• Ford-Microsoft SYNC system to be available in nearly all Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles later this year
• New “911 Assist” feature will help quickly connect vehicle occupants directly to a local 911 emergency operator following an air bag deployment in a SYNC-equipped vehicle – with no monthly fees
• Since SYNC is updatable, customers with 2008-model-year SYNC-equipped vehicles will be able to have their systems improved with the new applications

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2008 – Ford Motor Company and Microsoft announce today that the award-winning Ford SYNC™ in-car connectivity system will be available to even more customers and with even more functionality later this year.

In his keynote address at the 2008 International CES in Las Vegas, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates announced that Ford will expand SYNC to nearly all Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars and trucks by the end of 2008. Gates also confirmed a new “911 Assist” feature that will help drivers connect with emergency assistance in the event of an air bag deployment.

Introduced in the fall of 2007 and developed jointly by Ford and Microsoft, SYNC provides customers the convenience and flexibility to bring digital media players – Apple iPods, Microsoft Zunes and other MP3 players – and Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones into their vehicle and operate the devices via voice commands or with the buttons on the steering wheel or radio.

SYNC has been very popular. The new technology – which is exclusive to Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles – topped 30,000 unit sales in its first three months on the market. In fact, Ford says SYNC is on track to reach 1 million sales in early 2009.

The technology is available today on 12 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles. Later this year, it will be offered on nearly every new Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicle.

In addition to the new 911 Assist feature, SYNC is being updated this year to create, on demand, easy-to-understand reports that owners can use to monitor the health of their vehicles.

Because SYNC is a software solution, owners of 2008 models equipped with SYNC already on the road will be able to have their systems updated with the new functions, as well.

“From the start, we pursued an updatable software solution with SYNC, using the consumer electronics business as our model,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of Global Product Development. “The ability to add functionality and update the system to work with new devices is what makes SYNC unique in the industry right now. It is a strategy that will benefit our customers over time by ensuring their systems do not become outdated.”

911 Assist
Research shows that safety continues to be a leading driver of purchase consideration, and Ford is already a safety leader. In fact, Ford Motor Company has earned more National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) five star safety ratings and more Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Picks than any other manufacturer.

But, in the event of a serious accident with an air bag deployment, the ability to directly contact the local 911 emergency operator could be a critical need – for both vehicle occupants and the first responders. Beginning later this year, SYNC can help.

When a phone is properly paired, turned on and connected to SYNC – which is designed to happen every time the driver enters the vehicle with his or her cell phone – the system will be ready to assist in placing a call to a local 911 emergency operator should an air bag-deploying accident occur.

Before initiating the emergency 911 call, SYNC will provide a 10-second window to allow the driver or passenger to decide whether to cancel the call. If not manually cancelled within the 10-second window, SYNC will place the emergency call. A pre-recorded message will play when the call is answered, and occupants in the vehicle will then be able to communicate directly with the 911 operator.

“Being connected means being able to get the help you need, when you need it,” Kuzak said. “With SYNC, and specifically with the 911 Assist feature, we will be providing our customers an extra layer of security and peace of mind.”

The key advantage of SYNC 911 Assist is speed, as calls are placed directly to local 911 operators. A SYNC-assisted call should reach 911 operators faster than competitive systems, as there are no handoffs and no need to speak to a call-center operator. Further, there is no additional monthly fee for this feature, as SYNC utilizes a customer’s existing mobile phone.

Once the call is connected, 911 operators can respond to the situation exactly as they would with any 911 call. Emergency services can even determine the medical priority and dispatch the appropriate assistance based on the situation. If necessary – if vehicle occupants are non-responsive, for example – the location of the vehicle can be determined through voice-signal triangulation or, on some phones, the GPS location feature.

The new SYNC 911 Assist feature is expected to be high on every “customer want” list. It will become available later this year, and earlier SYNC software and vehicles will be updatable to support this additional application.

