UPDATE: Mercury Meta One not happening
We've been wrapped up in our own opinions about Mercury too much around here. So much so, that when we saw shots of Mercury's Meta One mules running around Detroit again, we instantly assumed the project was back on the front burner. Apparently that's not the case. A few of our sources have informed us that the mules running around Detroit right now are the same ones we saw at the beginning of the year before the car was cancelled. Since the Freestyle will be getting the company's new 3.5-liter V6 powerplant, Ford decided to put the Mercury mules back in service jut to test the engines on the Freestyle platform, and apparently mess with our heads. Mission accomplished. Sorry Mercury, no seven-passenger CUV love for you.
[Source: a little birdy]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sam 2:30PM (10/20/2006)
too bad...mercury could have used this to help differentiate themselves from ford (if ford cancelled the freestyle. which they should). If ford were to remove the freestyle it would also remove the product overlap that ford's line up has now with the freestyle, freestar, exploerer, and edge...
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Hamud 2:41PM (10/20/2006)
Ahhhhh Ford, you have the goods, make it happen, help yourself...
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cl2 2:53PM (10/20/2006)
Too bad. This one looks much better than the Freestyle. Definitely a mistake not to make it.
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Jason 2:55PM (10/20/2006)
I have some pictures of the brand new 2007 Hyundai Elantra if you guys want them let me know.
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Partner 3:04PM (10/20/2006)
"Mercury's Meta One mules running"
You mean miles?
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Scott 3:16PM (10/20/2006)
No, mules as in "test mules" to test the engine/drivetrain components but without using the obvious redesigned Freestyle.
My question is this - if Ford is getting the Edge with no Mercury variant, already has the Freestyle with no Mercury variant, and will be getting the Fairlane with no Mercury variant, why is Ford leaving Mercury without more car-based utilities/people movers? Mercury is admittedly aiming at the female demographic, perfect for car-based SUV's, yet Ford is leaving them with just the car-based Mariner and truck-based Mountaineer? Doesn't make any sense. I can see giving Lincoln versions, but Mercury needs SOMETHING.
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Drewboy 3:39PM (10/20/2006)
You know... The photo above looks a lot better than the Ford Freestyle. I think I've only seen two of those around in the last 6 months. I'm not sure that this engine upgrade can save the Freestyle from being ignored, particularly now that the much more attractive Edge is coming out. They should drop the Freestyle and give Mercury the sharp looking Meta. Bad moves.
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adriant 3:41PM (10/20/2006)
Is this Ford killing the Mecury brand?
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Dun dada 4:08PM (10/20/2006)
uh....no Scott,
We do not need more rebadging from Ford to Mercury. Stop encouraging idiots who don't have enough sense to stop. Who cares if they are marketing to baboons WE DON'T NEED MERCURY!
Also if Ford "had the goods" it would be on the plate. Obviously, they don't. Only thing their able to do is offer one new engine, a cross over of the Mazda CX-7 and new formerly version of the Mustang each year until 2009. Whoopee-doo!!! I can go take a shit now.
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Dun dada 4:09PM (10/20/2006)
uh....no Scott,
We do not need more rebadging from Ford to Mercury. Stop encouraging idiots who don't have enough sense to stop. Who cares if they are marketing to baboons WE DON'T NEED MERCURY!
Also if Ford "had the goods" it would be on the plate. Obviously, they don't. Only thing their able to do is offer one new engine, a cross over of the Mazda CX-7 and a new former version of the Mustang each year until 2009. Whoopee-doo!!! I can go take a shit now.
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Reilly Brennan 4:23PM (10/20/2006)
If they're testing powertrains, why not test them with the Freestyle bodywork, which would provide the best measurements and data? Also, a Freestyle prototype is much less suspect for this purpose than a Mercury body that apparently "doesn't exist."
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Dan 5:18PM (10/20/2006)
With a Bio-Diesel, Full plug-in Hybrid, getting about 60 MPG the Mercury Meta One would have been a big hit!
Ford just can't get out of their own way.
Maybe they will bring back the Pinto?
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dakota 8:29PM (10/20/2006)
"If they're testing powertrains, why not test them with the Freestyle bodywork, which would provide the best measurements and data? Also, a Freestyle prototype is much less suspect for this purpose than a Mercury body that apparently "doesn't exist."
"
How much different would it really be? A fascia, headlights, and different hatch. Powertrain testing does a number of things, I doubt they'll be doing 0-60 sprints in this, and even so the difference between the two would be ever so marginal. Hell for all anyone could know they could be running around right now with the 3.5 stuffed in a normal looking freestyle without anyone even noticing.
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tony 10:26PM (10/20/2006)
simply put guys FORD doesnt know what it is doing right now.. they are totally lost .. the meta one concept definitely looks alot better than the Freestyle .. its stupid for FORD to keep Freestyle and have EDGE with Fairlane coming soon .. have they heard of cannibalism? at least if Meta One is at Mercury it would make sense .. oh wait maybe they are slowly trying to kill off MERCURY brand .. i do believe they can make MERCURY a real good brand . how u might ask? well they keep on saying that EURO cars imported here or made here would be too expensive for FORD .. but hey isnt it MERCURY supposed to be a more upscale version of FORD? then why dont they just use MERCURY to bring here the Euro FOCUS, n MONDEO? i like FORD but lately i have to say they are really lost .. and i predict if they dont wake up by 2010 FORD will no longer exist
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Jason 10:40PM (10/20/2006)
The Freestyle is a huge failure. Why would the Mercury not be one too? Even if it's a little more styled, the overall shape doesn't cut it. All the proof one needs is seen in Freestyle sales. Case closed.
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noub 4:53AM (10/21/2006)
Is this mercury Meta One hide in fact the real relooking of the freestyle coming next year.
It's seems that the front has received the treatment "a la fusion"
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ramsport47 10:13AM (10/21/2006)
OR...they could bring back MERCUR LMFAO
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Dicko 4:27AM (10/22/2006)
This mercury has a very similar resemblance to the ford territory SUV avaialble in oz......
http://www.ford.com.au/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1137384156210&pagename=FOA%2FDFYPage%2FDefault1024&c=DFYPage
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