"Innovation Drive at U.S. Cellular Field:" Ford Offers Chicago Area Consumers First 'Test Drive' of New 2006 Fusion and Explorer
oPUBLIC WILL PUT FORD'S FUSION - THE COMPANY'S MOST IMPORTANT MID-SIZE
CAR IN 20 YEARS - THROUGH ITS PACES, AND SEE THE 2006 NASCAR FUSION AS
IT MAKES ITS CHICAGO AREA DEBUT
o2006 FORD EXPLORER WILL MAKE ITS CHICAGO DRIVING PREMIERE ON SPECIAL
'SUV CAPABILITY' COURSE
oATTENDEES CAN DRIVE AMERICA'S HOTTEST CAR - THE MUSTANG GT - AS WELL AS
FORD'S F-150, FREESTYLE AND FIVE HUNDRED
oMORE THAN 2,500 CONSUMERS HAVE SIGNED UP FOR the FORD RACING INNOVATION
DRIVE
WHAT: Ford Racing Innovation Drive
WHEN: Saturday, September 17, 2005 - 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
WHERE: U.S. Cellular Field (parking lot C)
MORE: Some 2,500 auto racing fans and consumers will play out their
fantasies - at no charge - in the U.S. Cellular Field parking
lot, which will become a series of gigantic autocross courses
for the 2006 Ford Fusion, just as Ford prepares to release
the company's most important mid-size car in 20 years.
The day also will mark the Chicago driving premiere of the
2006 Ford Explorer, which has the most active and passive
safety features in its class. The '06 Ford Explorer leads
its class with 10 standard advanced safety technologies - and
seven of the 10 are new to the mid-size SUV class, including
four new adaptive technologies specifically designed for
Ford's stringent internal safety targets.
In addition, there will be test drives of the hot new Mustang
GT, the Ford F-150, Five Hundred and Freestyle.
Participants must be over 18 and have a valid driver's
license. They can register in advance for the event - the
fourth stop on the nationwide, eight-city Ford Innovation
Drive program - via fordinnovationdrive.com or by calling
1.800.647.7268. Or they can register on site.
This is also the first chance for fans to see the NASCAR Ford
Fusion, which will make its debut at Daytona International
Speedway in February 2006.
MEDIA Media members are invited to the U.S. Cellular Field for
photo and video opportunities, as are interviews with Ford
executives.
STORYLINES: Executives from Ford Motor Company and Ford Racing will be on
hand to answer questions on a variety of topics, including:
oHow Fusion will have a high-stakes impact on Ford Motor Company.
oWhy Explorer leads a changing segment of SUV buyers.
oWhy holding advance public test drives at popular venues is worth more
a thousand advertising words - 10 times more effective than
conventional direct mail.
oHow Ford's NASCAR involvement sells cars.
oWhy Fusion will be the most affordable mid-size car in the industry,
yet unlike its "vanilla" competition, it will have the swagger and
performance of a "driver's car."
Contact: Lincoln Hill
Ford Innovation Drive
313-203-7134
313-434-6868 (m)
lhill@campbellco.com
Andrew Punzal
Ford Racing PR
313-203-7199
313-610-6276(m)
apunzal@campbellco.com
