This week, along with a group of other bloggers and journalists, I was invited to attend Ford’s 2009 Model Year Program in Dearborn, Michigan.

2009 Mustang Bullitt

Our morning started early at the Dearborn Development Center, where we were greeted by Derrick Kuzak, group vice president of Product Development. We were divided into four color based groups, and told we would rotate through the following locations: the Quality & Safety tent at the VDA, a track experience at the VDA course, the Green & Smart tent at the Heli pad, and a track experience on the Steering & Handling course. I was pleased to join David Goodspeed, our Grinding Gears editor (representing AutoworldToday), as well as other writers I had met previously at the December Ford event.

I thought we might get to drive a new model vehicle when I was given the invite, perhaps because it mentioned no open toes on the track, but I didn’t expect the chance to drive the 2009 Mustang GT, Mustang Bullitt, and the new Ford Flex among many others…nice!

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Over the past week, Grinding Gears editor David Goodspeed has been privileged to drive a pair of all-new vehicles from Ford and Lincoln, both of which will arrive in dealerships this summer.

The first stop was Washington, D.C., for the 2009 Lincoln MKS.
That was the trip whose highlights included a visit to a winery, a sneak peek at a future Lincoln, outrunning tornados, a dead turtle and not quite making it back to our starting point.
All-in-all a very memorable trip. And a great new Lincoln.

Next stop: LA – Santa Monica to be precise – for the launch of the all-new 2009 Ford Flex.
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