigon Inc., Monrovia

Paula Finnegan, 818/932-1240

or

Fleishman-Hillard Inc.

Jamie Ludowitz/Martie Quan, 213/629-4974