-- Ford will more than double the number of North American vehicles equipped with fuel-efficient, 6-speed automatic transmissions by the end of next year. -- By the end of 2012, 98 percent of Ford's North American transmissions will be advanced 6-speed gearboxes. -- The 6F35 is the company's newest 6-speed, debuting in the 2009 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner and delivering 4 to 6 percent improved fuel economy.

DEARBORN, Mich., May 7, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- The big shift is on at
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), as the automaker plans to more than double the
number -- to 1.4 million -- of fuel-efficient, 6-speed automatic transmissions
in its North American cars and trucks by the end of 2009.

The advanced transmissions provide customers 4 to 6 percent improved fuel
economy compared with typical 4- and 5-speed gearboxes, as well as better
acceleration and a quieter and more refined driving experience.

"Advanced six-speed automatic transmissions are an important element in
our sustainability strategy to improve fuel economy for our customers and
reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent in our new vehicles by 2020,"
said Barb Samardzich, vice president, Ford North America Powertrain
Operations. "They also deliver improved acceleration and smoother shifting,
all at a great value for consumers."

By the end of 2012, 98 percent of Ford's North American automatic
transmissions will be advanced 6-speed gearboxes, maintaining the automaker's
position as a leader of high-performance, fuel-efficient powertrains.

Less RPM, More MPG

Ford's newest 6-speed is the 6F35, which debuts in the 2009 Ford Escape
and Mercury Mariner sport-utility crossover vehicles and replaces the current
4-speed. It also will be used in the 2009 Mazda Tribute, as well as two other
vehicles early next year.

For 2009, the Escape and Mariner receive more powerful engines, but even
with that improved power, they also increase their fuel economy by 1 mpg
thanks to the new 6F35.

Key to the new 6-speed transmissions is increased gear span compared with
4- and 5-speeds. This allows vehicle powertrains to operate at a more optimum
level, depending on the particular driving situation.

"For example, a higher first gear delivers more torque when accelerating
from a stop while the deeper overdrive gear enables a vehicle's engine to use
less energy at highway cruising speeds, which saves gas," says Phil Yuhasz,
engineering director, Transmission and Driveline Engineering. "In addition,
with two more gears, a 6-speed transmission allows the engine to operate at
its optimum efficiency, for a greater period of time, further boosting fuel
economy."

The 6F35 is produced at Ford's Van Dyke Transmission Plant in Sterling
Heights, Mich., and will double the plant's production capacity to 1.3 million
units annually. Van Dyke also assembles the 6F50 front-wheel-drive
transmission. Last year, 221,000 6F50 transmissions were produced for the
Ford Taurus, Ford Taurus X, Ford Edge, Mercury Sable and Lincoln MKX.

Quality Engineered

At 84.5 percent customer satisfaction, the 6F50 is three points above the
industry average for all transmissions, according to the first quarter 2008
U.S. Global Quality Research System study conducted for Ford by RDA Group of
Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

This year, 6F50 application expands to the all-new 2009 Ford Flex and
Lincoln MKS. Available with SelectShift in the Lincoln MKS, the automatic
transmission also allows manual gear selection for an engaging and sporty
driving experience.

Flexible for Added Fuel-Saving Technology

Ford 6-speed gear ratios also play a key role in the company's new
PowerShift dual-clutch transmission. Currently used in the new European Ford
Focus and Ford C-Max, PowerShift combines the ease and permanent motion of a
conventional 6-speed automatic transmission with the performance of a manual
transmission. It also delivers a fast and sporty shift while maintaining
excellent shift smoothness.

"These technologies are all about fuel economy," said Craig Renneker,
chief engineer for new automatic transmissions, Ford Powertrain Operations.
"And our advanced 6-speed transmissions will mate perfectly with the new Ford
EcoBoost engines that are on the way."

Six-Speed Centers of Excellence

The Van Dyke plant will serve as the company's global center of excellence
for 6-speed front-wheel-drive transmissions, and the Livonia (Mich.)
Transmission Plant will assume the same role for rear-wheel-drive versions.

The third center of excellence for Ford's 6-speed manufacturing is its
Sharonville (Ohio) Transmission Plant, which produces gears and other
transmission parts for the Livonia and Van Dyke facilities.

A total investment of $658 million in the three plants was announced last
year, primarily for new flexible equipment to produce advanced 6-speed
transmissions.

SOURCE Ford Motor Company

http://www.ford.com

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