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Ford Intro's New F-Series Super Duty in Texas


PHOTO (select to view enlarged photo)
2008 Ford F-Series Super Duty (Made in Louisville KY)
SEE ALSO: PRESS KIT

DALLAS, September 28, 2006 – The all-new 2008 Ford F-Series Super Duty, the industry’s leading heavy-duty work truck and a mainstay of businesses throughout America, was unveiled today on the eve of the 2006 State Fair of Texas.

The fair, which routinely attracts approximately 3 million visitors during a 24 day period and is one of the largest, longest-running state fairs in the country, has become an important part of Ford’s product launch and marketing activities, particularly for trucks. This year’s fair marks the second year in a row that Ford has unveiled an all-new vehicle at the annual event. In 2005, the Ford Explorer Sport Trac – the groundbreaking sport-utility truck, an SUV with the cargo box of a truck – was launched State Fair of Texas.

The new line of Super Duty pickups was unveiled to a large audience of Ford dealers, employees, media and key stakeholders on a unique “construction site” stage. Mark Fields, president of the Americas for Ford Motor Company, hosted the launch event.

“The F-Series is an essential part of our core business, and we will do whatever it takes to stay number one in full-size trucks,” said Fields. “Every aspect of the new line of Super Duty trucks, including capability enhancements, design changes and feature innovations is uniquely designed after spending a great deal of time talking with – and listening to – our customers.”

Offered in three cab styles – Regular Cab, SuperCab and Crew Cab – with two bed lengths (6 ¾-foot and 8-foot) and a choice of three strong engines, the new 2008 Ford Super Duty will feature a bold look inside and out, an all-new, more powerful, state-of-the-art Power Stroke ® Diesel engine and a host of unique, innovative features not found on any other truck. And the line of Ford Super Duty trucks has been expanded for 2008, with an even more capable workhorse: the new F-450 pickup.

The Super Duty pickup has been the leader in the over 8,500-pound gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) truck segment since launch, offering best-in-class payload and trailer tow ratings. The new model, which will be on sale in early 2007 as a 2008 model, is the most significant update to the Super Duty line since the 2005 model year. The Ford Super Duty line of vehicles for 2008 includes the F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550. The F-450 is offered a pickup or a chassis cab; the F-550 is offered only as a chassis cab.

Ford Turns up the Volume with Toby Keith Partnership

Country superstar Toby Keith made a special appearance at the 2008 Ford Super Duty launch event at the State Fair of Texas today. Keith has been the Ford Trucks spokesman since August 2002, when he wrote an original score for the “Ford Truck Man” advertising campaign. At the fair today, he confirmed that he will be starring in a new series of Ford Truck television ads premiering in October, just as his Ford-sponsored “Hookin’ up and Hangin’ Out” concert tour enters its final phase. The new ad campaign will feature a new Keith song, “Working Man,” that honors the spirit of American workers.

Working with Keith, Ford reaches literally millions of potential customers each year through pre-concert videos, product placements, Internet promotions and other marketing activities.

Most recently, Ford Truck launched the new “Hang with Toby” website promotion at www.HangWithToby.com. One lucky entrant will win a 2007 Ford F-150 FX4 pickup, as well as the opportunity to meet Toby Keith and appear in an upcoming video. The “Hang with Toby” website is proving very successful, with 50,000 visitors from August to September of 2006. Additionally, nearly 70 percent of those visitors click-through to the Ford Vehicles website where Ford products are highlighted.