Ford Confirms New Shelby GT And Lincoln MKS Sedan

Ford Motor Company will increase the pace of new product introductions and respond to fast-changing consumer-buying trends as it accelerates its Way Forward turnaround plan and considers investing up to $1 billion in several of the company's Michigan facilities. Mark Fields, Ford's president of The Americas, made that announcement today to industry leaders at the Center for Automotive Research's 41st annual Management Briefing Seminars.

"We are rebuilding our business for the future with an emphasis on more new products faster - and that includes more customer features and advanced technologies throughout our entire lineup," said Fields. "Even as we reduce our overall capacity in line with demand and make the tough but necessary cutbacks throughout our business to secure our future, we are not retreating one bit from the necessary investments to bring out more products for our customers. The competitive landscape and our future demand it."

More New Products Faster
As part of plans to accelerate its turnaround, Ford will emphasize the introduction of new products as core to going "further and faster" throughout its business.

"We'll have more to say on the specifics of what we're accelerating in September. But I can confirm that our plans include more new products, features and technologies throughout our lineup," said Fields. "We have nine new Ford and Lincoln Mercury products going on sale in the next six months alone, and we are rebuilding our business for the future with an emphasis on new products."

Among the new products are the Ford Shelby GT - on sale in January - and Lincoln MKS flagship sedan, which will arrive in showrooms in 2008.

Ford Shelby GT
The 4.6-liter, 325-horsepower Ford Shelby GT will occupy a niche between the Mustang GT and the Ford Shelby GT500 both in performance and appearance. It is a retail version of the Ford Shelby GT-H Mustang developed for Hertz that was the surprise hit of the 2006 New York International Auto Show.

"We know the combination of Mustang and Shelby is magic, and we proved it again when we revealed the Ford Shelby GT-H. The car received such rave reviews that our dealers and customers asked for a version of their own," Fields explained. "We listened, and we're delivering." The Ford Shelby GT will be on sale in January.

Lincoln MKS
The Lincoln MKS full-size flagship sedan will be based on the concept vehicle first shown at the North American International Auto Show in January."The Lincoln MKS will take Lincoln craftsmanship and comfort beyond anything we've built before," Fields said. "Its design communicates power, motion and speed, and it will be packed with more technology and features than any Lincoln before it."