Mercury

DEARBORN, Mich., July 1, 2008 -- In the first half of 2008, sales of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars and crossovers to retail customers were higher than a year ago. Retail sales for cars increased 3 percent and crossovers also were up (less than 1 percent). Together, cars and crossovers accounted for 59 percent of Ford's first half retail sales compared with 49 percent in the first half 2007.

2009 Lincoln MKS

Highlights:
June:
- Ford, Lincoln and Mercury June sales totaled 167,090, down 28 percent versus year ago.
- Ford Focus' sales to individual retail customers were 9 percent higher than a year ago.
- 2009 Ford Flex and 2009 Lincoln MKS debut.
First Half:

The new 2008 Mercury Sable offers customers a sophisticated new look inside and out, a significantly quieter cabin, a more luxurious ride and a more powerful 3.5-liter V-6 engine.

“Mercury products are aimed at winning over new customers who value distinct touches, and this new Sable is sure to impress,” says Cisco Codina, Ford’s group vice president of North America Marketing, Sales and Service.

2008 Mercury Sable launch

“The Sable rejoins a fresh Mercury lineup as the brand is attracting new customers with the redesigned Mariner compact SUV and popular Milan mid-size sedan. Sable will extend the momentum even further.”

The 2008 Mercury Mountaineer offers an expressive alternative in the SUV market, delivering impressive driving dynamics, refined interior choices along with premium convenience and class-leading safety. It escapes the mainstream with many package choices that allow consumers to express their individuality and satisfy their personal needs.

2008 Mercury Mountaineer - front/side

Mercury Milan challenges the perceptions of what an exceptional mid-size car should be by combining distinctive, sophisticated styling, an expressive, modern interior and segment-leading quality, all at an unexpected value. For 2008, Milan gives tech savvy customers even more to love with the Mercury Sync™ communications and entertainment system featuring industry-exclusive, voice-activated, hands-free, in-car connectivity.

2008 Mercury Milan

Mercury’s mid-size sedan is available in Milan and Milan Premier arrays. All Milan models are built in Hermosillo, Mexico.

Distinctive Style

The 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid is a stylish, upscale small sport-utility vehicle with nimble handling and impressive performance, along with ample cargo and towing capacity. It’s an environmentally conscious SUV with remarkable fuel efficiency, and also meets the cleanest emissions rating achievable by a fossil-fuel vehicle (California’s Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle standard).

2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid

For 2008, Mercury Mariner Hybrid adds higher levels of style and refinement with new interior and exterior designs, improved fuel economy and a new front-wheel drive option.

The new 2008 Mercury Mariner builds on a strong foundation of offering more for the small SUV customer. It’s enhanced style and refinement is a look that will define the Mercury brand moving forward. Introduced in 2005 as Mercury’s entry-level, small SUV, Mariner built on the style and success of the mid-size four-door Mountaineer.

2008 Mercury Mariner

Year after year, the Mercury Grand Marquis is a sales leader among full-size sedans, and it’s easy to see why. It has the most horsepower and torque, the roomiest interior and the biggest trunk of any vehicle in its class. In addition, Grand Marquis is the best-selling Mercury ever, with more than 4 million units sold since 1970.

2008 Mercury Grand Marquis - night

Mercury makes it easy to choose your Grand Marquis with a lineup of two trim levels — GS and LS — that are comprehensively equipped and a sophisticated Palm Beach Edition package, which includes side-impact air bags as well as luxury upgrades.

A new powertrain lineup, with a more powerful and fuel-efficient 2.5-liter I-4 engine and a new six-speed automatic transmission, leads the list of enhancements for the 2009 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner models. Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner, the popular compact SUVs, boast better fuel economy, thanks to a combination of the new engine and fuel-saving six-speed transmission.

2009 Mercury Mariner

Other fuel-efficiency measures, such as refined aerodynamics and new low-rolling-resistance tires, also enhance fuel economy while contributing to a quieter, more refined cabin environment.

DEARBORN, Mich., May 14, 2008 – Cheating the wind with aerodynamic improvements helps the 2009 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner become more fuel efficient.

Already among America’s most fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly SUVs, the Escape and Mariner receive aerodynamic refinements on top of powertrain upgrades that contribute to an overall estimated 1 mpg improvement in fuel economy for the four- and six-cylinder models.

“Aerodynamic refinements are the most cost-effective ways to reduce fuel consumption,” says Van Stewart, Escape/Mariner aerodynamicist. “Without significantly altering the design of the vehicle, we can find ways to optimize the flow of air to reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency.”

May 14, 2008 -- A new powertrain lineup, with a more powerful and fuel-efficient 2.5-liter I-4 engine and a new six-speed automatic transmission, leads the list of enhancements for the 2009 Ford Escape and 2009 Mercury Mariner models.

2009 Ford Escape

Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner, the popular compact SUVs, boast better fuel economy, thanks to a combination of the new engine and fuel-saving six-speed transmission. Other fuel-efficiency measures, such as refined aerodynamics and new low-rolling-resistance tires, also enhance fuel economy while contributing to a quieter, more refined cabin environment.

