DEARBORN, Mich., June 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ford Motor Company today kicks off the 2008 model year by delivering more of the products customers really want -- with new cars, crossovers and trucks featuring advancements in safety, quality, environmental innovation and design.
"We promised that 70 percent of our Ford, Lincoln and Mercury lineup would be new or significantly upgraded by the end of next year. With our 2008 showroom, we're halfway there," notes Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas.
In the crossover market, Ford Motor Company is setting the pace with newer entries, such as the Ford Edge and the Lincoln MKX, which have led a year-to- date increase in total Ford, Lincoln and Mercury crossover sales of 37 percent through May - the largest increase among major manufacturers and well above industry-wide crossover growth of 17 percent. In May alone, the Ford Edge outsold all mid-size crossovers, including the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander and Nissan Murano.
In the passenger car market, the Ford Fusion has emerged as the preferred choice of many mid-size car buyers. Through May, Fusion sales were up 15 percent over a year ago. In two separate head-to-head consumer challenge drives organized by Car and Driver and Road&Track magazines, the Fusion all- wheel-drive sedan beat the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord in styling, handling, performance and fun-to-drive categories. Along with the Lincoln MKZ and Mercury Milan, Fusion attracts new customers to Ford, with conquest sales of 40 percent.
"More customers are recognizing Ford makes great passenger cars," says Fields. "Just three years ago, 70 percent of our U.S. retail sales were trucks and SUVs, and 30 percent were cars and crossovers. Today almost 50 percent of our retail sales are cars and crossovers, thanks to the success of our new products."
In the pickup market, Ford continues to build on its 30 years of truck leadership. First, the 2008 F-Series Super Duty brought a series of industry- first features to the heavy duty truck segment. It has set the stage for this fall's arrival of the 2008 F-150, which delivers more firsts to the full-size pickup segment along with an expanded model lineup.
Additionally, 12 models in the 2008 lineup will distinguish themselves through the availability of Ford Sync(TM), an exclusive hands-free, in-car communications and entertainment system developed with Microsoft that fully integrates mobile phones and media players into the vehicle through voice recognition, Bluetooth technology and USB connectivity.
There's also more evidence of quality improvements at Ford, Lincoln and Mercury. Ford Motor Company has the most top-quality vehicles in the industry, according to a customer-based initial quality survey released by J.D. Power and Associates.
In the research firm's 2007 Initial Quality Study (IQS), Ford Mustang, Mercury Milan, Lincoln MKZ and Mark LT swept their vehicle segments for top honors. Overall, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury nameplates placed among the top 10 nameplates, with Lincoln in 3rd place, Mercury in 8th place and Ford brand in 10th place.
"The quality gap between our vehicles and our competitors' vehicles is increasingly about perception, not reality," says Fields. "It's another sign our plan is working. We're building a North American business that's on track to compete profitably, to deliver greater quality, and to build more of the products that customers want."
New 2008 Taurus X Joins the Industry's Freshest Crossover Lineup
In 2008, Ford Motor Company builds on the successful Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX with the arrival of the 2008 Ford Taurus X. Together with the 2008 Ford Edge, Escape, Mercury Mariner and Lincoln MKX, the Taurus X gives Ford, Lincoln and Mercury the freshest lineup in the fastest growing segment of the industry.
Rated the safest seven-passenger crossover in America, the 2008 Taurus X offers a flexible interior that features an available all-new one-touch, flip- and-fold, second-row seat for easier access to the third row; and fold-flat second-, third- and front-passenger seats, which create a flat floor for stowing cargo up to 9 feet long.
Taurus X also comes with segment-exclusive heated second-row seats, standard 17-inch wheels, a more powerful 3.5-liter V-6 engine, fuel-efficient 6-speed transmission and available all-wheel drive. Standard safety features include AdvanceTrac(R) electronic stability control, side air bags and the segment-exclusive, three-row Safety Canopy(TM) side curtain air bags. In addition, an Eddie Bauer series joins the lineup. Other highlights in the 2008 crossover lineup include:
-- The 2008 Ford Escape offers an all-new Ford Tough Truck-inspired
exterior design and a refined interior with an industry-first seat
fabric made from 100 percent recyclable materials. A new Electric
Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system contributes to fuel economy
improvements of up to 8 percent on gas models and up to 14 percent on
hybrid models. Standard safety features include AdvanceTrac(R) with
RSC(R) (Roll Stability Control), Ford's Safety Canopy(TM) side curtain
air bags, side impact air bags and ABS.
