NATION'S LARGEST LIFESTYLE CUSTOM CAR SHOW KICKS-OFF ITS 2005 SEASON IN LOS ANGELES

The Hot Import Nights "Live in '05" lifestyle car shows kick-off on March 5th at the Los Angeles Convention Center with more live music, cars and entertainment than ever before

IRVINE, CA - February 3, 2005 - Vision Entertainment kicks off its 2005 Hot Import Nights tour on Saturday, March 5 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. This year's Hot Import Nights, presented by Valvoline Synpower, promises to be the largest lifestyle custom car show in the nation and the biggest, most action-packed year for HIN as it enters its eighth year.

Hot Import Nights saw a 30 percent increase in attendance at all shows last year and anticipates double-digit growth again in 2005. It is not only the show founders and owners at Vision Entertainment who anticipate this level of growth. Several returning sponsors like Pepsi, Mazda, Circuit City, Valvoline and Meguiar's have high expectations as well.

"The youth car-culture scene has never been more exciting than it is now and HIN continues to be at the forefront of the sport compact car scene, said Sue Antkowiak, youth marketing manager, Valvoline. "You can always count on Hot Import Nights to deliver its fans the latest trends in custom cars, music and youth culture from around the world."

From its core beginnings in 1998 in Long Beach, Hot Import Nights has become more of a festival than a traditional custom car show. Today HIN has evolved into a celebration of all elements of youth culture from music and style to cars and video games.

With nearly half a million attendees anticipated at the more than 20 shows nationwide, including two in Europe, HIN has rapidly become a hot bed among automotive manufacturers for learning what's hot and what's not in the trend setting youth scene. Trends that have inspired cars like the Scion, Dodge Neon SRT-4, and Ford Focus, movies such as the Fast and Furious and its sequel and even video games such as Namco's SRS and EA Games "Need for Speed Underground" were spawned from the scene at HIN.

This year the shows have five different zones including the Pepsi Urban Arena, The Interactive Electronic Gaming Zone, The Mazda Dance Club and Modified's M Lounge.

SHOW FEATURES

The Pepsi Urban Arena consists of the hottest local talent including the one-on-one lyrical MC and DJ scratch battles, the Urban Street Dance Crew competition and the now infamous b-boy battle and freestyle breaking segment. Also, special guest DJs and hosts make appearances throughout the evening.

The Interactive Electronic Gaming zone has more than 70 gaming kiosks where attendees can play all of the latest game titles recently released. With custom backdrops and plasma screens the gaming zone is designed to heighten the interactive gaming experience.

The Mazda Dance club features a non-stop dance scene to some of the hottest DJs on the circuit. And, throughout the show top models interact with the crowd including one of the "Maxim Hometown Hotties," 2004 Playmate of the Year, Stuff Magazine '05 Calendar Cover Girl, the Glow-Go Team, HIN All Stars (top industry girls), Modified M Lounge models, and other Playmates on Tour.

More information on HIN can be found at www.hotimportnights.com. Hot Import Nights, presented by Valvoline is also sponsored by Circuit City, Pepsi, Dunlop, Mazda, Meguiar's and Overboost.com.

Live in '05 Tour

HIN Los Angeles, L.A. Conv. Center - 3/5/2005
HIN San Mateo, San Mateo Expo Center - 4/2/2005
HID Houston Reliant Park - 4/9/2005
HIN Orlando, OC Conv. Center - 4/16/2005
HIN Charlotte, Merchandise Mart - 4/23/2005
HIN Boston, Bayside Expo Center - 4/30/2005
HIN Atlanta, Georgia World Congress - 5/21/2005
HIN Chicago, McCormick Place - 6/11/2005
HIN Washington, Dulles Expo Center - 6/25/2005
HIN Kansas City, KC Convention Center - 7/16/2005
HID San Diego, Qualcomm Stadium - 7/23/2005
HIN Seattle, Stadium Expo - 7/30/2005
HIN Dallas, Merchandise Mart - 8/6/2005
HIN Cleveland, IX Center - 8/27/2005
HIN Atlantic City, Atlantic City Conv Center - 9/10/2005
HID Pleasanton, CA, Alameda County Fair - 10/8/2005
HID Phoenix, Downtown - 10/15/2005
VIP Anaheim, Anaheim Conv. Ctr - 12/3/2005
HIN Miami, Miami Beach Conv. - 12/10/2005
HID Honolulu, Blaisdell Conv. Center - 12/17/2005

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