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Texas Auto Writers Association Names Ford Trucks as Best

22 November 1999

Texas Auto Writers Association Names Ford Trucks as Best

    DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 19 -- At the Texas Auto Writers
Association's 7th Annual Texas Truck Rodeo, the 2001 Ford F-150 SuperCrew 4x4
was named the 1999 Texas Truck of the Year and Ford Motor Company
received the 1999 Best Truck Line award.
    Ford trucks swept the top three positions in the voting for 1999 Best Full
Size Pickups:
    #1 - 2001 F-150 SuperCrew 4x4
    #2 - 2000 F-250 Super Duty 4x4
    #3 - 2001 F-150 SuperCrew 4x2

    "Ford Division is delighted to have earned these honors from the Texas
Auto Writers," said Al Giombetti, Ford Division truck group brand manager.
"Texans know trucks and we're glad they feel the Ford F-Series meets their
needs for function, power, comfort and innovation.  Texans, and truck buyers
all over the nation, vote with their pocketbooks and for the last 23 years
they've made the Ford F-Series the #1 selling truck in America."
    Named the 1999 Texas Truck of the Year, the all-new 2001 F-150 SuperCrew
is the first and only full-size pickup truck with four "real" doors and a full
rear seat in the under 8500 GVWR.  Leading the industry, the SuperCrew
combined "tough truck" capabilities with comfortable seating for up to six
adults and segment-exclusive features such as standard power adjustable
pedals, optional power moonroof and an optional audio/video entertainment
system for rear seat passengers.  A simple to use, optional bed-extender
elongates the bed to 7 feet.  The optional 5.4L Triton(TM) V8 delivers best-
in-class torque.  The F-150 SuperCrew will appear in dealer showrooms in early
2000.
    The Texas Auto Writers Association competition took place in Granbury,
Texas, in early November.  Approximately 30 journalist-judges listened to
vehicle "walk-around" presentations from manufacturers, and then performed
drive evaluations on an on-road course and 4x2 and 4x4 off-road courses.
    There were 49 vehicles represented by 19 manufacturers, and all were rated
on exterior styling, drivetrain, versatility, interior ergonomics, on-road
handling, off-road handling, comfort, active/passive safety features and
value.
    "The Texas Auto Writers liked the Ford trucks because they were
distinctive looking," said Dorris Ellis, Texas Auto Writers Association
president.  "Also, their power and performance matched what the writers
expected for Texas truck jobs."
    The Texas Auto Writers Association is a professional trade association of
automotive journalists in Texas.  Their awards are highly regarded nationally
because of the value consumers place on third-party evaluations by
journalists.  Texas is recognized as a trend-setting truck market, much as
California is recognized for cars.
    The Texas Auto Writers Association will formally present the awards at the
Houston Auto Show taking place January 28 through February 6.