Mumbai: Ford Motors brand, the Ford Focus is the most improved vehicle in the industry's top study measuring customer-pleasing design, content, and vehicle performance according to the JD Power and Associates 2008 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) StudySM. Focus raised its score over last year by 88 index points – the biggest improvement in the industry.

The popular compact car performed better than the segment average in every category, scoring especially well in the areas of fuel economy, audio/entertainment/navigation, interior styling and exterior styling.

Ford Focus retail sales are up 64 per cent year-to-date, while industry-wide retail sales of small cars are up 10 per cent.  In response to the demand, Ford is increasing Focus production at the Wayne Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan, where a third shift will be added to the plant's body and paint shops in September.

Another strong seller among the Ford lineup, Escape, showed a 36 index-point improvement, putting it in the top 10 of most improved vehicles in the industry.  With Escape sales up 5 per cent year-to-date over last year, Ford will increase production later this summer at Kansas City Assembly Plant.

Ford and Mercury brands both improved significantly in APEAL while the industry as a whole declined. With a 14-point improvement over last year, Ford moved up five positions to 22nd.  Lincoln came in at 12th place, and Mercury improved by 12 index points to finish in the 29th position.

These results were helped by the strong performance of the company's newly redesigned vehicles.  The Ford Focus, Escape, Taurus, F-Series SuperDuty, and Mercury Mariner and Sable posted better APEAL scores in 2008 than last year.

''With standardised processes in design, product development and manufacturing, we're showing dramatic improvements on all fronts,'' said Bennie Fowler, Ford group vice president, Quality. ''Everyone at Ford Motor Company should take pride in these accomplishments and keep working together toward our goal of world-class quality for our customers.''

Five Ford Motor Company vehicles received second or third honours in their segments.Ford Explorer Sport Trac was placed 2nd  in midsize pickup segment.Mazda CX7 got 2nd place in compact multi-activity vehicle (MAV) segment,Mazda CX9, 2nd place in midsize MAV segment, Ford Focus, 3rd place in compact car segment and
Lincoln Navigator was 3rd in large premium MAV segment.

APEAL asks customers to assess their level of delight with the design, content, layout and performance of new vehicles after three months of driving.  In early June, JD Power and Associates released its Initial Quality Study (IQS) showing Ford brand improved by 8 points over last year, beating the industry average 7-point rate of improvement.  Ford and Mercury were among the study's top non-luxury brands, with both placing in the top 10 among brands included in the study. Earlier this month, the Global Quality Research System (GQRS) durability study saw Ford brand improving at a rate of 3 per cent versus the industry average of 1 per cent.  Both reports position Ford Division solidly among the industry's quality leaders.