Ford introduces the long wheelbase Crown Victoria 'Centennial Edition' in Saudi Arabia

The 2003 Ford Crown Victoria Long Wheelbase 'Centennial Edition' sets new standards for space and comfort and marks the celebration of Ford Motor Company's 100th anniversary. Al Jazirah Vehicles is the largest Crown Victoria dealer in the world - a title it has held for the last six years - and the dealership recently celebrated selling the 50,000th Crown Victoria in Saudi Arabia.

Visiting the Kingdom to attend the launch event, Randy Ortiz, Ford WDMO's executive director and general manager, predicted an excellent customer response to the new, six-inches-longer wheelbase Crown Victoria, and reflected on Ford Motor Company's impressive performance regionally and internationally in recent months.

He said: "We've had encouraging achievements so far this year and we're seeing strong business performance in the US. We're up almost half a point in market share compared with the first quarter a year ago - and we're the only domestic manufacturer to see an uptick for the quarter."

Ortiz also praised Ford's impressive results across the GCC where first quarter unit sales have shot up 21 per cent on last year. "New products have played a crucial role in these increases. Great products have made us what we are - and great products will lead us into the future."

Celebrating 100 years of Ford, the 'Centennial Edition' Crown Victoria Long Wheelbase is a limited edition vehicle with a variety of unique styling cues guaranteed to make it yet another Ford collector's item.

Aside from its six-inch-longer wheelbase, making for even more legroom in the rear seats, the car has a distinctive paint stripe down each side, colour-coded side mirrors and a unique honeycomb grill, in addition to special 'Centennial Edition' badges on the sides and rear. The interior also boasts wood finishing on the dashboard and door panels.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Fahad Al Kraidees, president of Al Jazirah Vehicles, said: "The Crown Victoria has been the lynchpin of Ford's success in Saudi Arabia and today's launch of the 'Centennial Edition' reflects the tremendously high opinion customers in the Kingdom have of this unique vehicle. More than 50,000 sales, including 10,000 units of the world-class Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, can't be wrong."

Ford has embarked on an ambitious launch programme of class-leading products across the Kingdom and the Gulf in recent years.

The hatchback version of the Ford Focus - the world's best-selling car and holder of more than 50 international titles and accolades - made its official debut in 2002 together with the latest generation of the Ford Explorer, the world's best-selling SUV.

The 2003 Ford Mondeo, winner of more than 20 automobile awards, hit Gulf roads last year setting a new benchmark in the competitive mid-size segment, while the all-new 2003 Expedition, Ford's full-size SUV, has made a big impression on Gulf customers since its debut in the region last summer.

Randy Ortiz added: "The Crown Victoria has posted year-on-year growth in Saudi Arabia since 1987 and is the perfect choice of car to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Ford Motor Company and 50 years of success for the company in the Middle East. To families in the GCC, this rear wheel drive vehicle has become synonymous with power, comfort, space and safety - all key elements for a great, comfortable and safe drive."

He added: "The 2003 Crown Victoria is taking the nameplate from strength to strength and Ford's impressive line-up of new vehicles are delivering higher standards of product quality and service to customers than ever before."

Al Jazirah Vehicles Agencies president Sheikh Abdullah Al Kraidees was also honoured at the event with awards recognising the dealership's sales milestone of 50,000 Crown Victorias in the Kingdom and its sixth consecutive title as World's Largest Crown Victoria Dealer.

Ortiz praised Al Jazirah's expansion plans and added: "Al Jazirah is pumping more investments in the local economy, generating more job opportunities and mostly giving back to the local communities. Al Jazirah today employs over 1,100 employees, most of whom are Saudi nationals and Arab expatriates."

He added: "A lot of effort is put into training these employees in order to deliver great services to our customers and offer them the best possible ownership experience. And thanks to customer demand and the success of the Ford and Lincoln brands across the Kingdom, Al Jazirah is expanding further, investing in the future of the Kingdom and its youth."