Southern California National Park Among First in Nation to Get 2005 Ford Escape Hybrids

  WHAT:     Ford Motor Company to donate two Ford Escape Hybrids -- Earth's
            first and only full hybrid SUV -- to the Santa Monica Mountains
            National Recreation area to meet the vehicle needs of the people
            who serve "LA's backyard National Park" while at the same time
            advancing the Park toward a near-zero-emission fleet. Of the
            thousands of consumers on dealer waiting lists for the new
            vehicles, the National Park Service will be among the first to
            own them. The donation will take place during an Escape Hybrid
            Experience Tour "Ride and Drive" event, anticipated to draw pre-
            registered consumers from across the Los Angeles area.

  WHY:      The advanced-technology Escape Hybrid provides maximum
            functionality to the National Park Service with a minimum of
            impact on the parks it serves. The Escape Hybrid can meet the
            demanding on- and off-road needs of a Park Service vehicle while
            at the same time delivering high fuel efficiency, low noise and
            near zero emissions. Ford is donating Escape Hybrids to eight
            National Park sites nationwide as part of its commitment to our
            country's national treasures. Ford is a Proud Partner of
            America's National Parks, a program of the congressionally
            chartered, non-profit National Park Foundation
            (http://www.nationalparks.org/)

  WHO:      Vicharin Vadakan, SUV brand marketing, Ford Motor Company
            Jody Keating, Senior Marketing Director, National Park
             Foundation
            Charles Taylor, Chief of External Affairs, Santa Monica
             Mountains National Recreation Area

  WHERE:    The Grove at Calamigos Ranch
            327 South Latigo Canyon
            Malibu, CA 90265

  WHEN:     Friday, October 22 at 2 p.m.

  VISUALS:  Handoff of keys to National Park Service. Drive-off by National
            Park Service. Hundreds of consumers test driving Escape Hybrids.

  MEDIA TEST DRIVES:  Media are encouraged to test drive the Ford Escape
                      Hybrids. To avoid long waits, register by contacting
                      Scott Ward at 202/251-9484 or Scott.Ward@widmeyer.com.

PRNewswire -- Oct. 19