February 10, 2006

Ford increases AWD availability to meet customer demand

Chicago, Illinois - In response to an all-time high in consumer demand for all-wheel-drive, Ford has introduced the 2007 Lincoln MKZ at the Chicago Auto Show.

2007 Lincoln MKZ. Photo: Grant Yoxon. Click image to enlarge

The MKZ, the redesigned and renamed version of the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr, will offer a new 3.5-litre V6 and available all-wheel-drive. AWD will also be available on the 2007 versions of the Ford Fusion, upon which the MKZ is based, and on the Milan, a Mercury version that is not sold in Canada.

"Customers love the confidence of surefooted all-wheel-drive traction, improved performance and the benefit of higher resale values for vehicles equipped with the option," says Cisco Codina, Ford group vice-president of Marketing, Sales and Service.

By 2007, Ford expects sales of AWD-equipped vehicles to exceed 500,000 units annually, including 400,000 cars and crossover vehicles; Ford customer research and independent analysis shows that 73 per cent of current midsize SUV owners want AWD or 4WD in their next vehicle, while 20 per cent of full-size car owners want AWD. Among large car owners, less than one per cent of current owners have AWD. In the luxury market, 18 per cent of luxury car owners currently have AWD, but nearly 50 per cent say they want it in their next car.

More 2006 Chicago Auto Show News....