Top American Idols Personalize Ford Fiestas

April 20, 2010

Ford Motor Company has added an exciting new element to its sponsorship of the hit television series "American Idol," by giving the top Idols an opportunity to work with Ford designers to create their own personalized 2011 Ford Fiesta.

"Ford has been a sponsor of 'American Idol' since the show premiered in 2002, and each season we try to take our relationship with the show to the next level in a fun and meaningful way," said Connie Fontaine, manager, Ford Brand Content and Alliances. "This year, the Idols will get a closer experience with our vehicles as they interact with our designers and customize a Fiesta design that reflects their own personality."

Until May 21, 2010, fans 18 and older can enter the weekly Ford Music Video Challenge for a chance to win one of the vehicles and a trip to the set of a Ford Music Video shoot or the grand prize, which includes a Fiesta with their choice of one of the Top 12 designs and tickets to the finale filmed at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. Official rules and entry details are available at www.americanidol.com/ford/challenge.

Each of the Top 12 Idols created their own personalized Fiesta theme, using color, custom body graphics, wheel treatments and other accessories to make the vehicle an expression of each contestant's personality.

"Ford has great young designers who are bringing fresh thinking to our product lineup," said Fontaine. "We hope the design integration with 'American Idol' will shine a light on the remarkable talent that is working tirelessly to deliver great products to market."

Ford began the design process by giving each of the top 12 contestants a palette of nine Fiesta

colors to choose from, including vibrant shades like Lime Squeeze, Blue Flame, and Bright Magenta. So the design team could get to know each contestant on a more personal level, the Idols also were given a personality survey to fill out with questions like, "What are the three things you are most passionate about?" and "What do you want your car to say about you?"

Four up-and-coming Ford designers - Dillon Blanski, Gustavo Bizyk, Lesli Ann Agcaoili and Dean Carbis - reviewed the questionnaires, traveled to Hollywood to meet with the Idols, and then helped each contestant develop the concept for his or her personalized Fiesta, using color, custom body graphics, wheel treatments and other accessories to transform the vehicle into an expression of each contestant's individuality.

"We explained to the Idols that the graphics they design will actually be a symbol of them and their life experiences," said Carbis, who most recently served as lead exterior designer for the 2010 Ford Taurus. "They were really excited to work with us."

According to Carbis, Tuxedo Black was a popular color choice among the male contestants while the girls seemed to favor more vivid shades like Bright Magenta and Lime Squeeze. Some

of the contestants even opted to accessorize their Fiesta with a four-piece 3dCarbon body kit.

"Some of the Idols are familiar with graphic tuning so they wanted to get the body kit and create more of a sports tuner package," he said.

Not surprisingly, music was a common theme among the contestants.

"Many of the Idols are obviously very music-oriented, so we talked about taking an instrument they play or the lyrics to their favorite song and

somehow incorporating that into the graphics," said Blanski, 26, the youngest member of the Ford design team.

American Idol airs on Fox on Tuesdays at 8pm (7 Central) and Wednesdays at 9pm (7 Central).

This week's Wednesday episode, airing on April 21, begins at 8 because it is a special two-hour "Idol Gives Back" fundraising event. The historic Emmy Award-winning television event and music celebration has raised more than $140 million to benefit charities around the world and across the United States.

Beneficiaries for this year's event include Children's Health Fund, Feeding America, Malaria No More, Save the Children's U.S. Programs and the United Nations Foundation. This year's special will feature performances and appearances by some of Hollywood's biggest stars as well as a few surprises.

In previous years, Idol Gives Back has welcomed President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, former President George W. Bush, Brad Pitt, Bono, Reese Witherspoon, Miley Cyrus, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Annie Lennox, Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Mariah Carey, Gwen Stefani, Josh Groban, Pink, Celine Dion, Robin Williams, Ben Stiller and others.