Lincoln Launches Nationwide Contest to Crown 'America's Smartest Company'

DEARBORN, Mich., March 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

• Lincoln Intelligence Project to visit corporate campuses of the most recognized American brands in search of smartest company

• Employees to drive select Lincoln vehicles and participate in interactive intelligence assessment games including puzzle-solving, memory, computation and reasoning exercises

• Lincoln donating up to $10,000 to the chosen charities of all participating companies; Lincoln will donate $100,000 to designated charity of America's Smartest Company

What makes a company smart? Corporate strategy? The biggest group of Ph.D.s?  How about the collective game-playing ability of its employees in an effort to benefit a worthy charity?

Luxury automaker Lincoln has kicked off the Lincoln Intelligence Project, a nationwide hunt for America's Smartest Company, visiting corporate headquarters of some of the most recognized U.S. brands to engage their employees in a fun day of brain-teasing and road-testing. Based on the results, Lincoln will donate up to $10,000 to the charity of each company's choice, with America's Smartest Company earning a grand prize of $100,000 for its chosen charity.

"Lincoln vehicles are among the smartest in the industry – with technologies inside and out that deliver a drive experience that luxury customers really want – so working with other companies to highlight the benefits of intelligence seemed like a natural fit," said Lincoln Group Marketing Manager C.J. O'Donnell.

Targeting leading American companies such as Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Dell, the luxury automaker is taking the Lincoln Intelligence Project to a broader group of corporate employees throughout 2011. This series of one-day events feature a series of fun, interactive gaming components, some involving the 2011 Lincoln MKX and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid models, including:

• Smart games: Participants test their intelligence in a series of games including puzzle-solving, memory, intuition, computation and reasoning exercises. Utilizing smartphone hardware as well as software designed exclusively for the Lincoln Intelligence Project, this interactive gaming component measures both individual and group challenges, also helping foster employee team-building and spirited competition.

• Road test: Participants have an opportunity to get behind the wheel of one of Lincoln's smart luxury vehicles, including the Lincoln MKX with exclusive MyLincoln Touch™ driver connect technology.  Driver-and-passenger employee teams will utilize the MyLincoln Touch voice command, steering wheel control, touch screen and media hub features in controlled tests that demonstrate how easy the technology is to use.

"Lincoln offers smart luxury vehicles that make driving easier, more enjoyable and safer. At the same time, we want to make a difference within America's communities through the promotion of smart business – which includes charitable giving – and we look forward to partnering with companies that embrace the same corporate responsibility," said O'Donnell.

The new Lincoln MKX premium midsize crossover provides best-in-class fuel economy and horsepower, with a new 3.7-liter V6 engine that increases power from 265 horsepower up to 305. Along with a freshly redesigned exterior and an all-new interior, the 2011 MKX offers exclusive MyLincoln Touch driver connect technology as well as push-button start, blind-spot monitoring and HID adaptive headlamps.

Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient luxury sedan in America with an EPA-certified 41 mpg, and comes with class-exclusive technologies including SmartGauge™ with EcoGuide to coach drivers to get even more range out of their hybrid, keyless entry, SYNC® and MyKey®. Retailing at the same base price as its conventional gasoline-powered sibling, MKZ Hybrid offers better fuel economy plus more standard luxury and segment-exclusive safety features than its nearest competitor, the 2010 Lexus HS 250h.

Throughout the Lincoln Intelligence project contest, point scores will be tallied for each company as well as their individual employees. Along with the $100,000 grand prize and $10,000 donations to charity partners, the single employee with the highest total score will be named Smartest Employee and will win a special prize.

Following Lincoln's first event at Hewlett-Packard in Northern California, Joe Kowaleski, global account manager at HP, said: "HP has a longstanding track record of outstanding service to Lincoln and helping the luxury automaker realize its business objectives. We are happy to have hosted the initial event for the Lincoln Intelligence Project as it searches for America's Smartest Company, as well as generating support for our charity partner Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties."

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 164,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

SOURCE Lincoln