Lincoln and Vanity Fair Take Over Oscar Week in Style and Luxury

IRVINE, Calif., March 13 Designer clothes, sparkling diamonds and an all-new 2003 Lincoln Navigator... all this style and luxury can be experienced in Vanity Fair's Campaign Hollywood.

Lincoln is teaming up with Vanity Fair as the Official Luxury Vehicle of Campaign Hollywood, the magazine's series of promotional events leading up to its celebrated party following the Academy Awards. Starting on March 18 and running through the Academy Awards on March 24, Lincoln and Vanity Fair will pay tribute to the world's premier awards night in Los Angeles.

To kick off Campaign Hollywood, Lincoln's luxury vehicles are featured in an exclusive 20-page ad spread in Vanity Fair's Hollywood Issue, which hits newsstands on March 12. Lincoln's insert, shot by photographer Hans Gissinger, partners Lincoln vehicles with high-profile stars from TV, film and music. The featured vehicles and celebrities include:

Sean Astin and the 2003 Lincoln Navigator Richie Sambora and the 2003 Lincoln LS Natasha Gregson Wagner and the 2003 Lincoln LS Allison Janney and the 2003 Lincoln Town Car Laura San Giacomo and the 2003 Lincoln LS Kenneth ``Babyface'' Edmonds and the 2003 Lincoln LS Michael Michele and the 2002 Lincoln Blackwood Nobuyuki ``Nobo'' Matsuhisa and the 2002 Lincoln Blackwood * Martin Sheen and his daughter, Renee Estevez are featured with the 2003 Lincoln Navigator and the all-new 2003 Lincoln Aviator

Lincoln, in return for the star's time to pose for the spread, made a charitable donation to each celebrity's charity of choice. The total donated was $100,000.

The first event scheduled for Campaign Hollywood is the invitation delivery. Vanity Fair will use 14 custom decaled Lincoln Navigators and a Lincoln Blackwood to deliver more than 800 VIP passes for its Oscar party at Morton's restaurant in Beverly Hills. The event draws the most recognizable names from the world of film, TV, politics, sports, music, fashion, art, and the media. Other high-profile events include parties to benefit the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) and the Environmental Media Association (EMA).

Lincoln has provided a fleet of Navigators, LS sport sedans and a Blackwood to provide transportation to-and-from these events for Vanity Fair staff and special guests. Among these vehicles are two all-new 2003 Lincoln Navigators: with specially designed power running boards covered in red carpet, providing a true Hollywood-like entrance to the Navigator.

``The Vanity Fair partnership puts Lincoln and its luxury vehicles right in the middle of one of the most high-profile entertainment events of the year,'' said Ann Kalass, marketing communications manager for Lincoln Mercury. ``Lincoln always has a big presence at the Academy Awards as almost every celebrity arrives in a Lincoln, but with the Vanity Fair Campaign Hollywood activities, it lets us extend our reach to include a whole week of activities and showcase Lincoln's latest vehicles, like the 2003 Navigator.''

As part of the sponsorship of Campaign Hollywood, Lincoln will have several vehicle displays around Los Angeles, including one at the Beverly Hills Hotel that will feature the new 2003 Lincoln Navigator. VIP guests staying at the hotel will receive a free ``Lincoln Zip Card'' with a toll-free number they call to obtain a Lincoln vehicle anytime during the week preceding the Academy Awards.

Lincoln, based in Irvine, Calif., is introducing a series of new products in 2002 that will essentially transform Lincoln's retail showrooms. Among the new vehicles slated for introduction throughout the year are the redesigned Navigator, the all-new Aviator SUV, a refreshened LS sports sedan and a totally redesigned Town Car. In addition, Lincoln continues to offer the segment-breaking Blackwood and Continental.