Ford Division, the best-selling brand of cars and trucks in the United States for 17 consecutive years, announced today that the centerpieces of its "Year of the Car" product onslaught - the all-new 2005 Ford Five Hundred and 2005 Ford Freestyle - will cost thousands of dollars less than key competitors while offering more room and versatility, better performance, higher fuel economy and lower emissions.
"Ford's 'Year of the Car' will stand for great new products and great value," said Steve Lyons, president of Ford Division. "The Ford Five Hundred and Freestyle offer so much refinement, versatility and capability that we think their low prices will be a happy surprise to consumers."
The Five Hundred and Freestyle are part of the most aggressive rollout of new cars, trucks and SUVs in Ford history. By this fall, Ford Division dealers will field a showroom where more than 60 percent of the vehicles are all new or significantly freshened. In addition to Freestyle and Five Hundred, new products include the Ford F-150 and F-Series Super Duty pickups, Focus, Escape, Escape Hybrid, Ford GT and Mustang.
The most affordable Ford Five Hundred is the SE model, which has a base manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $22,795. This includes the destination and delivery charge. Taxes, title and license fees are not included.
Major standard equipment includes:
Command Seating™ for the driver and front-seat passenger, which means the seating positions are roughly four inches higher than in a conventional sedan for a better view of the road and five inches lower than a compact SUV like the Ford Explorer for easier step-in
Best-in-class rear headroom and legroom, plus the largest trunk in any sedan
A 3.0-liter V-6 with a six-speed automatic (on most front-wheel drive models) or continuously-variable transmission (on all-wheel drive and some front-drive models)
Four wheel anti-lock disc brakes.
17-inch aluminum wheels with all-season tires
AM/FM stereo with single CD player
Power door locks with remote keyless entry and door-mounted keyless entry key pad
Power windows with driver's door one-touch up/down
Five-passenger seating with a six-way power driver's seat with manual lumber adjustment
The mid-series SEL, which adds numerous comfort and convenience features including dual-zone electronic temperature control, six-disc CD changer with MP3 capability, leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and a fold-flat front passenger seat with two-way power adjustment, begins at $24,795.
The top-of-the line Limited, which adds features including 18-inch wheels and Pirelli P6 tires, an audiophile sound system with subwoofer and leather seating surfaces with heated front seats, begins at $26,795.
Major options available on all series include all-wheel drive ($1,700), Safety Canopy™ side curtain airbag with rollover protection ($595-$795 depending on series).
Text and photos courtesy of Ford Motor Company 
