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2011 Mercury Grand Marquis Review

2011 Mercury Grand Marquis Review

This is more of a eulogy that the revision of the models. Born in 1978, the Mercury Grand Marquis, has lived a long and fruitful life, which began at the same time, the land yachts big V8 were the norm rather than the exception. As Joan Rivers, there has been a series of changes appearance, and like most of them elderly, has been the replacement of some of his creaking mechanical. But for better or for worse, the Grand Marquis has maintained an old-school heritage.
 

In his last years on this good earth, 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis received no change and still lives by the mantra "do not make 'em like they used to." In fact, their large size allows three people to adapt quite well to the front and rear, while the trunk is large enough to allow control of many pieces of luggage for the trip to the airport. Anyone who has boarded a taxi Grand Marquis (Ford Crown Victoria or two of the car) can attest. Old-school body-on frame is also a pillar of strength, simplicity and reliability - something that the community of law enforcement of our nation can attest.

Unfortunately, not make 'em like the Grand Marquis for a number of other important reasons. This hand-to-Frame allows the mercury jiggle and shake over bumps like the sumo wrestler during an earthquake. Car handling is heavy and the steering is slow, so you do not have much confidence in the ability of the car to stay under control. Then there's the transmission, the V8 that produces 224 horsepower trivial and hardly a respectable 275 pounds-feet of torque, coupled with outdated four-speed automatic transmission. This is the fuel economy of Mercury (as the body) is rather like a truck. Finally, the cottage would be great, but legroom is limited, although great mark on this car.

Given these attributes to the elderly in a young world, it was difficult to recommend the Grand Marquis for most of the last two decades. It goes to the garage in the sky with the rest of his family Mercury, Mercury Grand Marquis 2011 leaves behind a host of impressive cars, big and modern enough to allow buyers nowadays comfort, space, performance and fuel economy is expected, with a few modern conveniences of the Grand Marquis was never able to offer. These cars are the young boys that the Buick LaCrosse, Chrysler 300, Ford Taurus, Hyundai Genesis and the Toyota Avalon.

Grand Marquis survived his cousin, the Lincoln Town Car. We do not buy it either. Funeral Services will be based near the Hertz rental Ft. Lauderdale.
 

Body styles, trim levels and options

For 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis is a full-size sedan with seating for six. Standard equipment includes 17-inch wheels, rear air suspension, automatic headlamps, fog lamps, remote keyless entry, climate control, a 50/50 split front with six-way driver and passenger power options, adjustable pedals electric, leather upholstery, an auto-dimming mirror back, a leather-wrapped tilt steering and a stereo CD player. Options include heated seats, leather steering wheel, wood and a tape recorder.

Engines and performance


Rear-wheel-drive 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis is powered by a 4.6-liter V8 engine is only 224 hp and 275 Nm of torque. Four-speed automatic is standard. Goes from zero to 60 mph in about 8.5 seconds, which is the best number of four-cylinder powered sedans. Fuel economy is 16 mpg city/24 mpg highway and 19 combined. It 'a big improvement in 1978, but quite a disappointment today, this car has low power.

Security

Safety equipment includes standard anti-lock disc brakes, traction control and front seat side airbags. Neither traction control or side curtain airbags are offered half. Despite this, the Grand Marquis has done well in crash tests, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, scoring a perfect five stars in both frontal and side impact. While the big Mercury gained the highest score of "good" in front-offset crash conducted by the Insurance Institute for Road Safety, is collected, "marginal" rating - the second worst on a scale of four - in a side impact crash tests.
 

Interior Design and Special Features

The general layout Grand Marquis "has not really changed since ... goodness, we can not even remember. The original George Bush might have been the president. Lives more control in the middle of the dashboard and can be difficult to achieve, even if it is incredibly easy to decipher and a tribute to a simpler time technology. Naturally also means that you will without these modern conveniences Ford has become known for, such as navigation, Sirius Travel Link and Sync, which you can use to manage your iPod and cell phone using voice commands. We have a vague feeling, but most buyers are indifferent Grand Marquis.

