Ford Serves Up Product Feast At 2004 Sunday Times Motor Show Live

• Fast Fiesta tasters – new, faster Fiestas including Fiesta ST production model, Fiesta RS Concept and all-new Fiesta Zetec S
• Diesel delights – sporty diesels to get excited about including: new Mondeo ST 155PS 2.2-litre TDCi, Fiesta Zetec S 90PS 1.6-litre TDCi and Euro Stage IV Ford Duratorq range
• GT surprise – first chance for British public to get up close to the stunning Ford GT, prior to first UK customer deliveries in 2005
• ‘Dura’ flavour – a host of new Ford ‘Dura’ powertrain technologies, including: Focus C-MAX 1.6-litre TDCi with Durashift CVT, Focus C-MAX 145PS 2.0-litre Duratec, Mondeo 204PS 3.0-litre Duratec V6, Fiesta and Fusion 100PS 1.6-litre
• Duratec with Durashift automatic
• Largest ever European Ford motor show stand

Britain’s favourite vehicle brand, Ford, is set to wow visitors to 2004 Sunday Times Motor Show Live with its largest ever stand and an unprecedented number of exciting new products and technologies.

A feast of new Fords will be presented on the 7,400 square metre spectacle, from fast Fiestas and sports diesels, to the stunning Ford GT. Highlights include:

• Fiesta ST – available at the end of 2004 and a new chapter in Ford’s ‘Sport Technologies’ story. The dynamic, 150PS 2.0-litre Fiesta ST promises a perfect blend of accessible performance and driving dynamics for rewarding, everyday fun
• Fiesta RS Concept – a vision of an even faster Fiesta, making its British debut alongside its production car ‘ST’ brother. The dramatic styling hints at the performance potential of small Fords and the RS Concept is on show to gauge public reaction before a decision is made on its production
• Fiesta Zetec S TDCi – the third of the fast Fiesta trio, available from December 2004 as 1.6-litre 100PS petrol or – for the first time –1.6-litre 90PS TDCi, heralding a new era for sporty Fiestas
• Mondeo ST 155PS 2.2-litre TDCi – another performance diesel first and a significant boost to both Mondeo’s and TDCi’s sporting credentials. The flagship 155PS diesel’s pulse-racing performance is best indicated by its impressive 400Nm peak torque, which makes it the most potent Ford TDCi yet
• Ford GT – a performance car icon reborn for the 21st century. The all-new Ford GT supercar is on UK public display for the first time, before the first deliveries to British customers begin in 2005. In total, 101 of the ultra-exclusive, left-hand-drive Ford GTs will be officially imported into Europe from next year

All these new models are presented in a showcase emphasising Ford’s retail thinking. Ford extensively researched its stand layout; studying footfall and movement across a variety of stand designs and floor plans, grouping of different car models and creating ‘hotspots’ for visitor interest. The company also enlisted the expertise of The Imagination Group in planning its retail experience.

"We drew on our experience working with people at the leading edge of purest retail – Nike, Selfridges, Topshop, Coca-Cola, Samsung", explained Deborah Germaine of Imagination. "Today’s consumers are very sophisticated. They’re buying into a brand, an image, a lifestyle, and retailers have to provide an experience that encourages customers to buy into their offer; in the case of Ford the freedom of mobility.

"Motor show stands provide a temporary, highly focused retail experience which aims to leave visitors wanting more, with the ultimate goal of a sale. They need to communicate a brand’s values and products and engage visitors sufficiently to stimulate them to test drive vehicles and ultimately purchase products" she concluded.

Said Ford of Britain’s managing director, Paul Thomas: "As Britain’s favourite vehicle brand, Ford views the British International Motor Show with great importance and this year our presence is bigger than ever, with more new cars on show than ever. Motor shows are our biggest showroom, the chance to remind customers of everything we can offer and I believe the Ford range today truly offers something for everyone."