Vehicle Health Reports
Properly maintaining vehicles can save time, money and improve customers’ ownership experiences. Later this year, with SYNC’s added functionality, staying up to speed with a vehicle’s maintenance needs will be easier than ever.

Using the SYNC website (www.syncmyride.com), customers will be able to set up personal preferences for Vehicle Health Report (VHR). Once established, a report can be requested at any time, at no cost, using simple voice commands.

In creating a health report, SYNC will gather relevant information from the major vehicle control modules and send that information to Ford via an 800-number using the customer’s paired and operable mobile phone. The whole process, which in some vehicles will include a routine check of more than two dozen systems, takes a matter of minutes.

Once sent, the information is automatically analyzed by Ford and a complete report is created. Notification is then sent via text message or e-mail, based on customer preference. Reports will be accessible through www.syncmyride.com and will use simple, customer-friendly language, suggest next steps and, when appropriate, allow customers to schedule service online. Reports can also be printed or emailed as necessary.

Owners that need reminding about vehicle maintenance will be able to have SYNC prompt them to run a report at mileage intervals consistent with Ford’s maintenance schedule.

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2008 – Ford Motor Company today became the first US automaker to announce the availability of factory-installed HD Radio™ technology as a standard or optional feature on Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles beginning in calendar year 2009.

The announcement follows Ford’s launch of HD Radio technology in the fall of 2007 as a dealer-installed option. As with the company’s ground-breaking SYNC system, the factory-installation of HD Radio technology expands Ford’s commitment to deliver state-of-the-art entertainment and communications technologies.

“Our goal is to offer drivers the best new features and the most choice,” said Jim Buczkowski, Ford’s director of Electrical System Engineering. “The great local content, the crystal-clear sound quality and the variety of channels and data services offered by HD Radio is exactly what customers are beginning to expect in their vehicles. Moving forward, a radio will no longer be considered competitive if it doesn’t include digital technology.”

HD Radio technology dramatically increases the sound quality of radio broadcasts and enables more than one radio broadcast on a single channel. As a result, consumers hear a wide range of new HD2/HD3 multicast stations as well as their favorite radio stations in crystal clear digital sound. More than 1500 radio stations in the U.S. currently broadcast in digital HD Radio sound, with more than 700 stations also airing HD2/HD3 multicasts.

Beginning in 2009, HD Radio technology will join other factory-installed technologies – including SYNC and the company’s next-generation of navigation with SIRIUS Travel Link – offered in Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles to make driving more enjoyable and convenient than ever. Digital radio will be additional source of source of information and entertainment that drivers can choose, particularly for great local and community information not available through other sources.

HD Radio Broadcasting Continues to Grow in Popularity
HD Radio broadcasting is rapidly growing in popularity and is now available to over 80 percent of the population. More than 1,500 AM/FM stations are currently offering digital content, including more than 700 HD2/HD3 multicast stations offering unique formats and content. All a consumer needs is a new HD Radio receiver; the content is free.

There are over 50 distinct HD Radio receivers for sale at thousands of retail stores and online. The radios are priced from under $100 from major mass-market retailers across the U.S., so virtually anyone can experience the crystal-clear digital sound on AM and FM as well as the broadcast-exclusive new FM channels. For a full list of HD Radio stations, visit http://www.hdradio.com.

Ford and Shelby to Build 2009 Shelby GT500KR Mustang to Meet Worldwide Demand
To compliment the one-thousand 2008 40th-Anniversary Edition Shelby GT500KR “King of the Road” Mustangs, Ford and Shelby Automobiles will announce that an additional 746 units will be built for the 2009 model year to help meet worldwide demand of the supercar. Of that total, 571 units will be available for U.S. customers thus equaling the 1,571-unit production run of the original Shelby GT500KR. The remainder of the units will be for countries that did not receive 2008 models, including Canada.

