2011 Ford Fiesta Makes 'Explosive' Entrance Into North America on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Tonight

2011 Ford Fiesta Makes 'Explosive' Entrance Into North America on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Tonight

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- -- The all-new Ford Fiesta makes its debut on national television with an
"explosive" entrance on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live!

-- Since its kickoff in May, the Fiesta Movement has resulted in more
than 80,000 hand-raisers

-- Ford's first global car sets a new world standard in the segment when
it arrives at dealerships this summer

-- Further strengthening Ford's car lineup, Fiesta delivers style,
technology, fuel economy, craftsmanship and top performance in the
segment

The high-octane energy surrounding the debut of Ford's all-new 2011 Ford Fiesta continues tonight on Jimmy Kimmel Live! when Fiesta "explodes" onto the popular ABC television late-night comedy show. The Fiesta will make its debut in one of Jimmy Kimmel's signature skits.

"Fiesta was designed to be expressive, fun and unique," said Connie Fontaine, Ford brand alliances and content manager. "Being revealed on national television by Jimmy Kimmel is the perfect way for North America to catch their first glimpse of the Fiesta."

"At Jimmy Kimmel Live!, we love innovations and big ideas, so when our partner, Ford, came to us and said that they wanted to work with us on a big idea to introduce the Fiesta to America, it was music to our ears," said Douglas DeLuca, co-executive producer. "We pride ourselves on providing content solutions for partners who believe in what we can deliver creatively."

For the past six months, 100 young trendsetters have been test driving and living with the European version of Fiesta in the United States. They have been traveling as "Fiesta agents" on special missions, creating and posting online content about their experiences and their impressions of the car, resulting in more than 80,000 hand-raisers.

This Fiesta Movement has lifted social media to a new level, with agents traveling more than 1.4 million miles, generating more than 6 million YouTube views, nearly 740,000 Flickr views and more than 3.7 million Twitter impressions.

The Fiesta Movement will culminate in an awards celebration, expected to be the world's largest corporate tweetup, honoring the agents beginning at 8 p.m. EST tonight at the Palladium Ballroom in Hollywood, on the eve of the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show.

Fiesta sales success

Fiesta is continuing its sales momentum as Europe's No. 2-selling car and Ford of Europe's top-selling vehicle, helping increase Ford's share in Europe's main 19 markets. More than 500,000 Fiestas have been sold since the car was launched last autumn. In Europe, the Fiesta name has long been synonymous with outstanding drive quality, design and value. It's winning enthusiastic media reviews in Asia. Now, the all-new Fiesta offers North American consumers a stylish, fuel-efficient alternative.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F), a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 200,000 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.

About Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Packed with hilarious comedy bits and a house band led by Jimmy's childhood best friend, "Jimmy Kimmel Live" features a diverse lineup of guests that includes celebrities, athletes, musicians, comedians and humorous human interest subjects. Each night, Jimmy delivers up-to-the-minute news addressing the hottest topics of the day in his monologue. Jimmy Kimmel and Jill Leiderman serve as executive producers and Jason Schrift and Douglas DeLuca serve as co-executive producers. Emmy Award-winning "Jimmy Kimmel Live" is shot live in front of a studio audience and produced by Jackhole Industries in association with ABC Studios. For more go to www.jimmykimmellive.net.

Source: Ford Motor Company

CONTACT: Angie Kozleski, +1-313-323-1984, akozlesk@ford.com; Said Deep,
+1-313-594-0942, sdeep@ford.com, both of Ford

Web Site: http://www.ford.com/

-------
Profile: intent