2002 Lincoln Blackwood Will Debut With Ultrasonic Reverse Sensing System

    First Vehicle in North America to Offer the Ultrasonic Sensing System
                            As Standard Equipment

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 19 When the 2002 Lincoln
Blackwood debuts this summer, its many state-of-the-art luxury systems and
appointments will include a Reverse Sensing System, which alerts drivers to
objects in their path while driving in reverse.
    
    The distinctive Lincoln Blackwood, which breaks all the rules about luxury
vehicles, is the first in North America to offer the ultrasonic sensing system
as standard equipment.  The system is a development of Valeo, a pioneer in
automotive sensing technology.

    The system beams ultrasonic waves behind the vehicle as it backs up,
detecting objects within a 5 1/2-foot range.  As soon as the waves bounce off
an object, such as a shopping cart, trash can or parked car, an audio beep
alerts the driver.  The beep gets more frequent as the object is approached
until the tone becomes continuous when the object is within 10 inches.

    The Reverse Sensing System is available as an option on the Lincoln
Navigator; Mercury Mountaineer; and Ford's Windstar, Explorer, Expedition,
Excursion and F-350.

    The Lincoln Blackwood, introduced originally as a concept car by Lincoln
at the 1999 Los Angeles Auto Show, completely erases the lines between luxury
cars, SUVs and pickup trucks.  The interior wraps passengers in a luxurious
cabin while the exterior marries the dramatic presence of a Lincoln Navigator
with a unique, distinctive box-like trunk with a power-operated tonneau cover.