 Like the 40th-Anniversary limited edition, the 2009 Shelby GT500KR will feature a 540-hp 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 with a Ford Racing Power Upgrade Pack, 3.73:1 rear axle ratio, short-throw shifter, and unique suspension tuning.  Exterior design draws inspiration from the classic Shelby KR Mustangs and features unique carbon composite hood, wheels, and unique striping.  The unique 40th Anniversary badging will only be featured on the 2008 special edition.

CRASH-TESTED FORD TAURUS SHOWS SAFETY LEADERSHIP
The Ford Taurus earns the highest available rating of five stars in frontal and side crash tests; earned five stars for rollover resistance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is rated a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, so Ford wants to show visitors to the New York International Auto Show just how the Taurus fares in 35 mph crash test.  A crash-tested Ford Taurus will be on display at Ford’s stand allowing showgoers to place themselves inside the crash vehicle to re-live the test crash in a theatre-like experience demonstrating why Taurus is the safest rated large sedan sold in America. The crashed Taurus test car is expected to be a popular display at the show – and not just because it looks so different from all the other vehicles. More than 50 percent of car buyers call safety a major purchase consideration.

FORD LAUNCHES ‘WARRIORS IN PINK’ MUSTANG FOR ’09, DOUBLES CONTRIBUTIONS TO RACE FOR THE CURE
Ford will unveil the new 2009 ‘Warriors in Pink’ edition Mustang to raise money for breast cancer education and research.  Ford will double the contribution to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure – to $500 for each Warriors in Pink Mustang sold.  Through your help, Ford and you, the dealers together have dedicated more than $95 million in cash and in-kind contributions for breast cancer education and research.

FORD TRANSIT CONNECT TAXI CONCEPT OFFERS NEW PERSPECTIVE ON URBAN TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS
Ford, the leading provider of taxis in North America, is offering a fresh take on taxis at the New York International Auto Show.  Ford will reveal a fuel-efficient, nimble Transit Connect Taxi concept in the taxi capital of America.  A cavernous, easy-to-access interior marries the maneuverability and fuel efficiency of a small car, showing how perfectly suited Transit Connect is for carrying people and cargo through congested city streets.  Transit Connect provides another example of how Ford is leveraging its global product lineup.  Transit Connect is designed, engineered and manufactured by Ford of Europe.  It was named International Van of the Year when launched in 2003.

The 2009 F-Series Super Duty line of trucks, the industry's most capable full-size heavy-duty work trucks, come equipped with even more capability, thanks to new standard features and offers even more choice with two new packages – a Cabela's FX4 for the outdoor enthusiast and for the first time, a Harley-Davidson™ F-450 pickup.

All four Super Duty trim levels, XL, XLT, FX4, and Lariat, come with new standard features. The XL, the no frills workhorse version, now comes standard with air conditioning, Securilock, and manual trailer tow mirrors. The XLT, a step up from the XL, now has power heated trailer tow mirrors, privacy glass, integrated trailer brake controller, remote keyless entry and Securilock as standard features.

For 2009 the FX4 adds standard PowerScope™ integrated power-fold, power-telescoping mirrors, power seats, privacy glass, integrated trailer brake controller, captain's chairs, and SIRIUS satellite radio. The most luxurious of the Super Duty line-up is the Lariat. The Lariat adds all of the new FX4 standard content as well as the reverse camera system, a power sliding rear window, heated seats, molded running boards, and SYNC, Ford's industry-exclusive, voice-activated hands-free communications and entertainment system.

New Smart Technologies

Ford is further expanding its 'smart' features for truck customers by making new technologies that make getting staying connected and getting the job done easier.

• SYNC is Ford's industry-exclusive, voice-activated hands-free communications and entertainment system that fully integrates mobile phones and most media players into the vehicle using Bluetooth technology and USB connectivity.
    
• Voice-Activated Navigation System with SIRIUS Travel Link™ offers a host of convenient features including more than 150 hours of music storage.  Users can browse the music juke box via touch-screen or by using voice recognition.  The system also integrates the climate control and SIRIUS satellite radio into one easy-to-use, smudge-resistant, 8-inch touch-screen display.
    
