'NEED FOR SPEED' DIRECTOR BEHIND NEW FORD MUSTANG AD; CALLS MUSTANG A PERFECT FIT FOR HERO CAR MOVIE ROLE

February 26, 2014 by Ford

◾Co-branded ad for 'Need for Speed' and all-new 2015 Ford Mustang directed by Waugh debuts this weekend on TV and in theaters

◾'Need for Speed' director Scott Waugh calls Ford Mustang an ideal action movie hero car because of its power, rear-wheel drive and agile handling

◾Audiences are invited to share stories of where they would go in a Mustang at www.Ford.com/inamustang – the best stories will be made into short films

To Scott Waugh, few cars epitomize action movie hero car better than Ford Mustang.

Waugh directed the upcoming movie 'Need for Speed,' and helms a new co-branded ad for the film and the all-new 2015 Ford Mustang that debuted during Sunday's Daytona 500. The ad features scenes from the movie, where Marshall tries to get his life back on track in the new Mustang with a voiceover that sets up the premise of the movie.

'Do you really think that if you've been set up, accused and convicted, a new car can put it all behind you?' is asked. 'Depends on the car!'

Click here to see the ad http://youtu.be/DxHOME9_op4.

The director selected a modified Mustang GT as the ideal mount for protagonist Toby Marshall in the film, inspired by the long-running video game series from Electronic Arts. Marshall is portrayed by Emmy award-winning actor Aaron Paul as he drives across the country trying to avenge the death of a friend and seek redemption for himself.

'The best movie cars combine tons of power, rear-wheel drive, great handling and the ability to be easily flung around corners,' says Waugh. 'As we've seen hundreds of times over the years – from 'Bullitt' to 'Gone in Sixty Seconds' – Mustang fits the bill perfectly, and it's really a car that represents American culture at its best, which is why we chose it for Toby's ride in 'Need for Speed.''

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Raised in a stunt family, Waugh followed his father into the business and learned to drive when he was just 12 years old. As a veteran stunt driver and coordinator, Waugh knows how to create visually compelling action scenes. His résumé includes work on numerous vehicle-focused movies such as 'Speed' and 'The Italian Job.'

'Cinema is a visual medium that has to appeal to the eyes and ears,' says Waugh. 'Translating the visceral experience of speed to the big screen involves much more than just driving past the camera quickly. The car really needs to be the epitome of horsepower, and it doesn't hurt if it looks good too.'

Click here for behind-the-scenes video of the new Mustang in 'Need for Speed' http://youtu.be/yiLPlQythhs.

'This is the first time anyone will get to see the new Mustang in a film, and 'Need for Speed' embodies the spirit of what Mustang is all about,' says Steve Ling, Ford car marketing manager. 'We hope the movie gets the audience really excited about what automobiles are all about, to understand the passion that goes into creating Mustang.'

The ad also marks the official launch of the #InaMustang social media campaign. Fans everywhere are invited to share stories of where they could, would and want to go 'in a Mustang.' Stories, videos and photos can be submitted at http://ford.com/inamustang. Ford will bring these stories to life through partnerships with influential content creators across social and film networks.

For the 'Need for Speed' Mustang, Ford designers and engineers developed a custom wide-body kit with unique lighting, and put a high-output supercharged V8 engine under the hood of the silver and blue hero car. The one-of-a-kind Mustang looks fast even when parked, but truly comes to life on the silver screen under Waugh's direction.

Being the ideal mount for the Toby Marshall character goes beyond Mustang's performance attributes, however. The pony car earned icon status over the past five decades because people like the way it makes them feel as much as they like to get behind the wheel.

'Few cars inspire the sort of passion Ford Mustang does,' says Ling. 'For nearly 50 years, Mustang has inspired a feeling of freedom and optimism with fans around the world.'

Its dynamic proportions and thrilling engine sounds have given Mustang an enduring, nearly universal appeal. It is the most popular vehicle on Facebook, with almost 6 million fans, and there are hundreds of owners' clubs worldwide from Australia to Iceland to South Africa.

DreamWorks Studios' 'Need for Speed' will open in theaters throughout North America on March 14.

2015 Ford Mustang

The all-new Mustang is the most advanced version yet of the iconic pony car. The sleek new design of Mustang fastback and convertible is backed up by world-class performance from a range of available engines, including a new turbocharged EcoBoost® 2.3-liter and an upgraded 5.0-liter V8 with more than 420 horsepower.

In addition to state-of-the-art connectivity systems, Mustang features available advanced driver-assist systems, track apps, launch control and more.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 181,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit corporate.ford.com.

About Need for Speed:

DreamWorks Pictures' Need for Speed marks an exciting return to the great car culture films of the 1960s and '70s, when the authenticity of the world brought a new level of intensity to the action on-screen. Tapping into what makes the American myth of the open road so appealing, the story chronicles a near-impossible cross-country journey for our heroes — one that begins as a mission for revenge, but proves to be one of redemption. Based on the most successful racing video game franchise ever with over 140 million copies sold, Need for Speed captures the freedom and excitement of the game in a real-world setting, while bringing to life the passion for the road that has made our love of cars so timeless.

The film centers around Tobey Marshall (Aaron Paul), a blue-collar mechanic who races muscle cars on the side in an unsanctioned street-racing circuit. Struggling to keep his family-owned garage afloat, he reluctantly partners with the wealthy and arrogant ex-NASCAR driver Dino Brewster (Dominic Cooper). But just as a major sale to car broker Julia Maddon (Imogen Poots) looks like it will save Tobey's shop, a disastrous race allows Dino to frame Tobey for a crime he didn't commit, and sending Tobey to prison while Dino expands his business out West.

Two years later, Tobey is released and set on revenge — but he knows his only chance to take down his rival Dino is to defeat him in the high-stakes race known as De Leon — the Super Bowl of underground racing. However to get there in time, Tobey will have to run a high-octane, action-packed gauntlet that includes dodging pursuing cops coast-to-coast as well as contending with a dangerous bounty Dino has put out on his car. With the help of his loyal crew and the surprisingly resourceful Julia, Tobey defies odds at every turn and proves that even in the flashy world of exotic supercars, the underdog can still finish first.

Need for Speed is presented by DreamWorks Pictures, produced by Patrick O'Brien, John Gatins and Mark Sourian, and directed by Scott Waugh. The screenplay is by George Gatins. The story is by George Gatins & John Gatins, and, based on the video game franchise created by Electronic Arts. The film releases in U.S. theaters on March 14, 2014.

Need for Speed is a trademark of Electronic Arts Inc.