Kansas City Plant to build new Lincoln Blackwood

• Blackwood to join other new KC vehicles - a new smaller SUV, and the F-Series SuperCrew.
• Blackwood is called, "the ultimate utility vehicle," offering luxury, convenience and versatility.
• Production of Blackwood begins in late 2000.

CLAYCOMO, Mo., May 26, 1999 -- Ford Motor Company's Kansas City Assembly Plant has been selected as the manufacturing site for the new Lincoln Blackwood luxury sport utility vehicle, slated for production late next year.

The announcement was made prior to the opening of a plant supplier conference at the Westin Crown Center Hotel by David Thursfield, vice president, Ford Vehicle Operations and Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan.

"Kansas City is the logical place to build the new Lincoln Blackwood, because of our recent retooling for four-door pickup truck production, its outstanding workforce, and its dedication to quality," said Thursfield. "Adding another vehicle to Kansas City demonstrates Ford manufacturing flexibility - the ability to build several vehicles on one assembly line. We are confident that Kansas City Assembly will meet the high standard of excellence of Lincoln, and Lincoln customers."

The Lincoln Blackwood concept vehicle was introduced in December at the Los Angeles Auto Show, with St. Louis Cardinal slugger Mark McGwire behind the wheel. In January, because of strong public reaction in favor of the vehicle, Ford decided to put Blackwood into production.

Lincoln Blackwood is the ultimate utility vehicle, with all the comfort of a luxury sedan and the convenience and versatility of a sport utility vehicle. The four-door, four- passenger luxury utility is an extension of the extremely successful Lincoln Navigator, with one important difference: an enclosed 4-ft., 8-in. box that serves as a trunk. The Blackwood, like all Ford SUVs and pickups, will be a low-emission vehicle (LEV), with most Ford truck lines cleaner than most cars on the road today. ....

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