Oh Yeah- "A Real Confidence Builder" By Ford To Lincoln/Mercury Dealers And Fans

Automotove News reported today that Ford Motor Company, at a Las Vegas L/M Dealer meeting , said that they will support the struggling Mercury brand. Ford Motor executives, including Chairman Bill Ford, told 1,500 Lincoln Mercury dealers gathered in Las Vegas that” the automaker stands behind the revival of the two brands.”

To show their good faith to the dealers whose fortunes and future rests on their business’ , Ford said that they would put a version of the Ford Escape into Mercury showrooms by 2006. (No I am not kidding) they said they are waiting that long because Ford Motor wants to differentiate the offering from its Ford brand.

Although it was said that Lincoln and Mercury will receive new and revised nameplates in the 2003 model year, the real work of improving the lineup dramatically won't be complete for three to four years. The automotive tabloid went on to report that Lincoln is getting a new ad campaign "Travel well with Lincoln,'' to coincide with a less ambitious freshening of its lineup this spring which includes a 2003 Town Car and 2003 Lincoln Navigator in May and the 2003 Lincoln Aviator sport-utility in July and the 2003 Lincoln LS in November, according to Automotive News sources, familiar with the plan.