Ford Motor Company will be in the thick of things as 1.5 million car fans descend on Woodward Avenue on Saturday, Aug. 18, for the Woodward Dream Cruise. For the sixth year, Ford will stage a large display of new and old vehicles in Shane Park, located in downtown Birmingham, Mich.

“Our display in Shane Park has a slightly different feel this year. In the past it was solely a classic car show; this year we are bringing more family fun to the environment,” said Crystal Greene, manager, Sponsorship and Alliances for Ford. “People can interact and learn more about the new vehicles, too, and of course see the great vintage vehicles.”

Ford’s display, Cruisin’ Legends, includes more than 100 vehicles as well as exhibits from Ford Racing, Saleen, Barrett-Jackson, Roush and Steeda. An expected highlight of the Shane Park display will be the prototype Ford Shelby GT500KR, the hottest, fastest Mustang ever. The new GT500KR is scheduled for launch in 2008.

A late addition to the Shane Park exhibit will be the Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 – the fastest fuel-cell-powered car in the world. Earlier this week, the 999 became the first hydrogen-powered vehicle to break the 200 mph barrier, clocking a record-setting speed of more than 207 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats. The Fusion Hydrogen 999 – complete with salt still on its tires – and the team responsible for developing and building the car will be on hand throughout the day.

Shane Park will be surrounded by numerous classics from local Ford fans. In addition to taking in the vintage metal, visitors will have a chance to interact with a number of information kiosks and take their chances in several games to win T-shirts and other Ford-branded merchandise. Larger prizes include a trip to the NASCAR season finale in Homestead, Fla., and a trip to Ford Racing School in Utah.

“Visitors who visit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) booth will have a chance to win Detroit Pistons tickets. We’re also selling raffle tickets for the new Ford Edge, with all the proceeds going to JDRF,” said Rob Bremer, coordinator, Special Events, Ford Motor Company. “The JDRF exhibit also features an award-winning Deuce coupe, and we will have one signed by Edsel Ford II as well as others from area clubs. “

For entertainment, the Shane Park activities will feature live bands including the Teen Angels and the Aaron Vaughn Band. And fearless fans can take part in two sessions of “Edge Karaoke,” in which participants will receive a CD of their performance. The music and entertainment begins at noon.

The Largest Auto Event in the World

The Woodward Dream Cruise will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 18. The annual event runs 16 miles up and down Woodward through the Michigan communities of Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, Ferndale, Huntington Woods, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac and Royal Oak. Most communities have events leading up to the big day as well as all weekend.

The Dream Cruise is billed as the single largest auto event in the world, and attracts more than 40,000 muscle cars, street rods, sports cars, custom hot rods and special-interest vehicles. For more information, contact www.woodwarddreamcruise.com.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 260,000 employees and about 100 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com.

SOURCE: Ford Motor Company