Ford to build special Lowndes XR Ute

Ford is about announce a special Craig Lowndes limited edition XR ute for production during October and November this year, based on its current BF Mk II range.

With special badging "XR by Craig Lowndes", just 353 XR6, 100 XR6 Turbo and 197 XR8 examples will be built for a total of 650.

After buyers have shown indifference to Ford's latest special editions of the XR sedans which don't carry any special identification or unique exterior features, dealers are hopeful that these special XR utes will help revive stagnant sales by leveraging Ford's V8 Supercar involvement with Craig Lowndes.

Holden's new VE ute has upped the ante in this segment by addressing most advantages previously enjoyed by its Falcon rival. Ford's new limited edition will be timed to hit showrooms about the same time as stocks of the new VE ute start to make an impression.

The Craig Lowndes limited edition will be available only in Conquer (blue), Silhouette (black), Vixen (red), Lightning Strike (silver) and Octane (orange).

Special Momo steering wheels with coloured sections and matching thread colours in the cabin trim will be tied to each exterior colour: blue to match the blue exterior, red for the red and black cars while grey is specified for the orange and silver examples.

These Craig Lowndes utes will deliver almost $5000 worth of extra features at no extra cost. They include 18-inch sports alloy wheels, one piece hard tonneau cover with power bulge and rear spoiler or three piece hard tonneau cover with sports bar and spoiler, Momo steering wheel, Prestige sound with six-disc in-dash CD stacker, MP3 input and "XR6/6 Turbo/8 by Craig Lowndes" decals ahead of the rear wheel arches.

Ford has undertaken to support these special models with extra marketing throughout Bathurst and other V8 Supercar events.

Ford dealers are taking advance orders for this special model now.