(June 9, 2010) DEARBORN, Mich —  Five more 2010 Ford vehicles — Ford Flex, Ford Fusion, Lincoln MKZ, Lincoln MKT and Mercury Milan — have earned Top Safety Picks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The rating also applies to the Fusion Hybrid and Milan Hybrid.

Ford has 11 IIHS Top Safety Pick ratings for 2010 model vehicles — the most of any automaker — as well as the leading number of five-star safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Flex, Fusion, MKZ, MKT and Milan previously earned top possible scores for occupant protection in IIHS’s front, side and rear tests, but had to pass IIHS’s new roof strength test to maintain the rating. Vehicles also must offer electronic stability control to be eligible for a Top Safety Pick.

“Leading the industry in both Top Safety Pick ratings and government five-star crash test ratings is very significant because customers increasingly consider IIHS and NHTSA ratings when choosing a new vehicle,” said Sue Cischke, Ford’s group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering.

“These latest test results further demonstrate Ford’s commitment to continuous improvement on the safety front.”