Lincoln Expands Customer Experience With New Time Warner Center Marketing Alliance

DEARBORN, Mich., July 14 -- Lincoln, the North American luxury brand of Ford Motor Company, is proud to announce a new alliance with Time Warner Center in New York City that represents a breakthrough way to "shop" for a new vehicle. This innovative alliance is a unique marriage of real estate, retail and automotive marketing that offers consumers a total luxury lifestyle experience.

Beginning in October 2004, Lincoln vehicles and the Lincoln brand will be on continual display in the retail public spaces of Time Warner Center, the new 2.8 million square foot complex at Columbus Circle. Featured in an elegant setting consistent with the glass, stone and wood design throughout Time Warner Center, Lincoln vehicles will be illuminated under floating canopies near the main entrance, where an estimated 16 million people will pass by each year. Consumers will have an unprecedented opportunity to view and experience Lincoln vehicle luxury alongside the unique mix of high-end and specialty shops, restaurants and residences that carry a similar cachet.

"Lincoln's alliance with Time Warner Center is a natural extension of our 'Travel Well' theme that has resonated with consumers," said John Fitzpatrick, Lincoln Mercury general marketing manager. "This location represents all that is 'uniquely Lincoln' -- top notch American design and unparalleled service offered in a total luxury lifestyle environment."

The multi-year alliance will bring the concept of a concierge to the automotive experience. Operating in a complete Wi-Fi environment, the concierges will provide consumers with a premium, high-tech shopping experience. At the touch of a button, a concierge can immediately provide information about Lincoln vehicles for prospective buyers using electronic delivery methods, as well as arrange vehicle test drives at any one of the more than 1,300 Lincoln dealerships across the U.S. High-resolution plasma screens will be positioned nearby, artfully conveying the Lincoln "Travel Well" brand theme with images, text and interactives.

Other components of the alliance include permanent Lincoln branding in the Great Room/Atrium, as well as a unique visual presence on the 26 LCD screens located in and outside of the Center. Lincoln will also be the presenting sponsor of all art- and design-related exhibits held at Time Warner Center. At least five exhibits will be held each year featuring well known and cutting edge artists.

"The Time Warner Center brings the best in luxury to our patrons through the finest retail, real estate and restaurant properties," said Tim Hindert, president of Related Experiences, the event, media and sponsorship division of Time Warner Center real estate development team, which includes The Related Companies and Apollo Real Estate Advisors. "Lincoln, with its commitment to luxury and service, is a perfect fit for the lifestyle experience we have created at Time Warner Center. We are thrilled to have Lincoln join our consumer electronics partner Samsung and our financial services partner, First Republic Bank, at New York's new landmark destination."

The Time Warner affiliation, which is an exclusive automotive relationship, is the latest in a series of new marketing and advertising initiatives from Lincoln, which will debut five new products over four years, starting early next year. It is also the second brand-building action Lincoln has taken in the New York area. This spring, Lincoln launched an exclusive print campaign in The New York Times and The New York Times Magazine aimed at the influential opinion-leaders who read The Times.

"Lincoln has a rich history with New York City, opening its first dealership here in 1936," said Fitzpatrick. "The Time Warner Center alliance gives us the opportunity to be an even greater part of this city and make an ongoing cultural contribution to this vital community."

About Lincoln

Lincoln is part of the Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With more than 328,000 employees worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Credit, Quality Care and Hertz. Ford Motor Company celebrated its 100th anniversary on June 16, 2003.

About Time Warner Center

Time Warner Center, the new 2.8 million square foot complex at Columbus Circle opened to the public February 5, 2004. The Shops at Columbus Circle and The Restaurant Collection consist of retail, food and beverage, and entertainment programming totaling 350,000 square feet of leasable space. Together with Jazz at Lincoln Center's three performance halls, opening in the fall, 2004, this world-class destination provides New York's Westside with 500,000 square feet of dynamic restaurant, retail and entertainment uses. The new complex also includes Time Warner's world headquarters, One Central Park condominiums and The Residences at the Mandarin Oriental, New York and the Mandarin Oriental Five Star luxury hotel. The $1.7 billion project was developed by Columbus Centre LLC, a partnership consisting of The Related Companies, L.P. and Apollo Real Estate Advisors.

About Related Experiences

Related Experiences is the sponsorship, media and marketing arm of the Time Warner Center real estate development team, which includes The Related Companies and Apollo Real Estate Advisors. Related Experiences will enrich the guest experience at Time Warner Center with luxury marketing partnership opportunities, year-round corporate and private events and live performances and Mediascape Solutions, the preferred Time Warner Center provider of all media services, will work with Related Experiences to offer complete support for all event production, on-site broadcast production services, a site-wide media delivery system, and a full complement of transmission services within the site and to outside media and locations.