Ford Motor Company Announces the 5th Annual 'Focus' Californopia Tour

Newly Trademarked 'Focus' Californopia Tour to Roll Out for Spring College Campus Tour Featuring the Cleaner & Meaner Focus PZEV

LOS ANGELES, April 21 -- Ford Motor Company announced its fifth annual "Focus" Californopia Tour at eight California College campuses. The tour will feature Ford's Focus, voted for the last four years as one of Car and Driver magazine's 10 best cars now available in California with a PZEV engine (partial zero emission vehicle), and the popular Ford Escape.

Ford's "Focus" Californopia Tour continues to influence Focus' and Escape's targeted young, college market by creating a 'Lollapalooza' style festival with live bands, free food and beverages, interactive games and activities, a DJ and a chance to win cool prizes. Ford's "Focus" Californopia Tour has developed into its own branded promotion, and remains one of the few campaigns catering to the student body with a full- service event.

This year's tour guarantees to generate excitement and awareness throughout the California college market with secured top-tiered partners such as Krispy Kreme, Wienerschnitzel, FIJI Water, Sierra Mist, Orbitz, JVC, Sunglass Hut International and Wherehouse Music. Students can check out the official Californopia web-site www.californopiatour.net , to enter the online sweepstakes, view event photos, check further band information and schedules as well as detailed information on the Ford vehicles and the exclusive college bonus offer for purchasing any Ford vehicle.

"The continued success of the 'Focus' Californopia Tour is primarily due to the Focus and Escape brands that offer an affordable, dependable and stylish mode of transportation that suits the lifestyle and finances of a young adult. And, in keeping with Ford's commitment to protecting the environment we are extremely proud and excited to offer the Focus PZEV to the California market. This remarkable new Focus offers both more power and less emissions than its 2002 predecessor," states Richard DeFrank, Marketing Brand Manager for Ford.

Some of this year's participating campuses include: University of San Francisco, University of California, Irvine, Cal Poly, San Louis Obispo, University of California, Santa Barbara and Sonoma State University with live bands such as Jurassic 5 and Slightly Stoopid.

The "Focus" Californopia Tour '03 maintains the proven formula of promoting brand awareness of Ford vehicles, primarily the Focus and Escape, through an interactive campaign designed specifically for the college market targeting their interests of live music, food, games and prize giveaways. This year's tour will feature specific games for the students to interact with the showcase Ford vehicles, The Focus PZEV and The Escape. In addition students can also check out the 2003 models of Ford Mustang, Ranger and Sport Trac.

About Ford Focus PZEV

The Ford Focus PZEV delivers the same high performance and style as expected with the Focus, named one of Consumer Guide's "Best Buy", with an advanced, more powerful engine specifically designed to meet California emissions standards. New features for the Focus also include a larger fuel tank, a new sport wagon package and several improvements and features that add to Focus' versatile, fun-to-drive, easy-to-own appeal. Since its introduction in Europe in 1999, and in the United States as a 2000 model, Focus has won praise for its performance, handling and package ingenuity.

About Ford Escape

First introduced as a 2001 model, the 2003 Ford Escape has quickly become one of the most popular SUVs -- "Best SUV Under $25,000" states Edmunds.com and "Best in Safety" Ford escape XLS, Kiplinger's Magazine. The Escape offers fun through its responsive handling, outstanding interior package, excellent fuel economy and low emissions in a small, tough SUV. The Escape is designed to appeal to buyers who want sporty, durable and affordable transportation.