• Ford Work Solutions, a collection of industry-exclusive technologies for F-Series trucks and commercial E-Series vans will help make business owners more productive and successful.  

All four Ford Work Solutions technologies also will be available this fall on the new 2009 Ford F-150 XL, STX, XLT and FX4 trucks and E-Series vans.    

Cabela's FX4

Ford is expanding its relationship with Cabela's, the world's largest outdoor outfitter, by offering a new Cabela's FX4 package for 2009.  According to customer data, 76 percent of F-Series buyers hunt and fish and a key way for Ford to connect with those outdoor enthusiasts is as the official truck of Cabela’s for the last six years with products prominently placed at stores nationwide and featured in Cabela’s publications and TV programming. The Cabela's FX4 package features a unique two-tone paint scheme in five colors: Ebony, Oxford White, Forest Green Metallic, Royal Red Metallic and Silver Metallic with Sterling Grey Metallic lower body accents, running boards and wheel lip moldings.  Custom mud flaps and unique Cabela's badging finish off the exterior.

The interior features standard cloth seats with the Cabela's logo or available Aniline leather seats with a unique two-tone embossed grain pattern.  The center stack is finished with a dark Paldeo wood appliqué.  All weather floor mats also wear the Cabela's logo.  And for the avid outdoor enthusiast, additional lockable storage in the front console and underneath the rear seats is perfect for keeping equipment secure and out of sight.

Harley-Davidson™ F-450

Ford and Harley-Davidson team up again for a new Harley-Davidson™ F-450, the "Big Hog Daddy" of the road. As with the still available F-250/350 SRW models, each individually numbered Harley-Davidson™ F-450 features a unique blue-flame paint scheme that starts at the side vents and runs down to the box side of the truck. The flame design scheme is carried through to the interior gauges in the instrument panel. The custom perforated black leather wrapped seats, door panels and center console cover reveal blue leather underneath giving the same blue-flame effect as the exterior. Harley-Davidson™ badges are present on the fenders and tailgate, along with "Harley-Davidson" script located on the box side.

Tough Bed

Ford is offering Tough Bed, a unique, military-grade, factory-installed, spray-in bed liner for the first time on the 2009 F-Series Super Duty.

Developed in partnership with PPG Industries, Tough Bed exceeds the standards of today's typical aftermarket spray-in bedliner solutions. This military-grade coating has been through the government's toughest blast mitigation testing to determine whether the material can with stand the force of a bomb blast.  It has performed equal to or better than other protective coating systems at one-third the thickness.

Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles continue their impressive quality gains, collectively improving for the fourth straight year and moving into a virtual tie with Honda-Acura and Toyota-Lexus-Scion for the 2008 model year, according to the latest U.S. Global Quality Research System (GQRS) study.

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ford Motor Company's surging domestic quality is now equal to the best in the industry for the 2008 model year, according to the latest U.S. Global Quality Research System (GQRS) study.

Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles collectively reduced "things gone wrong" (TGW) by 7.7 percent compared to last year and are now statistically equivalent with Honda (including Acura) and Toyota (including Lexus and Scion) atop the list of seven major automakers in the survey.

From 2004 to 2008, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicle quality, as measured by a reduction in TGW, has improved by 33 percent.

"This is One Ford at its best. It's taken thousands of people continuously working together with laser-like focus every day to boost vehicle quality for our customers to the top of the pack," said Bennie Fowler, Ford group vice president, Global Quality. "But this is a never-ending journey. The goal now is to distance ourselves from our top competitors. We want to be the sole quality leader."

The 2008-launched Ford F-Series Super Duty and the Lincoln Mark LT ranked first in their respective segments in both TGW and customer satisfaction. Ford Mustang GT500 topped the sports car category in TGW.

