Ford Brings Video Gaming into Mustang Promotion

November 19, 2009

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DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford provided winning video game enthusiasts the opportunity to see what driving on a race track is really like with one of its performance vehicles.

The automaker recently staged a tournament using the video game Need for Speed as a way to promote interest in the 2010 Ford Mustang, which is a vehicle showcased in the game. A quartet of competitors turned aside all other gaming challengers and enjoyed the spoils — a session at Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond, Calif.

Kirby Anderson, Troy Alessi, Justin Keppler and Jason Morrell, all ages 22 to 25, received instruction through Fast Lane Racing School. Once completed, each one took turns on the track with the 2010 Ford Mustang, turning an Xbox experience into a real-life competition.

Ford added together the times each competitor posted on the video game and driving on the actual track to determine bragging rights among the four. To find out which competitor prevailed, Ford has the video recap here.

The automaker used the project — which it called the Mustang Unleashed Campaign — and the enthusiasm of the gaming community to showcase the capability of its latest version of the Mustang.

"The whole point of the Mustang Unleashed Campaign is to intersect the passions of our lifelong Mustang lovers with their most creative, wildest, most impossible dreams," explained Steve Ling, car group marketing manager for Ford.

"We've taken two seemingly different worlds and weaved them into one amazing Unleashed experience for these four winners," Ling added.

Ford orchestrated other unique events as part of the Mustang Unleashed Campaign. Famous drifter Vaughn Gittin Jr. slid sideways around Japan. Consumer Roger Keeney drove blindly and 18-year-old consumer Derek Murrell drag raced his high school shop teacher.

Videos of those events can be viewed at http://www.the2010mustang.com/.

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