I learned to drive on the interstate at age 14 in a first generation Mercury Sable. It belonged to my grandparents, and it was the three of us on a trip from Louisiana to Florida. Within a few hours my grandfather decided it would something special for both of us to share my first highway driving experience. He was right, I’ll never forget the car not because it was an exceptional automobile, but because of what I got to do with it.

That’s the kind of legacy that the Mercury Sable leaves. It’s not meant to be a driver’s car, but instead an affordable and usable car where the memories are made from what families are able to do with the car.

“Mercury always has been about smart and contemporary design aimed at the style-conscious customer who appreciates a unique look,” says Peter Horbury, executive director, Design, The Americas. “At a time when stores like IKEA and the concept driving Design Within Reach are influencing our choices of style, the Mercury brand and the new VOGA theme, in particular, are ideal for satisfying customers’ desires for even more expressive vehicles.”

VOGA came to life on a Mercury Milan VOGA concept revealed during Miami Fashion Week in 2006. Reaction to the vehicle and the idea of a more fashion-focused series resonated with consumers, making a dedicated production series a choice move.

“It’s great to be back in Miami to announce the new series and show off the Mercury Mariner VOGA,” says Eric Peterson, Mercury Mariner Brand manager. “Given the sophistication of the south Florida market and the enthusiasm around the launch of the Mercury Mariner last year, it made perfect sense to debut our first production application of the VOGA styling here.”

The Mariner, along with the Milan sedan, continues to draw new, progressive customers to the Mercury showroom. New customer conquest rates for both vehicles are at nearly 50 percent. Sales of the Mercury Mariner, redesigned for 2008, were up 19 percent in October.

2008 Mercury Mariner VOGA

Already known for its distinctive flair and good looks, the stylish Mercury Mariner has been customized to create the VOGA edition.

At first glance, the Mariner VOGA catches looks with Moss Green metallic paint, special chrome brightwork highlighting the grille, rear fascia trim and unique VOGA badging. The additional brightwork matched with the 17-inch VOGA-capped chrome wheels lends this fashionable vehicle a sporty appearance, making the Mariner VOGA appear ready to hit the scene.

“VOGA is about making a fashion statement each time you go for drive,” says Chief Designer Camilo Pardo. “I’m really excited to bring the concept of VOGA to reality across the Mercury line-up. It’s my passion to design vehicles that emotionally connect with customers – that ‘gotta-have-it’ appeal is what fashion is all about.”

The Mariner VOGA’s distinctive style carries through to the interior, as well. A charcoal black environment surrounds the plush, unique VOGA-embroidered Cashmere leather seats, which are trimmed with contrast Ash stitching to match the exterior color. Charcoal black floor mats are embroidered with the VOGA label, reinforcing the personalized feel.

The focal point of the interior is the striking Tarragon metallic instrument panel covered in a unique paint. The subtle silver-green metallic spans across the center console and door switch plates as well. All of these extra touches provide Mercury customers with the look and feel of a personalized vehicle customized to suit their tastes.

“Customers definitely care about choice and personalization – from their MP3 player case to their cell phone ring tone – that’s why Mercury strikes a chord with savvy individualists who aren’t looking for the run-of-the-mill products,” says Peterson.

The Mariner VOGA will include the same great host of features as the Mariner Premier edition, offering one of the most advanced safety packages in the compact SUV segment with standard side curtain air bags and AdvanceTrac® with RSC®. It also delivers fuel economy up to 24 miles per gallon.

Customers will be able to show-off their sense of style with the new Mercury Mariner VOGA beginning early 2008 when vehicles hit dealer showrooms. Mariner VOGA will join the Mercury Mariner and Mariner Hybrid produced at Ford’s Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Mo.

The Mercury Milan is based on the Ford CD3 platform. It carries unique front and rear fascia designs, but is otherwise identical to its Ford cousin, the Ford Fusion. The Milan is the replacement for the Mercury Sable, and fills the gap since the discontinuation of the Mercury Mystique in 2000.

The car is Mercury’s lowest-price vehicle and the automaker says it represents a “large growth opportunity.” It’s counting on the Milan to annually help increase its sales to 500,000 vehicles by the end of the decade. In a world where fuel’s price is climbing and people are switching from trucks to more fuel-efficient cars, this could be just at the right time for Ford.

The new Milan’s expressive exterior and high-end interior are aimed squarely at the younger generation of customers, with its design inspiration and cues from the modern.

Exterior

The new Milan has a weird attraction , maybe because of the low price and fuel consumption or the contemporary design, don’t know , I guess you’ll be the judge of that.