Overall, 18 of 24 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles recorded TGW improvements. Ford's newly launched Focus improved significantly in TGW and customer satisfaction, now equaling the Toyota Corolla in both categories. The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan are significantly better in TGW than the Toyota Camry, which they tied in customer satisfaction.

"We are consistently delivering improved quality by following standardized, disciplined processes throughout Ford," said Fowler. "This is particularly impressive considering the difficult challenges we've had to overcome."

Ford also ranked best in class for TGW performance in the functional areas of Vehicle Engineering and Electrical among major manufacturers. Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles averaged 1,287 TGW per 1,000 vehicles, a reduction of 108 versus a year ago. Customer satisfaction with the company's vehicles reached its highest level ever, improving one point to 77 percent.

The 2008 model-year GQRS survey, conducted for Ford by RDA Group of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., solicits feedback on vehicle trouble and customer satisfaction from owners of all major makes and models after three months in service.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

f-150 named one and only truck of texas; new truck offers best capability, unsurpassed Fuel Economy

DALLAS, Oct. 19, 2008 –   The new 2009 F-150 has been recognized as the one and only “Truck of Texas” by the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) – the sixth consecutive year a Ford truck has won top honors.

Ford’s lineup of trucks also was named Truck Line of Texas, while the Ford Flex and Expedition King Ranch received top honors as CUV and SUV of Texas, respectively.  Sweeping all four vehicle-centered top honors, Ford emerged the clear winner at this year’s TAWA Texas Truck Rodeo.

“This is high praise, especially the coveted ‘Truck of Texas’ top prize,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s President of the Americas.  “Texas Auto Writers are the toughest truck critics because they know firsthand and truly appreciate how core truck customers really use their pickups. 

“We’re honored that TAWA recognizes that the new F-150 offers consumers class-leading capability, unsurpassed fuel economy and durability that shows how closely we’ve been listening to our customers for the 31 years Ford trucks have been America’s favorite,” he added.

According to Harold Gunn, President of TAWA, this year’s competition was tighter than ever because all of the manufacturers are delivering outstanding trucks.

“‘Truck of Texas’ is really the most important award of its type in the industry,” said Gunn.  “We love trucks down here, and we really use these vehicles everyday.  And since we spend so much time in our vehicles, for us it’s not just about how the horse feels being towed, but how your butt feels sitting in the truck, too.”

On sale now, the new F-150 offers fuel economy that has improved an average of 8 percent across the entire lineup as a result of a wide-range of engineering enhancements.  The fuel economy gains reach as high as 12 percent versus the prior model year on F-150 models equipped with the high-volume three-valve, 5.4-liter V-8 engine.  At the same time, the new F-150 delivers class-leading towing capability of 11,300 pounds and hauling capacity of 3,030 pounds – a combination no other competitor can match.

“Earning the trust of so many truck customers during the past 31 years has taught us a lot about what they want and value from their F-150,” said Matt O’Leary, Ford F-150 chief engineer.  “In the past, there was a tradeoff – more fuel economy meant less capability and vice versa.  With the new F-150, we didn’t accept tradeoffs.  We delivered capability and fuel economy, and that’s why the F-150 is the definitive full-size pickup on the market.”

Other Ford Motor Company vehicles winning top honors in their categories at the TAWA Rodeo include:

·         Best Luxury Pickup:  2009 Ford F-150 King Ranch

·         Best Full-Size CUV:  2009 Ford Flex

·         Best Mid-Size CUV:  2009 Mazda CX9

·         Best Luxury CUV:  2009 Lincoln MKX

·         Best Mid-Size SUV:  2009 Ford Explorer

·         Best Heavy Duty Pickup:  2009 Ford F-350 Super Duty Cabela’s Edition

DEARBORN, MI – Ford Motor Co. claims its soon-to-be-launched 911 Assist system rivals General Motors Corp.’s OnStar service for speed and performance.

