Mercury Mountaineer, 2006

Mercury Mountaineer, 2006

The Mercury Mountaineer is a luxury SUV manufactured by the Mercury brand name, owned by the Ford Motor Company. The Mountaineer shares many features with the Ford Explorer, and in terms of hardware, the vehicles are virtually identical.
Externally, they are styled somewhat differently, and the Mountainer is positioned with a more upscale interior, with the Mountaineer's MSRP coming in at $1,000–6,000 more than the Explorer. It has been mildly redesigned for the 2006 model year due to a new frame, but looks very similar to its previous model.

For 2006, the Mountaineer was redesigned. This new Mountaineer was all new, although it closely resembles the previous model. The Mountaineer was mounted on a new frame, and it offered a more upscale interior, to make up for the cut Lincoln Aviator. The Mountaineer got new wheels and HID headlights, a feature not found on previous Mountaineers.

Mercury Montego

Mercury Montego

The innovative Montego midsize sedan offers Ford's industry-leading safety technology, along with modern powertrains that combine performance with fuel economy. Its European-inspired chassis delivers crisp, responsive handling.

Montego's premium interior is roomy and sophisticated with flexible seating and cargo storage capability that set new st andards for midsize sedans. A spacious second row and "high-package" seating position provide unprecedented passenger comfort and reinforce the driver's comm anding view of the road.

Design and Equipment
Design cues instantly identify the new Montego as a Mercury. The signature waterfall grille, strategic use of contrasting metallic surfaces like satin aluminum and chrome, distinctive taillight and unique tailoring continue the distinctive automotive design vision Edsel Ford set for Mercury some 65 years ago.

Some design elements incorporate technologies that deliver consumer benefits, like the HID headlamps that present a clearer view of the road at night, and LED taillights that provide highly visible communication to other drivers on the road.

A key feature of Montego's interior design is its upscale, two-tone treatment. A satin-aluminum finish is used on the door h andles while chrome trim rings enhance the dash-mounted analog clock and gauges. The steering wheel and shift knob are wrapped in leather.

A leather-wrapped steering wheel with satin-aluminum cuffs and redundant audio controls becomes st andard across the range. New options include a rear-seat DVD entertainment system and a navigation system for Premier versions.

Montego's interior dimensions put it among the leaders in virtually every category, including best-in-class headroom and knee room in the second row. The natural, upright seating position offers both comfort and visibility that give the driver confidence and comm and of the road.

Montego's remarkable 21.2-cubic-foot trunk is nearly 50 percent larger than that of most competitors. With the split second-row seat folded, the trunk exp ands to offer a best-in-class 49.9 inches of total load floor length. The front passenger seat also can fold flat for added cargo-carrying capability.

Powertrain and Chassis
The Montego's Volvo-inspired platform provides a stable platform, with fully independent suspension for a quiet ride and responsive handling.

The proven Duratec 30 V-6 engine smooth, quiet performance and is teamed with a premium six-speed automatic transmission on front-wheel-drive models. All-wheel-drive versions use a continuously variable transmission. Each offers wide overall gear ratios for strong acceleration and economical operation.

Safety and Security
The 2006 Mercury Montego builds on Ford's industry-leading Personal Safety System with new features that address front-, side- and rear-impact protection. It has earned top five-star ratings for front- and side-impact performance in government testing, as well as a "Best Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for frontal crash performance.

Anti-lock brakes are st andard on all Montegos, and all-speed traction control is st andard on all but front-drive Luxury models, where it's a no-cost option.

Major Features and Options
Luxury includes: Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, 17-inch seven-spoke wheels, automatic HID headlamps, LED tail lamps, fog lamps, remote keyless entry with keypad, interval wipers, folding heated power exterior mirrors, power windows and door locks, driver and front passenger air bags, passive anti-theft system, dual-zone electronic climate control, front and rear floor mats, six-way power driver seat, fold-flat front passenger seat, seatback map pockets, split-fold rear seat with head restraints, fold-down rear armrest with cupholders, auto-dimming rearview mirror, two 12-volt powerpoints, AM/FM stereo with CD player and leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel with remote audio controls.