’Design is a key differentiator in the marketplace and is what separates us from the competition. Mercury is about good designs inspired by modern architecture,’ says the chief designer Darrell Behmer . With Milan, Mercury again shows it is a design-conscious brand that offers smart design at a good value.’

The dramatic waterfall grille, clean lines, distinct rear treatments, satin aluminum finishes and attention to detail – that accentuate its long wheelbase and dynamic stance. The instantly recognizable Mercury grille is precisely set between wide headlamps that wrap up over the sharply creased front fenders. A satin aluminum finish adorns the grille, Mercury badges and lower front fascia trim, creating visual jewelry that emphasize the distinctive, clean design. The bright chrome beltline visually stretches the car to highlight its length.

The standard light-emitting diode (LED) taillamps, in the rear side, sends a clear signal of the car’s technical precision.

The Milan has a less aggressive appearance than the Fusion’s. Even the Milan’s bright dual exhaust outlets are subtly put below the bumper so they’re visible but don’t give a hot rod look.

The body sides are clean and chiseled, allowing the car’s length and its large and uniquely designed wheels to establish a strong visual profile.

’The name ’Milan’ connotes visions of a modern, fashionable European city, fitting the car’s design theme and young customers like a finely tailored suit,’ says Behmer. ’Just like the city, the car is expressive of both style and taste.

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Interior

Milan’s interior is comfortable and secure, distinguished in look and feel, and technical in its precision.

’Today’s consumers are extremely demanding and expect quality, top-notch executions. We incorporated the clean design and precision of the exterior throughout the Milan’s interior,’ says Peter Horbury, executive director, Design. ’The relentless attention to detail communicates quality and craftsmanship.’

The new Milan brings a fresh flair to the interior design of mid-size cars by carrying the exterior’s modernity and clean surfaces through to the cabin. Mercury’s hallmarks of upscale, quality materials, satin aluminum finishes and a passionate attention to detail provide a dramatic departure from ’plain vanilla’ mid-size sedans.

The car has a pretty low level noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) to help continue driving customer satisfaction long after first impressions subside. This is possible only do to the relentless efforts of the engineering team’s, advanced aerodynamics computer modeling, a solid structure and strategic use of sound-deadening materials that contributed.

Milan uses upgraded materials throughout its interior, such as leather seats and either Satin Metallic or Wales Mahogany wood trim finishes. One element that sets Milan apart from most mid-size sedans is the availability of two-tone leather seating surfaces with contrast stitching. However, the front seats need more lateral support for such things as emergency maneuvers or spirited driving.

Mercury Milan comes with two sets of trim levels, a base one and Premier, with prices ranging from $18,345 to $22,845.

Equipped with a nice set of standard features, such as, air conditioning, a power driver’s seat, cruise control, an AM/FM/CD/MP3 player, a tachometer, a tilt-telescopic steering wheel and power windows, heated mirrors and locks with remote keyless entry, on the Premier model, leather upholstery, anti-lock brakes (ABS), an upscale sound system and wider tires on 17-inch (vs. 16-inch) wheels. Optional heated front seats, power sunroof and traction control with the V6.

Gauges have a custom, European look, and the crisply styled dashboard has easily used controls-especially for the audio and climate control systems. While deep, the covered front console bin has room only for smaller objects.

Four tall adults fit comfortably in the quiet interior. Large, easily grasped door handles make it easy to slide in and out, and front doors have storage pocket with beverage holders.

There’s enough glass area to make the interior feel airy, but a driver must be careful backing up because he can’t see where the rear of the car ends or what’s directly behind it. Too bad no rear-obstacle-detection system is available.

The handling is a little bit tricky on low-speed maneuvers, such as parking, due to the quick but heavy response from the power steering ,although at highway speed its secure feeling is appreciated.

Safety

Milan’s competent, well-balanced chassis also helps drivers avoid accidents. Should an accident occur, the Milan features a comprehensive safety package with advanced high-strength steel construction and as many as six available airbags.

Mercury’s safety engineers developed body structures that help direct crash energy away from the passenger compartment and used energy-absorbing materials to help cushion the effect on vehicle occupants.

Engineers strengthened Milan’s sides to better manage intrusion into the cabin during a side impact. Available side air bags and side-curtain air bags enhance this protection.

The heart

The new Milan comes with a choice of powertrains geared for the challenges and responsibilities of city driving, offering performance balanced with fuel efficiency and clean emissions.

Milan is equipped with two engine: an 2.3 L (2261 cc) Duratec, aluminum engine block with cast iron cylinder liners and aluminum DOHC cylinder heads. It uses SFI fuel injection, has 4 valves per cylinder with VCT and features fracture-split forged powder metal connecting rods and a one-piece cast camshaft, that provides 160 horsepower flowing through either a five-speed manual or automatic.

