2005 Henry Ford Technology Award: Recognizing Most Innovative Ford Ideas

· Ford Motor Company presented 64 researchers, engineers and scientists with the Henry Ford Technology Award (HFTA), the automaker’s highest level of technical achievement.

· The HFTA was established as part of Ford’s effort to provide greater attention and recognition of exceptional technical contributions by employees who occupy non-executive positions.

· This year's award winning innovations include an acoustic chamber that delivers both safety and audio performance in the doors of the all-new Ford Mustang; an integrated trailer brake controller on the 2005 Ford SuperDuty F-Series and Land Rover’s high performance integrated traction system called Terrain Response – an industry first.

Dearborn, Mich. Sept. 27 – Ford Motor Company presented 64 researchers, engineers and scientists with the automaker’s highest level of technical achievement, the Henry Ford Technology Award (HFTA), for their work on 13 innovative automotive technologies.

“These are not simply the Ford Technology Awards," said Richard Parry-Jones, group vice president & chief technical officer, Ford Motor Company. "They are the Henry Ford Technology Awards. When we think of Henry Ford, we think of the Model T, the moving assembly line and the five-dollar workday. A world-changing product, a world-changing process, and a quantum step forward in management philosophy. These awards honor our brightest, celebrating excellence and achievements developed in the manner of our founder: with vision, insight, and the overriding ability to dream.”

Technologies typically recognized fall into the categories of manufacturing, research and product development. A limited number of awards are given annually.

Henry Ford Technology Awards this year include innovations such as:

· The Hybrid Powertrain Control System for the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner Hybrid · An acoustic chamber that delivers both safety and audio performance in the doors of the new Ford Mustang · The integrated trailer brake controller that made its debut on the Ford SuperDuty F-series in 2005 · Land Rover's Terrain Response system, which has an intuitive interface that allows novice drivers to access the full breadth of traction capability available in their SUV

· A switch feel studio, which allows researchers and engineers to simulate switch feel and ergonomics

Since the inception of the Henry Ford Technology Award program in 1981, Ford Motor Company has recognized 332 new technologies and the 1,065 people involved in their technical development. These contributions have had tremendous bearing on the Company’s operations.

On a broader scope, they have also impacted government regulations and customer satisfaction. These advancements have influenced both the automotive and non-automotive sectors.

The Henry Ford Technology Award is a hand sculpted and polished stainless steel flame mounted on a black acrylic base. The flame is symbolic of professional excellence – and superior accomplishment. Like the ‘flame’, which has become such an integral part of the Olympic Games, this award recognizes the highest level of technical achievement within Ford Motor Company