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Show The Park Record C-16 T he Five Hundred is the new face of Ford family transportation, hut just the tip o!~ company's fast-moving automotive iceberg. Yes, your local Ford store will be a happening place by the end of the year as almost ever}' car there will be either brand new or heavily revised. Ford is calling 2004, its 100th anniversary, "the year of the car", during which time it will unveil a brand new family sedan, a new wagon, an all-new Mustang platform and a heavily revised entry-level Focus. The most significant of these in manyways is the front-' all-wheel-drive 2005 Ford Five I kindred sedan, a car thai Ford hopes will re-invent the family hauler when i( arrives this fall alongside a wagon sibling ailled Freestyle. As the company s flagship sedan, and an indication ol future design direction, Ihe Five 1 lundred will carry significant burden on its four rubber contact patches, especially after the Taurus's eventual phase-out. With a tall and blocky physique, a big part ol the design goal was to maximize interior passenger and cargo space. Key is the ' IT point, the pivot mint of the human hip. In the Five Hundred, occupants sit as much as four inches higher off the floor than in traditional mid-si/c cars. The vertical distance between the ' I f point and the heel point - where the foot rests on the floor - has been raised to 12.7 inches, which not only improves comfort, but provides better visibility. By RICHARD RUSSELL FOR WHEELBASE COMMUNICATIONS Think of it as a bigger, more modern, more upscale Taurus with the benefit of optional all-wheel drive and a continuously variable transmission *Wh(lc supplies last At 128 cubic feet, the Five Hundred offers 25 cubic feel more room inside than the Taurus and 17 more than the Crown Victoria with notable improvements in rear legroom (but slightly less front Icgroom) over both. The trunk offers a whopping 21 cubic feel ol' room, more than even the Crown Vic Make no mistake,The Five Hundred is a big car. Outwardly sized between the Taurus and the Crown Vic, ihe wheelbase measures 113 inches (close to that of the Crown Vic), which tips you off as to where all that interior space comes from. It's also a heavier car. weighing about 300 pounds more ihan a similarly equipped Taurus. Luggiucaruund the extra 10 per cent in weight, however, is a revised version of the of the doublc-overhcad-cam 3.0-liler Duratec unit dial's used in the Taurus. It's rated at just 200 horsepower. However, the Five I lundred will receive significant upgrades in ihe remainder of the drive train - including available all-wheeldrive - with two all-new transmissions. Front-drive variants will get a six-speed automatic, while all-wheel-drive versions will come with a continuously variable Wed/Thur/Fri. February 2-4, 0005 transmission (optional on front-drive models). The all-wheel-drive system is a proven Volvo design (Volvo falls under the Ford umbrella). To complement the fully independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock and standard traction control, the 'base 1 Five Hundred SF will ride on 17-inch wheels and tires while the SEFand Limited will come with 18s. Bven the SE comes fully equipped including a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat, lilt wheel, cruise, power folding mirrors, remote keyless entry, air and power windows. You'll also find distinctly upscale appointments with heavy emphasis on lexlure and lone. Interior surface treatments range from smcx>th metal to soft-touch plastics, wood accents and carbon-fiber-look materials on some models. Making the most of ihe expertise and testing facilities of its whollyowned Volvo subsidiary. Ford engineers say they have developed a complete safety package that ranges from a new energy channeling frame and body structure, to leading-edge side-impact and roll-over airbag protection. But the Five Hundred and its features shouldn't really come as a surprise to anyone. Ford has a history breaking new ground, from the Model T early in the last century to die then-radical Taurus in 1986. The company appears set to equal those performances with a big new package firmly planted on a new architecture and in its 100-year-deep roots in aulomaking. SPEC SHEET 2005 Five Hundred •The big new sedan will be available in three trim levels: SE; SEL; and Limited •The 3.0 liter 24-valve DOHC V6, producing 200 horsepower and 200 Ib. ft. of torque, is heavily revised from the (optional) motor used in the Taurus. •Front-wheel-drive models will be available with a six-speed automatic or a continuously variable transmission. All-wheeldrive versions get the CVT. •Traction control and four-wheel disc brakes wilh anti-lock will be standard across the line as will air conditioning, power windows, power driver's seat, cruise control, tilt wheel, keypad entry on driver's door, remote keyless entry and folding power mirrors. •The suspension is strut-based and independent all around. •Tall roofline with upright seating indicates a new styling direction for Ford and greater comfort for drivers and passengers. •Side-Impact and and side-curtain airbags will be available. •MPG(city/hwy):TBA • B a s e price: $22,000 (est.) Taller, wider and offering more wheelbase than a Taurus, the new Ford Five Hundred will also have more standard equipment and optional all-wheel drive. Your Local F O R D • M E R C U R Y Neighbors The Next Generation of Ford has Arrived at Your Summit County Ford Dealer. S oo per Lease for 385. with Zero Down! $ mo.* MSRP 28,185. 00 Class-exclusive first-, second- and third-row passenger seats that all fold down - for the ultimate in cargo- and passenger-carrying flexibility. Room to move best-in class first-, secondand third-row leg room, third-row head room and third-row passenger volume Best-in-class third-row accommodationsdesigned to carry two 6-fOOt1 -inch adults in comfort Best-in-class cargo space behind the second and third rows more cargo capacity than many midsize SUVs such as the 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer or Jeep Grand Cherokee The feel of confident control elevated seating positions for the driver and front passenger - higher than a traditional car - give great visibility and commanding view of the road for the driver Best-in-class - Freestyle is expected to have best-inclass fuel economy: 20 city and 27 highway (FWD) Platform derived from VolvoProvides a stiff foundation for excellent driving dynamics. It is the same platform used on the Volvo XC90, S40 and S80 Theater-style seating secondand third-row theater-style seating gives everyone a clear line of sight The most available interior storage In its class 12 cup/bottle holders and many clever storage options throughout the vehicle Comprehensive restraint and safety structure systemsIncluding: • Personal Safety System'" with Occupant Classification Sensor • Front structure tripod design • SPACE Architecture" • Patented adaptive steering column • Collapsible driveshaft (AWD only) AWD All-weather confidence-HALDEX All-Wheel Drive (AWD), available on all Freestyle models, ensures the vehicle is more surefooted under a variety of road conditions Smart powertrain-worKing with an improved Duratec engine which benefits from Electronic Throttle Control technology, Freestyle's advanced powertrain system delivers a smart combination of a smooth Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) and an efficient 3.0L V-6 engine to improve and optimize both performance and fuel economy. In recent testing, 203-Horsepower Freestyle out-accelerated compeiitve 250 horsepower models. - .,..-•"- Three-row Safety Canopy'-provides protection for outboard passengers in the first, second, and third rows in certain side-impact and rollover crashes The Smart Purchase is One Ibu Make in Jour Own Back Yard! Experienced Staff: Stan Peterson 6Yrs • Jeff Marble 28 Yrs • Bob Olson 27 Yrs 2175 Rasmussen Road, Park City, Utah ( 4 3 5 ) 6 4 7 - F O R D www.crandallfordmerc.com *39 Month Lease Based on 12,000 Miles per Year. Plus Sales Taxf License Fees, & Dealer Doc Fee. $391.45 due at Signing. Requires approved Financing with Ford Credit. Expires 2/28/05. |