And a 3.0 L (2967 cc) V6 Duratec engine that has an output of 221 hp (165 kW) at 6250 rpm, and 205 ft•lbf (278 N•m) of torque at 4800 rpm.

The engines are also fuel-efficient and burn fuel cleanly. The Duratec 23 is qualified for Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle certification in California while the Duratec 30 will earn Low Emission Vehicle II evaporative standards in most states and even Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle II tailpipe recognition in California.

In calendar year 2008, Mercury will offer Milan with a hybrid powertrain – making it the fifth full hybrid in the Ford Motor Company stable, following the Ford Escape Hybrid, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Mercury Mariner Hybrid and Mazda Tribute Hybrid.

Design and Equipment

Powertrain and Chassis

Major Features and Options

Driving Impressions

The Mercury Mariner is a sport utility vehicle, not a car, so you should not expect anything like a boulevard cruiser ride. And you won’t get one. But you will get one of the better rides in the Mariner’s class of compact SUVs. Drawn as it is on the foundation of the number-one selling Ford Escape, which has been around in current configuration long enough to have been thoroughly debugged in the basic elements, the Mariner accounts for itself better than most in the class.

In the power department, the V6 delivers as expected, pulling readily and cleanly through the heart of the power band, if not with an abundance of gusto; this is a consequence, no doubt, of less-than-impressive torque. Also, and as most engines in this class do, it labors at the extreme top end, but few if any Mariner drivers are likely to explore that territory.

The Hybrid’s CVT transmission, which delivers power smoothly without needing to shift gears either up or down, should be a delight for commuting and stop-and-go urban traffic. CVTs take a little getting used to as under acceleration they seamlessly adjust the ratio to keep the engine operating in the optimum power band, which sometimes has the feeling of a slipping clutch or snowmobile engine. Drivers who are able to embrace this are rewarded with smooth, efficient operation.

The 4WD system available for most models operates seamlessly, smoothly rerouting power without hesitation through its computer-controlled clutch to the rear wheels almost before the front wheels begin to lose grip. It will comfortably and confidently master snow-filled parking lots at the ski lodge and muddy driveways at the weekend cabin. However, the Mariner is not designed to navigate truly rugged terrain off road.

The Mariner tracks well and rides comfortably at highway speeds for a vehicle of its size and stature. Steering is certain, with good on-center feel. The suspension is tuned to conquer all but the truly egregious pavement pockmarks. There’s little body lean in curves.

In actuality the Meta, or more precisely the Meta One, is merely a concept, but it will most likely be the name the upscale Ford division uses to go to market with its Ford Freestyle based crossover utility.
Why does the name matter? Well, in the case of the Meta, its Greek translation means “transcends” or “goes beyond,” which is an ideal designation for such a technologically advanced vehicle.
North American International Auto Show-goers in Detroit will be able to see the Meta One in the metal next week, although official photos of this concept have been floating around the internet for almost a month.

Its Mercurys first concept car since the racy Messenger of 2003 (see Concept archives for 2003 Mercury Messenger Concept); a car that lured people to Mercurys auto show stands for its dramatic styling and raw power.

The Meta One, on the other hand, is more of a scientific research vehicle, aimed at attracting show-goers on a cerebral level by promoting new methods of propulsion, such as the worlds first use of a Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) diesel-hybrid powertrain, personal electronics such as a smarter navigation system, integrated personal organizer and reconfigurable displays, as well as active and passive safety advancements.

The Messenger’s proportions are the direct result of the dramatic vehicle architecture – clean and sculpted with a tautness and agility that transcends the vehicle’s design and handling characteristics. It is a vehicle designed to be uncompromised in capability and performance. The long hood houses a powerful 4.6-liter modular V-8 engine. The energetic stance and supple appearance of the Messenger are enhanced by 20-inch wheels with 305mm wide tires on the rear and 19-inch wheels with 275mm wide tires on the front – a tire/wheel combination that allows the car to firmly put down onto the pavement all the power the V-8 can generate.

The spoke wheels have a turbine theme, with vanes that reflect the appearance of the Mercury ’flying M’ logo. The functional vanes help direct airflow over the vented brake disc and high performance brake calipers, further communicating the car’s high performance capabilities. One aspect of Mercury’s future design DNA is embodied by the stacked element theme at the front of the vehicle with distinctive front lights and vertical grill elements. The rear lights convey the DNA message with sequential taillights that repeat the theme. Large sculpted front air scoops and outlets at the front and rear of the vehicle provide a purposeful and powerful look. ]]> http://www.240km.com/2003-mercury-messenger.html/feed 0