The cabin is big enough, but the back seat leg room is more impressive cars that are smaller than the outside. However, the Grand Marquis is one of the few remaining cars are able to accommodate three people in the front seat, which means that you can stuff six people inside. Luggage can also get involved, because the trunk measures 20.6 cubic feet, which is the largest of any car (even though the Ford Taurus trunk ', but less than 0.4 cubic meters).

Driving Impressions


Driving the 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis is like a trip back in time, but without the pleasure of seeing their parents as teenagers. While his rival in size sedans typically provide handling and decent pilot control of prodigious size Grand Marquis ", a stay comfortable and zero effort steering combine to simulate the experience of flying the Goodyear blimp. The V8 offers a good match, but not much later.

Price $ 29,935

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The 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser


The 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser
The 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser

President Eisenhower signed into law the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act on June 29th of 1956. This piece of legislation appropriated $25 billion for the construction of 41,000 miles of freeways throughout America. This new highway system inspired Mercury to create a concept car for 1956 called the XM Turnpike Cruiser, which soon led to a similar production car that appeared in the brand's all-new 1957 model line.

The production Mercury Turnpike Cruiser was powered by a new 368 cubic-inch V8 engine that offered 290 horsepower. It came as a two-door or four-door hardtop. The bodystyle had design cues from the jet age, including the first compound-curve windscreen, streamlined and angular tailfins that were referred to as 'projectiles,' and 'Breezaway Ventilation,' a cabin cooling innovation in which air passed through intakes at the front of the roofline and out of a rear opening left by a retractable rear glass piece, canopied by an extended roof overhang.

Inside, there was a flat-topped elliptical steering wheel, an instrument panel dubbed the 'Monitor Control Panel' featuring an unusual speed-averaging computer clock.

Production of the Mercury Turnpike Cruiser would last for only two years, as consumers began to take greater interest in smaller, more compact vehicles being offered by other marques.


credit of conceptcarz

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Ford to launch new Mercury small car in 2011

Ford Motor Co (F.N) will launch a new small car for its Mercury brand in early 2011, based on the automaker's new global compact car platform, Ford President of the Americas Mark Fields said on Sunday.The new Mercury is one of the 10 vehicles Ford is planning for its global small car architecture, that also underpins the upcoming 2012 Ford Focus, and would expand the lineup of the mid-level

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2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid 4WD

If we're all going to end up driving hybrids, the revolution should start in this class. I think the small cute-ute/crossover segment was born out of nothing but marketing departments, and these vehicles could all be replaced by hatchbacks and wagons with absolutely no ill effect. But consumers are hooked on the vehicles in this class, and there's no way the American public will turn to hatchbacks and wagons overnight. So all these small sport-utilities and crossovers might as well go hybrid and save us lots of fuel.

2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid 4WD-12009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid 4WD-2The Mercury Mariner/Ford Escape hybrids are probably the best products in the Ford portfolio right now. They make sense for a lot of consumers, and the pricing isn't insane. Sure, the steering is dead, you're forced to have a continuously variable transmission, and there isn't a ton of power, but that doesn't matter. If you're shopping for a cute-ute, you don't care about driving for the sake of driving, and this Mariner does everything it's supposed to do very well.

A hybrid drivetrain (and the efficiency mindset that goes with it) doesn't really mesh with the heavy, impractical, inefficient-by-nature SUV, no matter how small. As such, I can't help wondering just how much better the Mariner's fuel economy would be if it were a tad smaller, a tad lighter, and less of a brick in the wind tunnel. It just seems too much like a stopgap, as if we're kidding ourselves as to what we really ought to be driving. I feel wasteful, no matter how much less gas I'm using.

Ford has greatly improved the Mercury Mariner (and its twin, the Ford Escape) in the last two years, concentrating on the styling for 2008 and the mechanicals for 2009. The interior of the Mariner is greatly improved over what it was a couple of years ago, but there is still some evidence of cost-cutting, notably the cheap-looking plastic vent covers. Still, the overall look and feel of the interior is quite nice.

