Multicultural Advertising Giant ‘Wins Big’ at the Urban Wheel Awards

• UniWorld Group Inc.’s diversity broadcast spot MadCrazyLove for luxury automaker Lincoln named African American Diversity Broadcast Ad of the Year

• UniWorld Group Inc.’s diversity print ad Push It Good for the Ford Flex named African American Diversity Print Ad of the Year

NEW YORK, Jan. 16 /PRNewswire/ — Touting the dynamic design, business-class comfort, smooth driving experience and in-car communication features of the new Lincoln MKS in its industry-first movie commercial MadCrazyLove, UniWorld Group proudly took home the African American Diversity Broadcast Ad of the Year this week at the annual Urban Wheel Awards in Detroit. The 40-year advertising agency also won the coveted African American Print Ad of the Year for Push It Good, which spotlights the new 2009 Ford Flex.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090116/NY59729-a)

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090116/NY59729-b)

As the Academy Awards of the auto industry, the Urban Wheel Awards each year honors individuals and organizations within the automotive community for their commitment to diversity. Staged at the Detroit Opera House and hosted by veteran film and TV actress Sheryl Lee Ralph and Tony Plana of ABC’s Ugly Betty, awards were given for the best African American Diversity print ad, African American Diversity broadcast ad, Asian Diversity print and broadcast ad, Latino diversity print and broadcast ad, Truck of the Year, Car of the Year, Company of the Year, and Executive of the Year.

Says Chuck Morrison, Executive Vice President, UniWorld Group Inc., Agency of Record for Ford, “We are very thrilled with the honors received at the Urban Wheel Awards. Our mission as partners with Ford Motor Company has been to provide innovative, thought-provoking and creative executions that best tell the stories of our vehicles. We are extremely proud of the work we delivered in MadCrazyLove and Push It Good and we’re certainly excited with the responses we received from our consumers and the automotive community.”

MadCrazyLove – The “Movie” Commercial

Taking a significant leap from the traditional 30- and 60-second broadcast advertising model, UniWorld delivered an industry first with the creation of MadCrazyLove, a three-minute movie featuring the newest member of the Lincoln family – the new 2009 Lincoln MKS. MadCrazyLove was shot on location in Hollywood Hills and tells a fun, romantic story backed by the sultry music of the legendary Marvin Gaye.

Accompanying the 3-minute commercial movie were 30- and 15-second teaser spots that provided a peek into the MadCrazyLove story, and further detailed the features of the new MKS, including the sophisticated technology, dynamic design and smooth driving experience. The spots began airing in June of 2008 on select cable television as well as nationally syndicated programs. National print and digital media were included in the media mix and began rotation last July.

For more information on Lincoln products, including the new 2009 Lincoln MKS, visit www.lincoln.com

Push It Good – The Provocative Print Ad

Using provocative copy as its core and a robust print strategy, UniWorld delivered a print advertisement with attitude for the launch of the distinctive 2009 Ford Flex, Ford’s newest crossover vehicle.

Push It Good was developed with the sophisticated urban dweller in mind and captures the essence of an chic urban night on the town with the Flex as the central star of the ad. Push It Good positioned the Flex in an evening setting while showcasing some of the unique features of the seven-passenger crossover, including the three-bar chrome grille and signature side grooves. The print ads began running in July of 2008 in such influential urban publications as GIANT, Rolling Out, Vibe, Black Enterprise, Ebony, Jet, Upscale and RIDES.

For more information on Ford products, including the all-new 2009 Ford Flex, visit www.fordurban.com

SOURCE UniWorld Group, Inc.