As part of the company's ongoing plans to simplify its offerings, Ford will reduce the number of equipment combination options available on its 2009 models by as much as 50 percent.

All brands under the Ford canopy will have more standard features based on sales data indicating the popularity of given configurations. Ford CEO Alan Mulally has expressed a desire to create easier ordering for both dealers and customers.

Additionally, the increase in standard features should allow dealers to keep more vehicles on hand that match buyer's preferences thus helping to control expenses for inventory.

Moving inventory more quickly will allow Ford to avoid increasing incentives out of a need to get surplus vehicles off the lots. This cost saving effect will also be felt at the manufacturing level in simplified and less expensive operations.

According to executives at Ford, the Lincoln MKS, to go on sale later this summer, will be offered with three option packages and six stand-alone options. This makes approximately 300 combinations possible. Contrast this with the Lincoln LS, discontinued in 2006, that carried the potential for 50,000 combinations.

"One of the reasons you end up discounting is (when you find) a base model with a high-end stereo system or a high-end model with no CD in it," said Mark Fields, Ford Americas President. "So we've been working really hard on reducing our build combinations."