On the road, the transition between gasoline and electric power is practically unnoticeable. The trick is to get up to speed and tap the brake slightly, at which point the vehicle will switch to electric power, although you might not notice it unless you're looking at the RPM gauge. It's quite a difference from our long-term Toyota Camry hybrid, which noticeably surged and/or stuttered when switching between power sources.

© Source: automobilemag
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2010 Ford Fusion & Mercury Milan sedans

The new Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans have been fully revealed at the 2008 Los Angeles auto show. Highlights include a revised engine and transmission lineup, as well as hybrid versions of the Ford and Mercury twins.

The Fusion receives a more aggressive front end, with fenders that bulge out at the corners and a larger chrome grille with “eyebrows” that stretch above the restyled headlights. Trapezoidal openings in the lower front fascia are reminiscent of Ford’s European Kuga crossover and U.S.-bound Fiesta small car. Changes to the rear include new taillights that replace the clear units on the current model and a new trunk lid with more visual interest.

2010Mirroring changes made for the 2009 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner, Ford will replace the Fusion and Milan’s 2.3-liter four-cylinder with a bored and stroked version that displaces 2.5 liters, as well as drop in a reworked version of the 3.0-liter V-6. The four-cylinder option now delivers 175 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque, up from 160 and 156, respectively. Ford is also claiming that the four-banger will achieve 33 mpg on the highway when mated to an automatic transmission, which bests the four-cylinder versions of the Toyota Camry (31 mpg) and Honda Accord (30 mpg). Ford says to expect a 0-to-60-mph time of 9.5 seconds for 2.5-liter Fusions equipped with the six-speed auto.

The 3.0-liter V-6 now makes 240 hp and 228 lb-ft of torque, increases of 19 hp and 23 lb-ft over the current version. It will also be E85-capable, and using the ethanol-heavy fuel will yield an additional 10 horses—and fewer mpg.

Ford’s 3.5-liter V-6 will finally see duty in a Fusion as the standard powerplant for Sport models, helping to differentiate a trim that is currently little more than an appearance package. The big V-6 is rated at 263 hp and 249 lb-ft of torque, and Ford says 7.0-second 0–60 sprints will be possible. Unlike the other engines, the 3.5-liter will not be shared with the Milan.

The 2010 Fusion and Milan will go on sale in the spring of 2009.

© Source: caranddriver
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2009 Mercury Milan Review

Predictably, the Milan and Fusion share similar strengths and weaknesses. Like its blue-oval brother, the Milan is based on a stretched version of the outgoing Mazda 6 platform, which enables the midsize Mercury to combine the 6's athleticism with appreciably more passenger room. Unlike many of its competitors, the Milan also offers all-wheel drive on V6-powered models, a significant selling point for shoppers residing in colder climes. And we can no longer criticize Mercury for skimping on stability control -- it's available on every 2009 Milan. The optional Sync multimedia interface, a Ford family exclusive, is another feather in the Milan's cap.

2009 Mercury MilanThere's only one area where the Milan could really use some improvement, and that's under the hood. Neither the base four-cylinder engine nor the optional V6 make the refined noises we expect to hear in modern family sedans, and they're down on power, too. This would be easier to swallow if there were a payoff in efficiency, but there's not -- the Milan's fuel-economy numbers are middling at best. Otherwise, though, the Milan is quite enjoyable from behind the wheel, featuring above-average handling along with a commendably cushioned ride.

There's no doubt that the 2009 Mercury Milan is a solid all-around midsize sedan. Trouble is, perennial favorites like the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima offer superior four- and six-cylinder engines while matching the Milan in all other respects, save for the Milan's available AWD. However, the Milan is more affordable than those models, and it is fully competitive with similarly priced competitors like the Chevy Malibu, Hyundai Sonata and Saturn Aura. If you don't want to pay top dollar for your next family sedan, the Milan is certainly worth a look.

The 2009 Mercury Milan's base 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine is rated at 160 horsepower and receives Partial-Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) certification in California and other California-emissions states. It's paired with a standard five-speed manual transmission in the base four-cylinder Milan, while a five-speed automatic is optional on the base model and standard on the Premier.