Premier adds: 18-inch 15-spoke alloy wheels, remote perimeter lighting, Audiophile AM/FM stereo with six-CD changer and subwoofer, leather seating surfaces, heated driver and front passenger seats, two-way power passenger seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, overhead console with universal garage door opener, wood grain interior appliqués, memory function for power seats, mirrors and adjustable pedals and a trunk cargo net.

Mercury Sable, 2008

Mercury Sable, 2008

Unveiled at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show, the new 2008 Mercury Sable offers customers a sophisticated new look inside and out, a significantly quieter cabin, a more plush ride and a more powerful 3.5-liter V-6.

Sophisticated style brings the exterior to life
Sable's modern, distinctive look builds on the clean, modern design themes first introduced on the Mercury Mountaineer and that were further refined on the Milan and new Mariner.

Sable's clean, integrated front-end design centers on Mercury's signature satin aluminum waterfall grille flanked by exquisitely detailed, jeweled projector beam headlamps that sweep up over the front fenders. Additional visual highlights at the front of vehicle include new chrome surrounds for the fog lamps and bright, satin aluminum caps on the side mirrors.

Sable's distinctive LED taillamps feature a predominantly white lens with red accent stripes. The new rear fascia has a cutout for the chrome-tips on the dual exhaust system, a visual cue that suggests more power under the hood. A chrome strip on the bottom edge of the deck lid provides a finishing touch.

Cool and expressive accents sharpen the interior
Complementing the clean exterior, a core attribute of Mercury design is a modern, airy interior. With Sable, this design direction comes to life in two-tone interior trim with unique accents. Customers preferring a more technical appearance, for example, can opt for Cyber Carbon, a deep, high-gloss accent that resembles carbon fiber. Alternatively, two modern wood grain accents - Guitar Maple or San Macassar - are available.

Standard cloth seats wear an updated and modern graphic design while the Premier Series offers supple two-tone leather seats detailed with contrast stitching and featuring a new, more modern, perforated pattern. The rectangular shapes of the perforations are placed farther apart for a more progressive, contemporary look. The same pattern is repeated on the door panels.

Customers attracted to clean, contemporary Mercury design are also very sophisticated in their technology needs. The 2008 Sable offers the right connection for driver and passenger alike.

A comfortable, quiet driving experience
A completely revised sound package gives the new Sable interior quietness that rivals many luxury cars. Technologies like expandable foam pellets in the A-Pillars and improved sound-deadening material in the doors, headliner and pillars help reduce interior noise levels

Sable's quiet and confident ride is delivered in part by a revised Mac Pherson-strut front suspension with 10 percent more travel, new dampers and spring rates, and a retuned independent coil-over rear suspension. A new power steering system uses an intelligent electric pump to provide extra steering assist for such tasks as parking, and dials down the assist when it's not needed, for example, when cruising on the freeway.

Sable features an award-winner, 3.5-liter V-6 engine and a sharp, six-speed transmission. The Duratec 35 engine makes an estimated 260 horsepower, a nearly 30 percent increase over the outgoing Duratec 30, and 245 pound-feet of torque.

The available all-wheel-drive system - similar to the system used on the new Mercury Mariner - features an electronically-controlled center coupling that can distribute exact amounts of torque from front to rear, up to 100 percent to either axle.

The 2008 Mercury Sable's real-world fuel economy, even with the additional power and performance, is expected to be similar to the outgoing Montego model - thanks mainly to advancements in power train technology.

A clever, safe choice
The new Sable is expected to be a segment leader in safety, capable of achieving five stars in all four categories for the U.S. government's crash tests.

Advance Trac electronic stability control system is available on all Sable models. Additional standard safety features includes dual-stage driver and passenger front air bags, seat-deployed side air bags for driver and front passenger, and Ford's Safety Canopy side curtain air bags for both rows of seats. A new steering wheel design recesses the airbag 15 millimeters farther away from the driver, for an added measure of safety.