FRANKFURT, 14 September, 1999 - The Lincoln Blackwood concept vehicle, making its first European appearance at the 1999 Frankfurt Motor Show, is the result of a brand combining detailed knowledge of its customers with non-traditional thinking to create a brand new product niche.

Inspired by the runaway success of its Navigator sport utility vehicle, Lincoln decided to further explore the idea of combining the comfort of an American luxury sedan with the versatility of a sport utility vehicle. The outcome was the Lincoln Blackwood, the `ultimate utility vehicle.'

The four-door, four-passenger Blackwood debuted in December 1998 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Response to the wood-clad luxury utility vehicle was so strong Ford has decided to put it into production.

"The popularity of the Lincoln Navigator and the continuing evolution of American sport utility vehicles led to the development of this luxury utility concept," said J Mays, Ford Vice President of Design. "Our ability to take this concept quickly to market after the overwhelmingly positive public response to it shows how flexible our product development process has become."

The Lincoln Blackwood's appearance at Frankfurt is for more than novelty value. According to Mays, the processes that led to its successful development are being used by Ford Motor Company on a global basis to extend the character of its brands and could result in even more concepts that create their own niches in future.

Powered by a 5.4-litre V8 engine and riding on 19-inch solid-cast polished aluminium wheels and P286R60-19 tires, Lincoln Blackwood has a truly unique appearance. At the rear of the four door cabin is a fully enclosed pickup bed covered with more than 6 square meters of wenge, a dark, dense striated wood from central Africa. ....

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