A 3.0-liter 221-hp V6 is optional on both the base and Premier trims. All V6-equipped Milans receive a six-speed automatic transmission, which is notable for limiting drivers to just two forward-gear gates ("D" and "L"), though many drivers probably won't miss the additional manual control. Four-cylinder Milans are front-wheel drive, while AWD is optional on V6 models.

© Source: edmunds
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2008 Mercury Grand Marquis Review

Mercury's largest sedan continues to provide traditional American-car values, with rear-wheel drive, a standard V-8 engine and a spacious six-passenger interior with a roomy 20.6 cubic foot trunk. The standard 224-horsepower, 4.6-liter V-8 engine may also be ordered with E85/flex-fuel capability in some markets. A four-speed automatic is standard.

The power of the standard engine can be goosed a bit if you order the optional Handling Package (LS models only) which adds dual exhausts and boost the engine's output to 239 horsepower.

2008 Mercury Grand MarquisThe Marquis is quiet and comfortable, with a smooth ride and relaxed handling. Four-wheel disc anti-lock brakes are standard, with traction control, front-side airbags, and a rear air suspension optional.

Changes for '08 include a simplified trim lineup, base GS and up-level LS. A Palm Beach package — your dead giveway on the target audience — includes side airbags and other upgrades. Tire pressure monitors are now standard.

Three new packages are offered for the 2008 model year as well — a GS Comfort Appearance Package adds leather, a power driver seat and painted wheels, while the GS Confidence Package includes power mirrors and traction control. The LS Travel Package gets a CD player.

© Source: thecarconnection
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Mercury Blues

It’s nice to know that singer Alan Jackson has a thing for Mercury, because it doesn’t seem like many other American motorists do. Despite the addition of some critical new products, including the 2009 Mariner hybrid crossover, as well as the restyled and renamed Sable sedan, things aren’t looking too good for the “other” Ford division.

Sinking fast, Mercury’s sales fell a painful 35 percent in January, compared to year-earlier numbers. And for all of 2007, the brand’s volume slumped 7 percent, to a grand total of jut 168,422 cars, trucks and crossovers. That’s barely a third of Mercury’s all-time record, 528,033, set back in 1985. And it’s even less than the numbers that convinced General Motors to pull the plug on its Oldsmobile division.

Mercury BluesDead man driving? There are plenty of analysts, such as Joe Phillippi, of AutoTrends Consulting, and Dan Gorrell, who question why Ford continues to pump resources into a brand that has had only one up year since the mid-1980s. They’d pull the plug and focus the automotive’s limited resources on the brands that matter, including both the Blue Oval, and Lincoln, which actually posted a much-needed gain, in 2007.

Going back a few years, Ford had a seemingly good reason to stoke Mercury’s fire. The brand had a reputation for styling and performance, and was a bit more exclusive than the mainstream Ford division. By the time the original Sable came out, in 1986, however, Mercury was little more than a badge-engineered alternative, it’s products perhaps offering a slight more bling than those carrying the Ford nameplate.

So why not put Mercury out of its misery?
That’s a question new marketing czar, Jim Farley, has had to consider. But for now, at least, he’s giving the troubled brand a reprieve. While he’s still formulating his strategy, Farley seems intent on turning Mercury into a Detroit version of Toyota’s Scion. Industry aficionados will recall that the young executive initially came to the public’s attention as the first general manager of Toyota’s youth-oriented nameplate.

But time, as the old cliché goes, really is running out. Farley and the rest of the Ford management team need to pull some sheet metal rabbits out of the hat soon or there won’t be any Mercury left to save.

© Source: thecarconnection
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Cuts in Mercury advertising cause speculation as to brand's future

Ford is removing all national TV ads and other traditional advertising venues from Mercury, thus feeding the speculation as to how long the brand will be around. Instead advertising funds will be directed towards online and dealership advertising.

2008 MercuryMercury sales are down 7 percent from last year, and there are no new models in the pipeline once the Milan is facelifted for the 2009 model year.

