Ford Middle East launches new sedan line-up for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury

The new vehicles make their regional debut during the Middle East International Motorshow, signaling yet another product driven year ahead for Ford Motor Company in the GCC and Levant markets.

The Ford passenger car lineup will feature the new 2008 versions of the Focus and Mondeo, both boasting Ford of Europe's new kinetic design concept, as well as the all-new North American made full-size Ford Five Hundred. With these new introductions, the Ford passenger car family offers six different models.

The Lincoln luxury brand will see the debut of its all-new mid-size entry level sedan, the MKZ, while Mercury adds the all-new Mariner compact SUV as well as the all-new Montego full-size sedan to its lineup. Both brands are set to offer their largest ever product offering to Middle Eastern customers for 2008, with five products each.

'2007 has been a landmark year for us in the Middle East, with a reinvigorated line-up across all three brands, new product offerings in most segments, active dealers and ongoing investments - all remarkable achievements that have fuelled our success story,' said Waldo Galan, Ford Middle East's managing director.

'We are excited with these new products,' he continued. 'These vehicles will be our champions on the road for performance, design, safety, quality and reliability. They not only provide a further boost to our Middle Eastern product-led drive which we started this year, but most importantly, they represent a clear statement of something more important to Ford Motor Company: a commitment to Quality.'

In the last six months, Ford Motor Company received numerous recognitions in both North America and Europe from institutions such as JD Power & Associates, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (NHTSA), and Euro NCAP to name but a few.

Galan added: 'We are surely on the right track in terms of quality, as we continue receiving recognition from leading institutions and automotive authorities from around the globe, and most importantly we are reaffirming the trust of our customers in our products, as our customer base grows year over year.'

Ford Middle East sales of the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury products have grown on an average of 20%, year over year, in the last 5 years. And with a richer product offering across the three brands, 2008 promises to be strong as well, according to Hussein Murad, Ford Middle East's Sales & Marketing director.

'We are looking forward to another banner year,' said Murad. 'By the end of 2008, the Ford passenger car lineup will be 80% new and refreshed, with a younger and more dynamic lineup. The all-new Mondeo and refreshed Focus, boasting the new Ford of Europe's kinetic design, will drive our youth strategy and add further zest to our passenger car lineup. And with new launches coming up in the course of the year, such as the all-new Ford Flex full-size crossover, Ford's utility vehicle lineup will be the largest in the region, with seven products.'

Murad added: 'Lincoln and Mercury have a fair share of excitement on the product front as well, as they will showcase the largest product lineup ever offered for those brands in the Middle East. By the end of 2008, with the debut of the all-new MKS full-size sedan, Lincoln will offer a total of six products, two of which are all-new nameplates. Meanwhile, Mercury will offer five models, three of which are new nameplates, following the launch of the Mariner compact SUV, the Montego full-size sedan, and the new Milan.

'There's plenty to look forward to and we are naturally excited with the arrival of these new award-winning products, and confident that our customers will be pleasantly surprised at the great features, driving dynamics and quality that they offer,' concluded Murad.

Ford Mondeo

Taking centre stage during the Motorshow is the all-new Mondeo, which features Ford of Europe's new 'kinetic design' direction. Mondeo is the most technologically-advanced car produced by Ford of Europe and it's already in line for the 2008 European Car of the Year Award. The new model already has received Euro NCAP's 5-star safety rating.

There is more to Mondeo than its new and sleek design. Advanced new driver-focused technologies are available, and include keyless entry and keyless start with the 'Ford Power' start button, new Ford 'Converse+' Human Machine Interface (HMI) instrument display, Adaptive Cruise Control with Forward Alert, and Interactive Vehicle Dynamics Control with Hill Launch Assist.

Mondeo in the Middle East is available with the 2.0-litre Duratec HE 145PS (NET) petrol engine with Durashift 5-speed manual transmission and the new 2.3-litre Duratec HE 161PS (NET) 4-cylinder petrol engine with Durashift 6-speed automatic transmission. The new model is available in three body styles: 4-door sedan, 4-door hatchback and the station wagon.

Ford Five Hundred

Ford Five Hundred adds a remarkable full-size sedan to the Ford line up with its award-winning safety features and available all-wheel drive, and offers one of the most spacious interior of any large sedan, with best-in-class legroom front and rear, as well as the largest trunk size in its class.

Ford Five Hundred comes to the Middle East with multiple awards and recognitions on design, value, quality, performance and safety. It is powered by Ford's 3.5-liter Duratec V-6 that delivers 263 NET horsepower and 249 pound-feet of torque paired with a 6-speed automatic.

Ford Focus

Benefiting from Ford's 'kinetic design' approach to styling, the 2008 Focus takes its inspiration from the critically acclaimed new Mondeo. The result is a classier and more distinctive appearance from a vehicle that's now as exciting to look at as it is to drive.

For 2008, Focus has been completely redesigned and presents a bold new face to the world. Carefully designed, the refreshed Focus has consistent styling from front, rear and side. This dynamic link from front to rear gives the vehicle its new sleek appearance.

Focus comes with new equipment and options. Just like the Mondeo, Focus enjoys the benefits of the acclaimed Ford capless fuelling system. Focus also comes with the available Ford 'Power Start' button enabling the vehicle to start up simply and in style, without having to insert and turn a key in a steering column switch.

Focus is available with the 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre Duratec engines, producing 100 NET hp and 145 NET hp respectively, coupled with the Durashift 4-speed automatic transmission.

Mercury Montego

The new 2008 Montego, Mercury's latest premium full-size sedan, makes its Middle Eastern debut, adding yet another sophisticated model to the Mercury passenger car lineup next to the recently introduced Milan. Together with the Ford Five Hundred, both are the world's only large family cars to earn both the IIHS Top Safety Pick rating and the U.S. government's (NHTSA) highest available five-star ratings in all crash test categories.

The innovative Montego offers Ford's industry-leading safety technologies, along with a modern engine that combines performance with fuel economy. Its European-inspired chassis delivers crisp, responsive handling. Montego offers a 3.5-liter V-6 engine and a sharp, 6-speed automatic. The Duratec 35 engine produces 263 NET horsepower and 245 pound-feet of torque.

Montego's premium interior is roomy and sophisticated with flexible seating and cargo storage capability that set new standards for midsize sedans. A spacious, second row and new-to-the-class 'high-package' seating position provide unprecedented passenger comfort and reinforce the driver's commanding view of the road.

Lincoln MKZ

Lincoln is building on the success of the Zephyr mid-size sedan with the introduction of the new Lincoln MKZ - a five-passenger luxury sedan that boasts a newly designed front end and the confidence of all-wheel drive. The MKZ is powered by Ford's Duratec 35 V-6 engine paired with a premium 6-speed transmission that delivers 263 NET horsepower and 249 NET pounds-foot of torque. The result is smooth power and a confident, comfortable ride.

The exterior design of Lincoln MKZ incorporates classic elements of Lincoln style that have become essential to the visual heritage of the brand. Further refinement of Lincoln's traditional waterfall grille, additional bright work and distinctive lighting gives the Lincoln MKZ an even more distinctive look.

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