Mission Mercury

[MaxLegroom]

Remember, Mercury was the messenger who moved swiftly from place to place. Let's reinterpret that as a performance and handling identity. It's not only a mission that's missing within Ford right now outside of Team Mustang, it's a mission that fits with Mercury's original place in the Ford hierarchy.

Some of the best words I've heard on this subject so far...

[MERCURYSABLE08]

It really breaks my heart to see my favorite car brand just being ignored and left to just fade away into the sunset.

This is what I think Ford could do with Mercury... #1 is my favorite

I have 3 Ideas....

1. Bring Euro and Aussie Fords over here to America and badge them as Mercury's

(Although this could get expensive)
(But I am 99% sure this would make Mercury a success)

2. Bring back Mercury's tradition meaning... Affordable RWD V-8 Powered Performance cars....

(Cougar, Marauder, Cyclone) (This may or may not work) (Since gas prices are over $3.00)

3. Keep all the current Mercury models....

But to differentiate them from their Ford counterpart give the Mercury a different interior design and features give Mercury different power trains and different window and door designs (make sure no sheet metal is shared)...

(This is probably the most affordable way to go and would most likely work and bring sales back into the 250,000 a year range which would be very good).

Or I hate to say this one.

Ford could just simply let the Iconic Mercury Brand just fade away into the sunset and lose millions of dollars and thousands of loyal customers which I would hate to see happen.

Its not that I don't love Mercury the way it is now because I do I just wish they had more products and vehicles that were completely different from what Ford has to offer. Because I feel in my heart that if Ford doesn't do something to help Mercury soon it may be too late.

[2b2]

after seeing the eXplorer-concept & GTDI pre-info,
imho we're gonna get a LOT of questions partially answered during NAIAS - tho we'll hafta keep reading between the lines...

1. Euro+Aussie
2. Mercury's traditional meaning
3. Keep the current models...

my take
1. Euro, Australian, AND NA models are getting unified; so that by itself won't differentiate Mercury
2. EcoBoost (& I believe diesels) will completely change what's under ALL the hoods
3. imho FML's 2011 lineup won't even resemble today's except for (some of) the names
(& just when I thought I was getting a handle on THE PLAN)
But maybe if we concentrate of each segment's goals, the new vehicles won't seem that unexpected...

Or I hate to say this one.
Ford could just simply let the Iconic Mercury Brand just fade away into the sunset and lose millions of dollars and thousands of loyal customers which I would hate to see happen.

That^s the one thing I can't accept. I've believed and said that any Mercury decision is on-hold for... ...well, 2008 more or less. Still think so
but disagree with it!
Since it would be SUCH a Waste to "kill Merc", >>then<<, as I've seen a few mis-guided posters suggest, create a New Brand to pursue new markets :shakes head:

"MERCURY" is Cool Name!, unlike some other mfg's divisions I could name (but don't need to).
Ford'll never come up with a better one imho - so yeah, keep it barely simmering on the back burner
But
I firmly believe a complete moratorium on New-NEW Mercs will hurt rather than help their higher priorities - kinda like letting a perfectly fine link-of-the-chain get rusty(er) while repairing the weakest Lincoln ...umm I mean LINK.

ps MERCURYSABLE08
I was blown away by how gorgeous (pix don't DO it) that dk. Blue Ink paint is in person,
your Sable must be completely spectacular!!!

[1931Chevy]

Think about it, since Ford will unify the design theme the kinetic and bold will be replaced by one global theme and this puts mercury in a good position since Mercury could become the american styled brand heck every product of lately wearing the mercury water fall looks 1000% times better than it Ford counterpart.

Of the 3 main brands Mercury has been the only one with a uniformed look and not the mess of the 2 and 3bar grill of the Ford brand and until recently Lincoln its getting its own theme too.

What I would do is evolutionize the current Mercury style and give the brand 5 vehicles thats all they need and maybe one plug in hybrid
New Milan
New Sable
New Mountaneer
New Marquis
New Mariner
and maybe a new cougar based not from the mustang but from Miata

[2b2]

My heads been in a whirl lately with the *scope* of EcoBoost plans, R.W.D., and the platform questions that ExplorerAmerica poses.
now,
I've started wondering if Jim Farley's "Wants More Models Quicker" interview (TheCarConnection, same article?, BON) might have something to do with Mercury??!?? (even tho Merc was NOT mention by him ) (&) (not just a Milanetto & Milan/S-max)
and
remembering some old posts/threads about how the T6 global trucklet might be adapted to produce BOF limos/copcars/taxis
...
an AllNew FML lineup proposal (circa 2011) is starting to take shape in that cluttered/dusty place behind my eyes

&/also

Think about it, since Ford will unify the design theme the kinetic and bold will be replaced by one global theme and this puts mercury in a good position since Mercury could become the american styled brand heck every product of lately wearing the mercury water fall looks 1000% times better than it Ford counterpart.

Of the 3 main brands Mercury has been the only one with a uniformed look and not the mess of the 2 and 3bar grill of the Ford brand and until recently Lincoln its getting its own theme too.

Imho, probably due to neglect, Mercury has evolved/incubated it's own Classic/Moderne style *: *: *: (kiss kiss kiss) ... to the point I'm fearful that Ford might botch the whole thing IF they start 'paying attention' to Merc...

[megeebee]

Imho, probably due to neglect, Mercury has evolved/incubated it's own Classic/Moderne style *: *: *: (kiss kiss kiss) ... to the point I'm fearful that Ford might botch the whole thing IF they start 'paying attention' to Merc...

With all due respect, I don't see anything at Mercury to "botch".

[2b2]

^^ tho the current-production Merc that comes closest to my conception of their Classic/Moderne style is the MILAN,
and even that doesn't quite hit my ideal,
I firmly believe the design elements are There for anyone with eyes and a bit of imagination to complete in a mental-chop.

meanwhile...
(for some reason, the only chops I'm able to do lately are truck-based )
and tho this started with the new F-150 (of course), it's meant to be built off the developing T6 global small truck platform:
< click for 750x400
contributing are the MetaOne(grille), Mariner(foglites), & Milan(16" alloy wheels).

The Mercury Trucklet™ would have the features & interior equivalent to a King Ranch trim level (the Platinum level would be reserved for the F-100 based Lincoln midi-Truck)


-----------------------------
[ transplanting conversation ]

I did. Its a very interesting idea. I would work on the headlight since these are way too Ford (Edge, Taurus X, F-150 and Flex)

I didn't change the HL's for cost savings purposes;
AND kinda expect by T6-time, the styling will be closer to the ExplorerAmerica's "shield-grille" anyway.
Other than the front clip (& the tailgate with Milan-ish TL extensions), the main distinction between the Trucklet™ & a T6-Ranger is the feature level - afaik there isn't a *KingRanch* Ranger...
(tho my truck-knowledge-base is awfully small)
btw, the vertical slats of the grille are finished in "CarbonSatin" which would also be One Of the interior trim materials.

edit//(& PM )
it might be a GoodThing if the littlest/T6 Mercury Trucklet™ actually did resemble the F-150/SuperDuty's front end (an HO-scale SuperDuty? with waterfall grille of course) thinking having a 'tough' look on the outside would contrast nicely with both the luxury inside And a more import-fighter-looking Ranger...