Auto Industry News
FORD UNVEILS TRIO OF VEHICLES FOR NEW YORK AUTO SHOW, INCLUDING MOST POWERFUL MUSTANG AND F-150
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New, limited-edition vehicles developed with hip hop guru Funkmaster Flex and hot rodder Chip Foose will join the 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR – the most powerful Mustang to ever – at the 2007 New York International Auto Show.
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2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR roars to life in spring 2008.
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2008 Ford F-150 Foose Edition hits the streets in early 2008.
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2008 Ford Expedition Funkmaster Flex Edition to launch in fall 2007.
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Ford’s customization business continues to grow: up 50 percent in 2006.
DEARBORN, Mich., March 30, 2007 – Ford unveiled three new limited-edition models today – the Shelby GT500KR, the F-150 Foose Edition and the Ford Expedition Funkmaster Flex Edition – all of which are making their public debut at the 2007 New York International Auto Show. The trio of vehicles, including the most powerful pickup and most powerful Mustang ever from Ford, demonstrates how the company is leveraging key partnerships to create exciting new products.
“Marrying great Ford products like Mustang, F-150 and Expedition to strong partners like Shelby, Foose and Flex creates vehicles that are irresistible to customers who want to make the boldest statement they can,” said Cisco Codina, group vice president of North America Marketing, Sales and Service. “We are seeing more demand for special wheels and accessories and, of course, from-the-factory packages like the new Eddie Bauer Taurus X and Harley F-150s.” Ford research indicates that 62 percent of full-size pickup truck buyers purchase accessories for their vehicles, and 73 percent buy parts through their dealer. Truck buyers spend an average of $1,700 in accessories. Roughly 30 percent of crossover utility vehicle buyers purchase accessories, and they are more likely to make accessory purchases at the dealership.
Ford’s overall customization business grew 50 percent in 2006 and could potentially double its business again in the next two years, driven by factory-customized products and a hard focus on wheels, appearance packages and electronics such as DVD players and navigation systems.
“This is really a fashion industry,” says Peter MacGillivray, vice president, Marketing and Communications for the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA). “Consumers want to put their personal stamp on everything they buy – from personalized rings to build-a-teddy-bear – and everybody knows that ‘you are what you drive.’”
2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR:
Launching next spring, the 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR model features a 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 with a Ford Racing Power Upgrade Pack that boosts engine output to an estimated 540 horsepower. 
Produced in a limited edition of 1,000 units, the Shelby GT500KR coupe comes with a custom carbon composite hood with scoops and stainless steel twist-down hood pins, a lower front air dam with chrome-trimmed functional brake ducts and large 14-inch Brembo front brakes. The suspension has been modified with an emphasis on race-inspired handling.
Drawing inspiration from the classic 1968 KR model, the Shelby GT500KR also features 40th Anniversary exterior badging, unique striping and a distinctive interior with Carroll Shelby-signature embroidered seats and a 40th Anniversary numbered dash plaque.
2008 Ford F-150 Foose Edition:
Hitting the streets in early 2008 is one tough boulevard cruiser – the 2008 Ford F-150 Foose Edition styled by custom street rod designer Chip Foose.
Lowered, but looking even more hunkered down thanks to its big 22-inch wheels, the special Foose F-150 sports bold racing stripes that start at the edge of the hood and then thin out over the front fenders to run the length of the vehicle only to widen again at the tailgate.
Planned for a limited run of production units, Foose gave the F-150 a new grille with horizontal bars as well as rocker moldings to further help lower the vehicle visually while the cab is accented by Chip Foose signature headrests and floor mats, a unique leather-wrapped center console and a Foose-designed serialization plate showing the VIN and build-sequence numbers.
Powering the Foose Edition F-150 is a 450-horsepower supercharged Triton V8 that puts out 500 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm, making it the most powerful Ford F-150 since the 2004 Ford SVT Lightning. When it hits the streets, it will be the most powerful half-ton pickup on the market.
2008 Ford Expedition Funkmaster Flex Edition:
Coming to dealer showrooms this fall, the 2008 Ford Expedition Funkmaster Flex Edition turns the hot Expedition concept vehicle created by hip hop DJ Funkmaster Flex into a limited-production, short wheelbase SUV.
The Expedition FMF will sport a two-tone Colorado Red-and-Black paint scheme with orange pinstriping and special chrome badging, a custom front fascia with integrated fog lamps, side skirts, rear fascia and 20-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels.
Inside, a matching Colorado Red instrument panel, console bezel, shifter and switch bezels blend with four leather captains chairs with red stitching, FMF red logo headrests and a red-stitched steering wheel. Rounding out the package is SIRIUS satellite radio and an exclusive numbered dash plaque signed by Funkmaster Flex.
The Expedition FMF Edition also sports a 340-watt Audiophile™ Sound System, MP3 player audio jack, Powerfold™ third-row seating, heated and cooled front seats and an optional navigation system, power liftgate and rear-seat DVD entertainment system.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With more than 280,000 employees and more than 100 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo, Aston Martin and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com.
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