-- The 2008 Mercury Mariner also is newly designed inside and out for
2008. Its modern, sophisticated interior and exterior design is
accented with available 17-inch wheels and two-tone Alcantra(R) suede
seats. Mariner features one of the most advanced safety packages in
the small SUV segment, including standard side curtain air bags and
AdvanceTrac(R) with RSC(R).
-- The 2008 Ford Edge adds several options for 2008 including a power
liftgate, voice-activated navigation system, 20-inch chrome clad
wheels, Sync and four new exterior colors. Edge also features a new
color scheme on the instrument panel and door panels, along with a new
rear liftgate handle for improved comfort and convenience. A new
interior appearance package adds leather-trimmed seats with premium
red seating surfaces and contrast stitching.
-- The 2008 Lincoln MKX adds Sync to its standard features list, along
with SIRIUS(R) Satellite Radio, heated and cooled front seats, Reverse
Sensing System, memory seats and mirrors and driver/passenger power
lumbar. New available features include a Limited Package and 20-inch
chrome wheels.
New Ford Taurus, Focus and Mercury Sable Solidify Car Lineup
For the 2008 model year, Ford Motor Company adds three new passenger cars to its Ford and Mercury showrooms.
The Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable family sedans make their triumphant return this summer as the safest-rated large family sedans in America, based on NHTSA five-star frontal and side crash ratings and a "Top Safety Pick" from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
The new Taurus is unmistakably Ford, sporting a bold new exterior design with a three-bar, Fusion-inspired grille. The 2008 Sable brings sophisticated Mercury style to the large sedan segment, with its distinctive waterfall grille and wrap-around headlamps.
Both vehicles feature refined interiors with best-in-class interior spaciousness and large trunk. A new 263-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 and 6-speed automatic transmission deliver a nearly 30 percent increase in power while also improving fuel economy by nearly 10 percent. Standard traction control, available all-wheel drive and standard safety features including Ford's Personal Safety System(R) and Safety Canopy(TM) with roll sensor provide extra safety and security.
A new Ford Focus brings a bold new design, refined interior, exceptional driving dynamics and class-leading technology to the small car market. The 2008 Focus is available in a first-ever coupe, as well as a four-door sedan, and will be the small car technology leader with Ford Sync(TM). Focus' 140 horsepower 2.0-liter engine delivers a 4 percent improvement in highway fuel economy. Its completely redesigned interior features world-class craftsmanship and comfort, along with a new class-exclusive ambient lighting option. Focus' long list of standard safety features includes dual-stage front driver and passenger air bags, side seat air bags and side curtain air bags.
Other Ford Motor Company cars that offer improvements for 2008 include:
-- The 2008 Ford Fusion, which adds available keyless entry keypad,
Reverse Sensing System, ambient lighting (late availability), voice-
activated navigation, Sync (late availability) and standard ABS. A new
Sport Appearance Package option includes unique 18-inch wheels and
tires, unique spoiler, red seat inserts and red contrast stitching on
the seats, steering wheel and center console.
-- The 2008 Mercury Milan has a standard Tire Pressure Monitoring System,
available keyless entry keypad, Reverse Sensing System, ambient
lighting (late availability) and voice-activated navigation system,
along with four new packages and five new exterior colors.
-- The 2008 Ford Mustang adds available ambient lighting, HID headlamps
and 18-inch wheels (V-6 coupe). A V-6 Safety and Security Package
combines ABS, traction control, Active Anti-Theft System and wheel
locks into one affordable package. A new "Warriors in Pink Package"
includes pink striping, interior stitching and floormats. Proceeds
from this model benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R).
New 2008 F-Series Super Duty and F-150 Build on Ford Truck Leadership
After 30 consecutive years of topping the pickup sales charts, the F- Series enters the 2008 model year with an all-new, more capable, more refined 2008 F-Series Super Duty and a 2008 F-150 that boasts a host of surprising new features and improvements.
The 2008 F-Series Super Duty builds on Ford truck leadership with a bold new exterior design, a finely crafted, functional and capable interior and an all-new 6.4-liter Power Stroke(R) clean diesel engine. The F-450 pickup is the most capable ever, boasting more than 6,200 pounds of class-leading payload capacity and 24,000 pounds (12 tons) of towing capacity.
Super Duty also leads the segment in innovation, introducing the following new features for 2008:
-- An industry-first fully integrated Tailgate Step provides simple
access to the truck bed.
-- An industry-first stowable bed extender offers customers a convenient
means of adding cargo-hauling flexibility.
-- Industry-exclusive PowerScope(R) tow side mirrors, power-fold and
power-telescope to enhance the towing experience.
