Lincoln Captures Spirit of Harlem Renaissance with Powerful New Ad

DEARBORN, Mich.--April 26, 2006--Lincoln:

-- New television commercial presents the 2006 Zephyr and spotlights Lincoln's heritage in the African American community

-- Renaissance celebrates the soul of Black America, featuring the poetry of the legendary Langston Hughes and iconic filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles

-- The 30-second Zephyr commercial will air on select television stations through June 2006

Lincoln is celebrating the spirit of the Harlem Renaissance in a new commercial featuring its first entry-level luxury sedan, the 2006 Zephyr.

Shot entirely in Harlem, New York, Renaissance commemorates a classic period in history and spotlights Lincoln's heritage in the African American community. It pays homage to the people and places who have contributed deeply to the African American experience -- including prolific poet and author Langston Hughes, legendary filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles, and historic Harlem. Now airing, Renaissance will run through June on select stations nationwide, including Black Entertainment Television, History Channel, TNT, CNN and the USA Network.

"The Lincoln brand has a unique and celebrated place in American culture, from our classic cars of the 1930s to the sophisticated models of the present," says Lincoln Brand Manager Tom Grill. "Renaissance introduces the new Lincoln Zephyr within the fabric of our heritage in the African American community - articulated through timeless words, images, and music."

Advancing the American Dream

The essence of Renaissance is the legacy of the Lincoln brand's importance to African Americans. The celebrated history of Harlem, the poetry of Langston Hughes, and the powerful presence of Melvin Van Peebles all represent the rich traditions of the African American community as it reaches higher to achieve the American Dream. Renaissance was created by UniWorld Group Inc., the African American Agency of Record for Lincoln.

Sultry jazz trumpet tones set the mood for the story as Renaissance takes the viewer on a journey through historic Harlem, accompanied by the inspirational words of "Dream Variations" from legendary Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes. The spot opens on a family driving through Harlem in their 2006 Lincoln Zephyr, experiencing the beauty and soul of the community.

Renaissance culminates with the Zephyr pulling alongside iconic filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles, seated in his classic 1961 Lincoln Continental. He nods approvingly to the elegant style of the Zephyr.

"The African American community has had a longstanding love affair with the Lincoln brand," says Lisa Llewellyn, Group Creative Director, UniWorld Group, Inc. "Our goal in creating Renaissance was to authentically communicate this long history in a visually arresting way."

The 2006 Lincoln Zephyr

With the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln introduced an entirely new generation of consumers to the qualities that have made Lincoln a classic American luxury marque for more than 70 years. Zephyr has a bold and distinctive exterior design, a rich, inviting interior with high-quality materials and a confident, luxurious driving character.

About Lincoln

Lincoln is a brand of Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., which manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 300,000 employees and 108 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com