DEARBORN, Mich. , March 17, 2008 – Ford’s F-Series Super Duty, America’s hardest-working pickup, just got tougher thanks to a new feature called Tough Bed, a unique, military-grade, factory-installed, spray-in bed liner.

“Tough Bed is a smart solution for Ford Super Duty customers who want to better protect their most important asset – the pickup box,” said Tom Aubrey, Ford F-Series Super Duty marketing manager. “Like the entire truck, Tough Bed stands up to the most stringent durability standards including those required by the U.S. Military – that definitely makes it ‘Built Ford Tough.’”

According to the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), installation of spray-in bedliners grew from 27 percent in 2004 to nearly 34 percent of all pickup trucks in 2006 and will continue to grow at a steady rate to nearly 40 percent in 2008.

Developed in partnership with PPG Industries, Tough Bed exceeds the standards of today’s typical aftermarket spray-in bedliner solutions. This military-grade coating has been through the government’s toughest blast mitigation testing to determine whether the material can with stand the force of a bomb blast. It has performed equal to or better than other protective coating systems at one-third the thickness.

The polyol-based elastomeric film and isocyanate hardener are applied to the pickup box by a precision, high-pressure, automated sprayer to ensure one smooth, even coat at a very low film thickness – unlike the traditional hand-spray application of aftermarket bed liners.

The finer application ensures that the bedliner materials won’t run or sag on the inside walls of the box in addition minimizing unnecessary weight. Tough Bed does not compromise Super Duty’s class-leading cargo capacity or the installation of aftermarket assets such as tool boxes, tonneau covers and truck caps. The uniformly textured surface also helps minimize load slippage while delivering an exceptionally clean appearance.

The special bedliner material formula is immune to the effects of ultraviolet radiation and will not fade or chalk. It also protects against physical damage to the pickup box such as gouging, scratching, cracking and chipping.

Tough Bed will be offered in June as a factory option, applied by trained specialists at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville on 2009 F-Series Super Duty pickups and is covered by a three-year/36,000-mile factory limited warranty.

The Ford F-Series Super Duty is the industry’s most capable full-size heavy-duty work truck thanks to class-leading features and technologies, including:

• The Big Dog Daddy: A unique F-450 pickup that offers industry-leading towing capacity in excess of 24,000 pounds and maximum payload of more than 6,000 pounds
• Clean Diesel Technology: New 6.4-liter Power Stroke® V-8 turbo diesel delivers quiet, clean power
• Industry-First Innovation: Integrated Tailgate Step and stowable bed extender offer customer-driven solutions for cargo-hauling flexibility
• Confident Ride: Refined chassis and suspension improve ride and handling with available options that give the Ford F-350 the segment’s best turning radius
• Exclusive Towing Features: PowerScope™ power-fold, power-telescoping trailer-tow side mirrors improve rear visibility while towing at the touch of a button. TowCommand™ System features integrated trailer brake controller. TorqShift™ transmission improves towing performance
• Rear View Video Camera Backup System: Enhances visibility at the rear of the box to help drivers maneuver in tight spaces or line up the truck’s hitch with trailers

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 245,000 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 ....