Meanwhile, the F-150 isn't resting on its laurels. The segment's towing leader at 11,000 pounds adds an unprecedented list of features and upgrades for 2008 that include:
-- A factory installed Cargo Management System - the market's strongest
and most versatile provides greater hauling flexibility and securely
stows all types of cargo.
-- An available Rearview Camera System, which is mounted in the tailgate
handle bezel and activated when the vehicle is shifted into reverse,
giving the driver a clear view while backing up, particularly when
lining up to a trailer hitch. The video image is displayed in the
self-dimming rearview mirror - a segment exclusive.
-- An exclusive and innovative new Mid-box, mounted in front of the
standard pickup box and behind the cab, provides lockable storage for
tools and other valuable items.
Plus, Ford expands an already unparalleled lineup of more than 60 unique F-150 models with the addition of the new Lariat Limited, a Wheels and Stripes Package on the STX and the first-time availability of an XL SuperCrew with either 5.5- or 6.5-foot Styleside box. In addition, a special "Chip Foose" edition of the F-150 is offered late in the model year.
Bold Design and Exclusive Features
Ford Explorer and Expedition, Mercury Mountaineer and Lincoln Navigator continue to offer attractive features for those who need the functionality and space that only these vehicles provide.
Customers are taking to the new full-size Expedition and Lincoln Navigator, as evidenced by eight straight months of sales increases since the redesigned 2007 models began arriving in showrooms. The new award-winning extended model, the Expedition EL, also has been taking sales away from the Chevrolet Suburban.
Much of that has to do with Ford's bold design. According to the latest automotive research from Kelley Blue Book's "Brand Watch," Ford is tops in exterior styling for trucks and SUVs. "Exterior styling is one of the top decision factors among vehicle shoppers, and consumers' perceptions can add or eliminate a brand from someone's consideration list," says Rick Wainschel vice president, marketing and market research, Kelley Blue Book.
For 2008, Expedition and Navigator both introduce an available Rearview Camera System, while Expedition offers available power-deployable running boards and welcomes the return of the King Ranch edition, available on both Expedition and Expedition EL models.
Innovations Change the Way People Interact with Their Cars
The 2008 Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer - the vehicles that literally invented the mid-size SUV segment in the 1990s - are once again leading the way with a capless fuel filler, a Ford-exclusive innovation that eliminates the need for a fuel cap. With this feature, fueling a vehicle results in less mess and less evaporative emissions. The technology, available in the fall, will be introduced to the rest of the Ford Motor Company fleet moving forward.
Ford Motor Company's mid-size SUVs also will be among the 12 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury products to offer Sync - Ford's exclusive hands-free, in-car communications and entertainment system that fully integrates mobile phones and media players into the vehicle using voice recognition, Bluetooth technology and USB connectivity. Developed in conjunction with Microsoft, Sync's unique features include: voice-activated music searches by genre, artist or song; audio reading of incoming text messages; voice-activated commands for accessing music stored on flash drives; and voice-controlled access to phone numbers stored in cell phone address books.
Sync was greeted with a tidal wave of news reports when it was introduced by Ford and Microsoft last January at the Consumer Electronics Show, where it won the show's "People's Voice" award, determined by popular vote over all the myriad of other gizmo debuts.
More Standard Safety Features for 2008
Safety is the number one buying consideration for women with kids, according to Marti Barletta, author of Marketing To Women and a LincolnMercury consultant. Women, she adds, now make up 65 percent of new car buyers.
The Ford, Lincoln and Mercury showroom is well positioned to meet customer requirements for safety. In addition to having the safest-rated large family cars in America with the 2008 Taurus and Sable, the company's crossovers - Taurus X, Edge and Lincoln MKX - have earned "Top Safety Pick" ratings from the IIHS. In fact, when it comes to safety, Ford vehicles alone have as many models with four five-star ratings as Toyota and Nissan combined.
Ford is adding even more standard safety features for 2008. Along with standard side seat air bags on Mustang and Focus, Ford's Safety Canopy(TM) side curtain air bag with roll-fold technology is now standard on Ford Explorer, Sport Trac, Escape, Taurus, Taurus X, Focus, Mercury Mountaineer, Sable and Mariner.
Ford's exclusive AdvanceTrac(R) with RSC(R) has been added as a standard feature on the Ford Escape, Sport Trac and Mercury Mariner. AdvanceTrac(R) is standard on Taurus X and available on Taurus and Sable.
"This is Ford's strongest lineup of vehicles yet," says Fields. "And it's only going to get better, because improving our product lineup each year is what we're all about."
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 260,000 employees and about 100 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com.