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Lincoln Boss Intros LS8 to California Media

8 May 1998

Jim O'Connor, General Manager of the Lincoln Mercury division,
introduced the 1999 Lincoln LS6 and LS8 to the automotive media at a
posh reception at the Petersen Automotive Museum today. O'Connor, a 34
year veteran with the Ford Motor company, kept his remarks short but
was in an ebullient mood, having just received April sales figures for
his division.  Lincoln Mercury's April sales were up 53% over the same
month last year.  The new Lincoln Town car is a hit and posted a 16%
increase. Lincoln Navigator sales continue to soar, and the Mark VIII
and Continental posted gains, as did the Mercury Grand Marquis and
Mystique. Villager sales were way off, but the Mercury Mountaineer
sales climbed 9.4%.

O'Connor said Lincoln Mercury's vehicles were the "new" imports to
California, as the company migrates from Dearborn, MI.  He allowed
that California was were it was happenning, car-wise.  If California
were a country it would rank 7th in the world in car/truck sales.
O'Connor remarked that his division meant business, as they only have
2% of the California market.

Over 150 Lincoln Mercury people are making the move to Irvine, CA, and
some, like Marketing director Jim Rogers, have already sold their
Michigan homes and purchased places in Orange County.

Also on display was the 1999 Mercury Cougar, which we feel will be a
definite winner.  It's a sleek California car with bold styling.  We
asked O'Connor if this car would go racing in NASCAR, and he said that
was up to other people at Ford and also up to NASCAR.  We think it
could be a candidate, and wer'e suprised Jack Rousch hasn't had one
with a 350 ci in the wind tunnel.  Or has he?

The Cougar is on its way to dealers today.

Bill Maloney -- The Auto Channel