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Even now, in spy-shot form, the 2010
Mercury Milan is taking a backseat to the
Ford Fusion. But
Ford is at least trying to give the next Milan a bit more distance from its big-selling Blue Oval-badged cousin.
The 2010
Mercury Milan shows off its new grille in these new spy shots.
Ford says the new Milan will go on sale early next year, and in four-cylinder form, it will get better fuel economy than similar
Toyota Camrys and
Honda Accords. In the 2010 model year, the
Mercury Milan Hybrid will sport better fuel economy than the
Toyota Camry Hybrid.
These new spy shots show a more rounded-off
Mercury grille, with what looks to be a larger logo affixed to the center of the grille. Headlamps wrap into the hood, but the side view looks pretty similar to today's car, suggesting this is more of a mid-cycle freshening than a full revamp.
Posted in : 2010, Mercury, Sedans, Spy Shots
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The
Detroit News takes the helm of the U.S.S. Obvious this morning, reporting that the
Mercury Sable and
Ford Taurus X are headed for the end of the road.
The paper says it reviewed documents that show the Sable and
Taurus X ending production next year. The notion is that with the
Ford Flex in production,
Ford showrooms don't need the slightly smaller, slightly less attractive
Taurus X crowding it out on the floor. The Sable came back to life just this year--but Ford's new plan for
Mercury is for smaller cars and crossovers to complement the biggies over at co-brand
Lincoln.
Both vehicles in question are built at Ford's Chicago assembly plant, which will begin building a new
Ford Taurus sometime next year.
Ford had no comment to the news story.
Posted in : Ford, Mercury
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Ford's plan for restructuring the company includes a comprehensive move into smaller crossover vehicles and European cars, and gives the evergreen Ranger yet another reprieve from the chopping block.
The plan, announced this morning by the company as it faces an $8.7 billion net loss for the second quarter--after $8 billion in one-time charges--will cut truck production at three plants and will bring over a raft of new vehicles, including a production version of the
Lincoln MKT concept we showed you earlier this year, as well as a new small car for
Mercury in 2010, along with the long-awaited
hybrid versions of the
Ford Fusion and
Mercury Milan sedans.
“We continue to take fast and decisive action implementing our plan and responding to the rapidly changing business environment,” said
Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally. “Ford is moving aggressively using our global product strengths to introduce additional smaller vehicles in North America and to provide outstanding fuel economy with every new product.”
The sprawling, no-stone-unturned plan has many products moving, dying or living on--here's the official word from
Ford:
- 2009 Ford F-150: the new truck goes on sale in the fall with a 7-percent fuel economy boost, Ford says
- 2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln MKZ: these sedans go on sale in early 2009,; the Fusion and Milan will exceed fuel economy of four-cylinder Toyota Camrys and Honda Accords
- 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid: Ford says fuel economy will top the Toyota Camry Hybrid
- 2010 Ford Mustang: Will come in coupe, convertible, and glass-roof models starting in early 2009; TheCarConnection.com expects a Los Angeles auto show debut
- 2010 Ford Taurus: the new four-door will emerge in mid-2009 with EcoBoost engines
- 2010 Ford Transit Connect: this small multi-purpose van arrives in mid-2009
- 2010 Lincoln seven-passenger crossover: the production version of the Lincoln MKT concept arrives with a 300-hp-plus EcoBoost V-6 in mid-2009
- 2011 Ford Fiesta: built in Mexico, the new Ford Fiesta arrives in both four- and five-door versions in early 2010
- 2011 Ford Focus comes over from Europe in both four- and five-door versions in 2010
- 2011 Mercury small car: could be spawned from either the Fiesta or Focus, it in 2010; Ford confirms Mercury will stay in its lineup of brands
- 2011 European small vehicle: a “whitespace” entry in North America, Ford says, this likely is a version of Ford's European C-Max midi-van; it's due in 2010
- 2011 Ford Explorer: likely built from the Ford Taurus platform and replacing the Taurus X in nomenclature, this was previewed by the Explorer America concept from the Detroit auto show. Ford says with unibody construction, EcoBoost, six-speed, weight savings and up to 25 percent better fuel economy, the new Explorer arrives in 2010
- In addition, Ford plans to upgrade or replace all its engines in U.S. vehicles by 2010, and to offer six-speed transmissions on most of its products. Ford also plans to offer its direct-injection, turbocharged EcoBoost engines on more than 80 percent of its North American lineup by the end of 2012.