Mercury spokesman Mark Schirmer states: “a directional thing that we’ve been working on for awhile, reshaping how we use the same pot” of marketing money. He said Ford believes that it will “get more traction” for Mercury sales by reallocating more advertising money to online efforts and to dealers.

“It’s just not a big enough pot of money to do traditional TV for Mercury and make it effective,” Schirmer said. “It’s not a significant enough chunk to break through. We have to be smarter with those resources.”

© Source: autoobserver
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2008 Mercury Mariner Premier 4WD Review

A writer might associate the word "ancient" with "mariner" in deference to Samuel Taylor Coleridge's famous poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner". That's a correct association in literature, but incorrect in connection with cars or small SUVs, where "Mariner" brings to mind Mercury. The Mercury Mariner is not exactly ancient, having been introduced in 2005. And besides, it gets a suite of major updates for 2008.

2008 Mercury Mariner Premier 4WDMost apparently, both the exterior and interior have been restyled. "Freshened styling" is a typical mid-product life cycle occurrence in the automotive industry, but here there is a bit more than mere "freshening". More external sheetmetal has been changed than not, and inside, the 2008 Mariner is meant to foretell the look of future Mercurys. As ever, that interior has more space than might be imagined looking at the compact exterior, and some trick new standard and optional storage schemes.

PERFORMANCE:
If the exterior and interior are new, the engine compartment is familiar. The Mariner's V6 is the venerable 3.0 liter twin cam, 24-valve alloy Duratec. With 200 horsepower (at 6000 rpm) and 193 lb-ft of torque (at 4850), it has plenty of power for everyday use, and revisions over the years have improved refinement levels. The four-speed automatic transmission is well-suited to the Mariner's niche in life. Ditto for the "Intelligent 4WD" four-wheel drive system. It operates in front-wheel drive mode most of the time, and uses a computer-controlled center clutch to engage the rear wheels as needed. Input from sensors at each wheel and the accelerator pedal allows the computer to determine the necessary torque split, transparently to the driver.

© Source: theautochannel
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2008 Mercury Mariner Review

What's New for 2008
The 2008 Mercury Mariner gets a makeover inside and out. A more aggressive attitude marks the exterior design, and the cabin is more attractive and functional. The chassis and powertrain are virtually unchanged, however, meaning this "redesigned" Mariner has the same running gear as before.

2008 Mercury Mariner2008 Mercury Mariner-2Introduction
Something of an anomaly in the marketplace, the compact but upscale Mercury Mariner SUV gets a not-so extreme makeover for 2008. The Mariner debuted three years ago as a more luxurious version of Ford's Escape. And like its relative, the Mariner's "top-half" revamping for this year means new sheet metal and a revised interior but no significant revisions to the chassis or running gear.

The changes in the looks department include a bolder grille, taller beltline and higher hood, all of which give this junior sport-ute a more aggressive curbside presence. Inside, the changes are more functional, including such touches as a multifunction display at the top center of the dash and cool blue instrument lighting. To promote a quieter cabin, the new Mariner features an acoustic laminate within the windshield, a redesigned roof panel and thicker carpeting.

Unfortunately, these changes might not be enough to keep the 2008 Mercury Mariner competitive in the small-SUV class. In past years, we praised the Mariner for its relatively roomy (for four) cabin, sporty driving dynamics and peppy performance, but new and more modern competitors now surpass it in many areas.

A more serious disappointment concerns the Mariner's braking. For some reason, all 2008 Mariners except the V6 AWD version have reverted to rear drum brakes (they formerly had discs all around) and braking performance suffers. In our testing of a similar Escape with rear drums, the best stop from 60 mph took 154 feet — about 25 feet longer than average.

Powertrains and Performance
All versions of the Mercury Mariner can be had with either front- or all-wheel drive. A 2.3-liter inline-4 rated for 153 hp and 152 pound-feet of torque powers the base Mariner. The base V6 and Premier models come with a 3.0-liter V6 good for 200 hp and 193 lb-ft of torque. Both engines come with a four-speed automatic transmission. Properly equipped, the V6 Mariner can tow up to 3,500 pounds.

© Source: edmunds

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