50,000 Ford Crown Victorias delivered to customers in Saudi Arabia

Al Jazirah Vehicles is also the world's largest Ford Crown Victoria dealer, both in terms of sales and inventory, for the sixth consecutive year.

"The Crown Victoria has been Ford's mainstay in Saudi Arabia and there are now 50,000 reasons why the car is so popular," said Sheikh Abdullah Al Kraidees, president of Al Jazirah Vehicles Agencies Co., the Ford and Lincoln importer-dealer in the Kingdom.

Hussein Murad, Regional Retail Sales manager of Ford Middle East & North Africa (MENA), said: "Saudi and GCC customers overall appreciate the Crown Victoria's legendary power, comfort, interior space, storage capacity and the advantages of its rear-wheel drive. It's a nameplate that keeps getting better and we're confident that the car will maintain its impressive sales record in 2003."

The Crown Victoria was also named by the 2002 J.D. Power & Associates Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study Awards as the most appealing full-size car.

For 2003 the Ford Crown Victoria receives a new frame and major upgrades in ride, handling, comfort and safety.

The vehicle's standard 4.6-litre SOHC V8 engine delivers impressive horsepower (265 hp) and torque (305 lb.-ft.) while its interior comfort, space and storage capacity head its segment.

A new and stiffer frame is the foundation of the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria's improved ride quality and handling. The frame's torsional rigidity is improved by 24 percent and its resistance to vertical bending is up by 20 percent, allowing the suspension components to operate more efficiently. This limits the transmission of noise, vibration and harshness into the body structure.

The new model's independent short-and-long-arm front suspension has also been re-designed. Changes include a new, more robust steel upper control arm, a new aluminum lower control arm and steering knuckle, coil-over-shock springs, mono-tube shock absorbers, and revised suspension geometry for improved tracking at highway speeds and more control during cornering and on rough roads.

The 2003 Ford Crown Victoria replaces its previous re-circulating-ball steering gear with a new rack-and-pinion system that is not only more precise but also 10.2 kilos lighter. Road feel is improved as operating friction is substantially reduced.

The new steering has a variable-ratio gear as well as speed-sensitive power assist, offering improved maneuverability and straight-ahead control. The steering gear incorporates a variable-assist feature. At low speeds, boost is increased to reduce effort, particularly at parking-lot speeds. As speeds increase, power assist is reduced to enhance control.

Additions to the Ford Crown Victoria's safety features include a more robust frame design, large crumple zones and Ford Motor Company's Personal Safety System™.

The Personal Safety System™ includes dual-stage front air bags, which are deployed according to crash severity, safety-belt usage and the driver's seat position relative to the steering wheel. The system is equipped with a passenger seat sensor, buckle-mounted safety belt pre-tensioners, and energy management retractors to help reduce the risk of chest injury.