- And finally, Ford will extend the life of the Ford Ranger pickup for another two years. Its plant in Minnesota had been planned for closure next year; Ford will build the compact truck there for at least another two years.
Ford's plans are underpinned by the assumption that a U.S. economic recovery won't come for at least 18 more months; that
Ford will control about 14 percent of the U.S. market with its domestic brands (
Volvo not included); and that the price of oil isn't going anywhere soon.
Posted in : 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury
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While General Motors spends this week on a
Camaro buzz,
Ford is preparing big news--and a big change in direction for the company that could lead to a real revival at
Mercury.
The
New York Times reports this afternoon that
Ford will put into place on Thursday a sweeping new plan that will see three of its factories converted from truck to small-car production in North America. It will also switch other plants over to produce new fuel-efficient engines, and will add six vehicles, initially designed for Europe, to its U.S. lineup, including the
Fiesta shown here.
As a part of the plan,
Ford will also announce that
Mercury will be a part of the new small-car strategy, a move that I've been waiting for
Ford to take forever. The name itself has the perfect connotation with small cars--Mercury, meaning like quicksilver or on wings, has never really been capitalized upon by
Ford.
Ford's sales dropped dramatically over the past six months, but its sales have fallen steeply for almost a decade. In the 1990s, the company controlled 24 percent of the U.S. market; it's down to the middle teens at this writing and headed further south, with major cuts in big-truck programs in the works. Some 60 percent of its vehicle sales are still
trucks, and the company is said to be making these drastic changes to meet what it considers a permanent change in American car-buying habits and tastes.
The Times says
Ford will turn its Expedition/Navigator plant in Wayne, Mich., over to small cars; will expand its Focus production in north America; and will retool two V-8 plants to build V-6 and four-cylinder engines. More details are likely to come Thursday.
Posted in : 2008, Ford, Mercury
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Ford is making the switch -- from hydraulic to electric power steering (EPS).
Ford said today that it plans to fit 80 to 90 percent of its cars with a new electronic power steering (EPS) system by 2012.
Ford says the system will improve the fuel economy, performance, and reliability of all the cars outfitted with it.
Found now in the
2008 Ford Escape,
Mercury Mariner, and both
hybrid models, the system will be found in the
Ford Fusion,
Mercury Milan and
Lincoln MKZ next year and worked into the
Ford Mustang,
Ford Expedition, and
Lincoln Navigator by 2012.
Ford says the EPS system can boost fuel economy by up to eight percent. It adds that the steering feel and handling of the vehicle are improved with EPS -- though most car writers have criticized EPS systems for artificial steering feel.
Ford also says that hydraulic-powered steering systems have a higher failure rate and are less environmentally friendly than the new EPS systems.
Ford says EPS can reduce CO2 emissions by 3.5 percent since it's only active when it's used, as opposed to a hydraulic system that's always being primed.
EPS will also lead to more sophisticated steering in the future. It could enable a feature like automatic parking, where your car will be able to parallel park itself by using advanced front and read bumper sensors, for example.
Compared to the rest of the world,
Ford is a little behind the curve with EPS. In Western Europe approximately 6.1 million vehicles have EPS, nearly double the amount from 2003 according to just-auto.com.
Posted in : 2008, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Shoppers, Technology
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Even now, in spy-shot form, the 2010 Mercury Milan is taking a backseat to the Ford Fusion. But Ford is at least trying to give the next Milan a bit more distance from its big-selling Blue Oval-badged cousin.;)
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