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Ford Vehicles Again Earn Top Safety Ratings

24 April 1998

Ford Vehicles Again Earn Top Safety Ratings

    DEARBORN, Mich., April 23 -- The 1998 Ford Crown Victoria and
Mercury Grand Marquis again have earned the top safety scores -- a five-star
rating -- in government frontal crash tests.
    The Crown Victoria and Grand Marquis are the second and third Ford
vehicles this year to receive the highest rating from the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  The 1998 Ford Windstar, which
was among the first vehicles on the road to be equipped with depowered air
bags, also earned five-star ratings for both driver and front passenger in
testing earlier this year.
    "We're extremely proud of the performance of our Crown Victoria and Grand
Marquis, but these ratings are no accident," said Robert L. Rewey, group vice
president, Ford Marketing, Sales and Service.  "We invest large amounts of
time and talent into our vehicle development and the result is safe cars and
trucks.  And the independent testing done by the government continues to
demonstrate our leadership."
    In the government's test, officially know as the New Car Assessment
Program (NCAP), vehicles are rated on the protection provided to occupants in
a frontal collision.  Five stars indicate the best crash protection for
vehicles of similar weight, while fewer stars indicate less relative
protection.  Nearly half of all vehicle occupant injuries occur in frontal
collisions.
    The Crown Victoria and Grand Marquis also received ratings of four stars
for both front and rear seat in the government's side impact test.  That
places these vehicles among the very highest rated cars for side impact
protection.
    Ford designs all of its vehicles with the objective of reducing the risk
of injury and severity of injury in an accident.  Ford safety engineers and
experts use the most advanced computer technology in the industry to ensure
its vehicles meet or exceed stringent crashworthiness standards.  Only vehicle
designs that effectively absorb impact energy and help provide occupant safety
during computer simulation are chosen for further testing and development.
    Ford incorporates an array of other very stringent safety testing in the
development of its vehicles, including frontal offset, side impact and rear
impact.  The company's internal criteria for acceptability often exceed
government regulations.
    In addition to Ford's three top-rated vehicles, only two other entries
have earned the double five-star rating so far this year.
    In 1997, the last full year of results, Ford earned more top five-star
ratings for driver and passenger sides than all other manufacturers combined.

SOURCE  Ford Motor Company