Jim Scoutten,
TV’s Best Known Car Guy

Scoutten began his career in television with 15 years of General Interest Broadcast Journalism working in TV News as Reporter, Anchor, Producer, and News Director for stations in Honolulu, Phoenix, Seattle, Savannah, GA, and the greater Houston area.

 In 1991 Scoutten began to contribute automotive reviews to the independent TNN show, Road Test Magazine.

 In 1995 Road Test Magazine became Motor Trend Television, in association with Robert Petersen's flagship auto title. But the initial format and production of MT-TV proved to be a ratings disaster.  Scoutten was asked to take over control of the show as Senior Producer. His new format and content for the shows immediately took the ratings to the top of TNN's weekly auto programming, frequently outperforming all programming on the network with the single exception of NASCAR Winston Cup Race Broadcasts. 

 In 1999, following the sale of Petersen Publishing to a group of investors, Motor Trend TV seamlessly became Car and Driver Television without so much as a glitch in the ratings.  Scoutten continued his work as Senior Producer, primary writer, field reporter and host of Car and Driver from the title and affiliation change with the weekly audience figures exceeding the monthly circulation of the magazine. Under his direction, the programs won a series of top awards in the annual International Automotive Media Awards competition, including a gold award for best National automotive series. 

Scoutten resigned as host and producer in December of 2002 to form his own production company.