Ford, U of M Explore New Ways To Speed Development of Future Hybrid Vehicles

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

-- Ford and the University of Michigan are conducting pioneering new
research to speed the development of advanced hybrid vehicle
technology
-- Through virtual testing, researchers are conducting as many as 175,000
design simulations of hybrid control systems a week to further improve
fuel efficiency and drivability

-- The research creates the potential for future hybrid owners to select
software to customize how their hybrid performs

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) and the University of Michigan are working
together on a new project to accelerate the development of future hybrid
vehicles.

Researchers are analyzing data from 2,500 road trips to determine how internal
electronic vehicle controls could be tweaked to further improve fuel
efficiency and fun-to-drive attributes.

"The Ford Fusion Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient midsize sedan available,
and its performance is second to none. Our work with U of M is helping us
develop the next generation of Ford hybrids and bring them to market even
faster," said Ryan McGee, supervisor of Vehicle Controls Architecture and
Algorithm Design in Ford's Research and Advanced Engineering.

Working with U of M, Ford has tested nearly 1 million design simulations of
hybrid vehicle control systems to date and continues to conduct about 50,000 a
week - a development speed that otherwise would not be possible.

Other academic work in hybrid vehicle technology primarily has been focused on
fuel economy - often at the expense of drivability. Ford and U of M are
looking at the marriage of both.

"The new hybrid controller design method we have created has the potential to
offer consumers more choice in how efficient and drivable their vehicles are,"
said Jessy Grizzle, professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at U of
M. "I envision hybrids of the future featuring multiple modes or offering
customers the ability to customize their driving experience."

The research is still in its early research stages, but initial results are
promising.

"Working together with the University of Michigan research team, we are
testing the boundaries of hybrid vehicle technology, exploring innovative ways
to raise the bar on fuel economy and drivability," said Dr. Gerhard Schmidt,
chief technical officer, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering. "This joint
work on hybrid software development shows great promise in helping us lead the
development of more efficient hybrid systems for the future."

Ford now has four hybrid vehicles on sale - with more electrified vehicles
coming.

The new Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid deliver 41 mpg in the city
- 8 mpg better than Toyota Camry Hybrid - making them the most fuel-efficient
midsize sedans in America. The Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid
deliver 34 mpg in the city - also better than the Toyota Camry Hybrid.

Ford Motor Company's hybrid vehicle sales have risen 73 percent this year -
compared with a 14-percent decline in hybrid sales across the industry. The
fuel economy and durability of hybrid versions of Ford Fusion and Escape,
Mercury Milan and Mariner also are winning over large numbers of conquest
customers, many of whom are previous import owners.

Through September, Ford has sold 26,016 hybrid vehicles, up 73 percent versus
the same period in 2008, according to figures from Autodata Inc.

Moving forward, Ford also plans to produce a pure battery electric Transit
Connect commercial van in 2010, a battery electric Focus compact car in 2011,
and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and next-generation hybrid electric
vehicle in 2012.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn,
Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With
about 201,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's
automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company
provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more
information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

The University of Michigan College of Engineering
The University of Michigan College of Engineering is ranked among the top
engineering schools in the country. At more than $130 million annually, its
engineering research budget is one of the largest of any public university.
Michigan Engineering is home to 11 academic departments and a National Science
Foundation Engineering Research Center. The college plays a leading role in
the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute and hosts the world class Lurie
Nanofabrication Facility. Michigan Engineering's premier scholarship,
international scale and multidisciplinary scope combine to create The Michigan
Difference. Find out more at http://www.engin.umich.edu/.

SOURCE Ford Motor Company

Alan Hall, +1-313-594-3744, ahall32@ford.com, Said Deep, +1-313-594-0942,
sdeep@ford.com