And it’s free, adds the head of Ford’s recently established autonomous division.

Available as early as December as a dealer-installed software upgrade to Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with the auto maker’s Sync multimedia system, 911 Assist places direct calls to emergency service providers in the event of a severe collision. OnStar does not, says Doug VanDagens.

“Our calls come in on an emergency line and go straight to the top of the queue, while OnStar calls go through an operator who speaks to a 911 operator,” VanDagens says during a media event here to introduce the system.

Mobility is another advantage 911 Assist has over OnStar, as it works via a driver’s cell phone, while OnStar relies on an imbedded communication device.

“When you’re in the middle of a crash, you want to get out of (your car), but you want to still maintain that call,” VanDagens says. “Sync allows you to take your cell phone, walk out of the car and continue on the same call to emergency-service providers.”

Meanwhile, OnStar access requires a paid subscription.

“911 Assist is free, whereas an OnStar charges between $18-$28 per month,” VanDagens adds.

The 911 Assist system automatically is activated when airbags are deployed in a collision. If the airbags don’t deploy, a rear-mounted inertia monitor activates the system if it detects a severe impact.

Fender-benders will not set off 911 Assist, VanDagens says, adding drivers who do not wish to see emergency personnel have 10 seconds to deactivate the system.

Tony DiSalle, vice president of sales and marketing for OnStar, argues GM’s system is more reliable. “Would you trust your cell phone in an accident?” he asks.

“Where do you think a cell phone would reside in an accident,” DiSalle adds, citing the possibility that a cell phone could be thrown about during a collision, making it impossible to carry on a conversation outside the vehicle.

OnStar, which was launched in 1996, currently boasts more than 5.5 million subscribers and has responded to nearly 100,000 crashes. “And our perspective is the only way to do this,” DiSalle maintains.

As with 911 Assist, OnStar also uses cellular signals to connect to emergency responders. However, the cellular antenna is placed on top of the vehicle, making it more likely to secure a connection than Ford’s system, DiSalle says.

DiSalle also defends OnStar’s subscription fees, saying “you get what you pay for.”

In developing 911 Assist, Ford collaborated with the National Emergency Number Assn. and the Assn. of Public-Safety Communications Officials.

Today, Assist 911 notifies emergency operators a collision has occurred involving a Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicle. The phone number of the driver is provided, and vehicles can be located using emergency responders by triangulating the location of the cell phone or through a global positioning system, which will be made standard in all Ford vehicles beginning in the '09 model year, VanDagens says.

Eventually, operators will be trained to determine how much damage has occurred, providing yet another valuable tool to emergency responders, VanDagens says.

Launching in conjunction with 911 Assist is Ford’s Vehicle Health Report (VHR) system, which also is Sync-based.

Consumers can access a dedicated website to establish their preferences for vehicle health reports. The reports are generated from information provided by the vehicle’s major control modules, after which data is sent to Ford through the user’s cell phone.

The entire process is free of charge, takes just a few minutes and includes routine checks of more than two dozen vehicle systems, says Tom Hodges, Sync and digital marketing manager.

“It monitors any system that has self-diagnostic capability,” Hodges says, adding a warning light on VHR will prompt a detailed readout of what caused the alert, eliminating a trip to the dealership for problems such as an improperly secured gas cap.

“It will be very detail-oriented,” he says. “The specific instructions given to the customer will be specific to the exact scenario that Sync picked up from the vehicle.”

If a critical issue is detected by the system, a text message will be sent to the driver’s cell phone, VanDagens says. “Immediately, you would know your engine is in bad shape and you shouldn’t drive it anymore,” he says.

VHR and 911 Assist will be available on 12 Sync-equipped Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles this year and eight more models will go online in 2009.

VanDagens hints that more Sync-based systems are on their way next year as well, although he declines to elaborate. “Beginning next year, we’ll have a whole series of incremental features to announce,” he says, hinting they will be in collaboration with the “giants of the Internet.”