All-new Ford Excursion prices begin at $34,135

Ford's all-new heavy duty sport utility vehicle – the 2000 Excursion – features unmatched interior space and powertrain lineup, and builds on the company's pledge to offer cleaner, safer and more efficient vehicles. The base Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices for the Excursion range from $34,135 for the XLT 4X2 to $40,880 for the Limited 4X4 (including destination charges).

"The customer came first in developing the all-new Ford Excursion," says Jim O'Connor, Ford Motor Company vice president and president of Ford Division. "The Excursion is designed to provide customers with a fresh new choice in the heavy-duty utility market. Excursion offers more space and convenience for passengers, more utility for activities such as towing and more versatility for carrying cargo and luggage – while at the same time setting a bold new standard for safety and the environment."

The Excursion may be equipped with either a 5.4-liter V-8 engine, a 6.8-liter V-10 or a 7.3-liter V-8 diesel. Built on the "Ford Tough" Super Duty F-Series platform, Excursion seats up to nine people in three rows, with class leading head, leg and shoulder room and cargo volume.

The Ford Excursion features a number of product innovations:

· Putting safety first, Excursion features dual front air bags and a Ford first below-bumper beam (BlockerBeam™) to help prevent a car from sliding under Excursion in the event of a frontal collision.
· Excursion will join the lineup of other Ford sport utility vehicles, mininvans and pickup trucks in meeting Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) standards or better in all states on all engines. Ford's trucks that meet LEV status emit anywhere from about 15 percent to over 50 percent fewer smog-forming emissions than trucks that do not meet LEV. On a total average basis, Ford's LEV trucks will be about one-third cleaner than they are today.

Nearly one-fifth of Excursion is made from recycled materials – steel, aluminum, rubber and plastic. More than 80 percent of the SUV is recyclable by weight at the end of its automotive life. Underscoring Ford's commitment to the environment, Ford also is launching a test fleet of propane Excursion vehicles that are Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (SULEV). These are the first propane vehicles to meet SULEV standards – California's strictest emissions standard for trucks.

Suggested retail prices announced are effective immediately. Public introduction for Excursion is scheduled for Sept. 30, 1999. Dealers are taking orders now for delivery to customers upon receipt of the vehicles from the factory.