2009 Mercury Mariner

Ford’s New 6-Speed Automatic Transmission Offers 4-6 Percent Fuel Economy Improvement

DEARBORN, May 7, 2008 – The big shift is on at Ford Motor Company, as the automaker plans to more than double the number – to 1.4 million – of fuel-efficient, 6-speed automatic transmissions in its North American cars and trucks by the end of 2009.

2009 Ford Escape

Highlights:
* Ford will more than double the number of North American vehicles equipped with fuel-efficient, 6-speed automatic transmissions by the end of next year.
* By the end of 2012, 98 percent of Ford’s North American transmissions will be advanced 6-speed gearboxes.

DEARBORN, Michigan , April 7, 2008 – When it comes to initial vehicle quality, no automaker performs better than Ford.

Highlights:
* Ford catches Honda in initial quality, putting it in statistical tie at the top with Toyota and Honda.
* Ford’s vehicle quality improved 8 percent versus last year.
* Every new car and truck, including the 2008 Ford Focus, launched with improved quality versus its predecessor

The quality of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brand vehicles soared to the top of the charts equaling that of Toyota and Honda, according to the first quarter 2008 U.S. Global Quality Research System (GQRS) study conducted by RDA Group of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

Ford Focus and Ford Edge Buck Turbulent Economy

DEARBORN, Mich., April 1, 2008 /PRNewswire - FirstCall/ -- Sales for Ford's redesigned small car and acclaimed crossover utility continued to buck economic trends during March.

Highlights:
- Ford Focus March 2008 retail sales climbed 36 percent compared with a year ago.
- Ford Edge retail sales up 35 percent as consumer demand accelerates in California and other coastal regions.
- Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sales totaled 213,074, down 14 percent.
- Total Ford Motor Company sales (including Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo) totaled 227,143, down 14 percent.

EcoBoost is Ford Motor Company’s new high-volume, affordable engine technology slated for a range of global vehicles – from small cars to large trucks

NEW YORK, March 20, 2008 – As America watches gasoline prices creeping toward the $4 per gallon mark, Ford Motor Company is coming to the rescue with a new family of engines that promise real-world savings at the pump.

Ford Explorer America Concept: Showcases EcoBoost combined with other sustainability actions; together, they deliver a 20-30 percent increase in fuel economy versus today’s mid-size utilities.

Highlights:

Ford Focus Retail Sales Up 36 Percent in February, Punctuating Solid Month for Cars, Crossovers

DEARBORN, Mich., March 3, 2008 -- Ford's new Focus and SYNC are connecting with small car buyers. Ford Focus retail sales were up 36 percent in February -- the fourth month in a row of higher retail sales.

Highlights:
- Ford Focus retail sales climbed 36 percent compared with a year ago; redesigned, fuel-efficient small car - and SYNC - are appealing to younger buyers.
- Crossover demand growth continues; Ford Edge up 46 percent; Lincoln MKX up 22 percent.
- Lincoln retail sales up 2 percent.
- Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sales totaled 185,294, down 7 percent. Lower daily rental sales (down 20 percent) accounts for 60 percent of the decline. Retail sales down 6 percent.

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 1, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Demand for Ford's crossovers remained strong in January. Sales for the Ford Edge were 95 percent higher than a year ago and the Lincoln MKX was up 78 percent.

Highlights:
- Ford crossovers pick up where they left off in 2007; Ford Edge sales climbed 95 percent and Lincoln MKX rose 78 percent.
- New Focus bolsters Ford's share of small car market with 44 percent increase.
- Total Ford Motor Company sales (including Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo) totaled 159,914, down 4 percent.

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.

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec 3 /PRNewswire - FirstCall/ -- Continued growth in crossover sales and increased demand for hybrids, fuel-efficient cars and Ford's industry-exclusive SYNC in-car connectivity technology drove Ford Motor Company's (NYSE:F) sales in November. Company sales totaled 182,951, up 0.4 percent versus a year ago. November marked the first sales increase following 12 months of declines.

Highlights:
* Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX Set Crossover Growth Pace; Customers Also Snap Up Hybrids, Cars, Sync.
* All-new Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX paced Ford, Lincoln and Mercury crossovers to a sales increase of 119 percent; year-to-date crossover sales were up 63 percent.
* Ford Focus posts 18 percent sales gain and Ford Fusion sales were up 39 percent.

DEARBORN, Nov. 13, 2007 – Ford SYNC™ has been recognized by the editors of Popular Science magazine as one of the best new technologies of the year and chosen to receive a 2007 “Best of What’s New” award in the automotive category.

Highlights:
* Popular Science calls Ford SYNC one of the top technical innovations of the year – a leap forward in the automotive category.
* SYNC, developed in partnership with Microsoft, is a fully integrated, voice-activated in-car communications and entertainment system that works with most digital media players and Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones.
* SYNC will be available on 12 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles this year and nearly all Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles within two years.

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 1 /PRNewswire - FirstCall/ -- Ford Motor Company's (NYSE:F) all-new crossovers continued outpacing the competition in October, achieving their highest monthly sales to date.

Highlights:
-- All-new Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossovers combined to achieve their highest monthly sales ever.
-- Redesigned Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner crossovers posted double- digit increases compared with year ago.
-- Overall, sales of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury crossovers were up 145 percent.
-- Lincoln's winning streak continues with sales increase of 17 percent, marking the 13th straight month of higher sales, with more good news on the way.
-- Land Rover dealers report record October sales.