| Not like Toyota, Hyundai, Mitsubishi and other well | | | | is also significantly updated with higher quality |
| known automobile names, Mercury is one of the | | | | materials and more refined features. The engines |
| silent brands in the market today. Mercury is a | | | | remain the same but the 3.0L Duratec V6 has |
| brand of the Ford Motor Company. In 1939, | | | | been modified to reduce fuel consumption by |
| Mercury was founded to market near-luxury cars | | | | 10%. |
| slotted between entry-level Ford and luxury | | | | The first 2008 Mercury Mariner was unveiled at |
| Lincoln models, similar to General Motors' Buick | | | | the Florida International Auto Show on October 6, |
| (and former Oldsmobile) brand and | | | | 2006 and was tagged as a new direction for the |
| DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler brand. Today, all | | | | Mercury Brand. |
| Mercury models are based on Ford platforms. | | | | The model began its sale in February 2007. |
| There are five current Mercury models in the | | | | The Mercury Milan is a front-wheel drive mid-size |
| market. These are the Mercury Grand Marquis, | | | | sedan based on the Ford CD3 platform. The Milan |
| Mercury Mariner, Mercury Milan, Mercury | | | | is an innovated model of the Ford Fusion, while |
| Monterey, and the Mercury Mountaineer. | | | | being slotted below the luxury-spec Lincoln MKZ |
| The Mercury Grand Marquis is a full-size | | | | (formerly the Lincoln Zephyr) sedan. |
| rear-wheel drive sedan, which is manufactured at | | | | As compared to Fusion, Milan features unique |
| the St. Thomas Assembly Plant in Canada. It was | | | | front and rear small yet essential designs, larger |
| also built in St. Louis, Missouri until 1985. | | | | rear doors, LED taillight clusters, projector head |
| It is Mercury's flagship sedan and is essentially a | | | | lamps and fog lamps, modified suspension, and an |
| slightly more luxurious version of the Ford Crown | | | | upgraded interior. It served as the bridge between |
| Victoria. It comes in five main trim levels: GS | | | | the Mercury Mystique in 2000 and the Mercury |
| (base model), GS Convenience, LS Premium, LS | | | | Sable in 2005. Milan is available in four packaged |
| Ultimate and the LSE. The trim level can be | | | | variants: Milan I4, Milan I4 Premier, Milan V6, and |
| identified by the fifth, sixth and seventh digits in | | | | Milan V6 Premier. Both the Milan and Fusion, along |
| the VIN. A Grand Marquis GS is represented by | | | | with the MKZ, are derivatives of the Mazda 6 |
| "M74", while a Grand Marquis LS/LSE is | | | | sedan, while only sharing 40% of its parts. |
| represented by "M75". | | | | The Milan four cylinders come standard with a |
| Despite rumors to the contrary, Ford has | | | | five-speed manual. It is available with optional |
| announced that they will continue to produce the | | | | five-speed automatic. All 2007 V6 Milans are |
| Grand Marquis through at least 2010. | | | | equipped with the new six-speed automatic |
| The company does plan on redesigning it along | | | | transmission. All-wheel drive (AWD) was added as |
| with the Crown Victoria sometime in the future, | | | | an available option for the 2007 model year, but |
| likely retiring the Panther platform altogether and | | | | only for the V6 equipped vehicles. Also, a DVD |
| moving them to the Ford D2C platform used by | | | | navigation system has been added as an option. |
| the Ford Mustang. While Ford would likely replace | | | | A website depicts the Milan it has sold exactly |
| the Crown Victoria name with something along | | | | 46,732 as of February 2007 since it went on sale |
| the lines of "Fairlane", the Grand Marquis name | | | | in October 2005. |
| could remain. | | | | The Mercury Monterey is a full-size semi-luxury |
| The Mercury Mariner compact SUV was | | | | car introduced in 1950. It would later share the |
| introduced in 2005. It is similar to the Mazda | | | | same body style with the slightly more upscale |
| Tribute and Ford Escape, although it is slightly | | | | Marquis, and the Park Lane and Montclair. The |
| more up market than the other two. Its engine is | | | | Marquis-Monterey body was, in turn, shared with |
| identical to the Ford Escape. It also includes | | | | that of the Ford LTD, Ford Galaxie, and Ford |
| stylistic differences, such as a two-tone interior, | | | | Custom. In 2004, Mercury resurrected the |
| European-style turn signal repeaters, monotone | | | | Monterey nameplate for a minivan. It was |
| cladding, and the signature Mercury "waterfall" | | | | essentially a re-badged Ford Freestar with added |
| front grille. The Mariner is Mercury's first car-based | | | | features and modified cosmetic features. |
| SUV, and is slotted below the Mountaineer in the | | | | Finally, the Mercury Mountaineer is a luxury SUV. |
| lineup. | | | | It shares many features with the Ford Explorer, |
| According to a website, since Mariner went on | | | | and in terms of hardware, the two are virtually |
| sale in September 2004, it has sold exactly | | | | identical. Externally, they are styled somewhat |
| 80,295 as of February 2007. | | | | differently, and the Mountaineer is positioned with |
| For the 2008 model, the Mariner is significantly | | | | a more enhanced interior. It was mildly redesigned |
| updated with a new look. The changes will include | | | | for the 2006 model year due to a new frame, |
| a new grille, headlights, taillights, a new lift gate, a | | | | but looks very similar to its previous model. |
| higher beltline, new doors and wheels. The interior | | | | |