Spy Shots: Mercury Montego refresh
Much has been said about how "nice" the Ford Five-Hundred and Mercury Montego are. They're good cars, people say, once you get to know them. Well, cars are largely sold on first impressions, and the 500 and Montego are both getting a second chance to make a good first impression with buyers. We saw the updated 2008 Ford Five-Hundred at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this month, and here's our first look at the updated Mercury Montego that will likely be debuted at the Chicago Auto Show in early February. The front end is clearly inspired by the more fashionable Milan with headlights that sweep back up into the hood. The new grille is placed within a recessed part of the front end that dips down into the bumper and gives the Montego's face a lot more character. Out back are new white taillights and a new rear bumper that now houses the Montego's license plate. It's certainly not a full redesign, but we'd call it a sorely needed refreshening that ensures you won't lose your Montego in a crowded parking lot anymore.
[Source: World Car Fans]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MikeW 3:03PM (1/26/2007)
2.77 axle ratio = SLOW
3.16 for front drive, 3.39 for the near Haldex.
Just think, Ford fusion, Mazda6, Mercury Milan, Lincoln MKZ. all will get the 3.5V6
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Gunter Berthold 6:19AM (1/30/2007)
Say HI to the old Opel Vectra face. Did the designer switch to Ford?
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Lee 1:33PM (1/26/2007)
Looks great from what i can see looks like a bigger Milan which looks awsome ......
Good Luck MERCURY !!!!!!!
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Italo 1:42PM (1/26/2007)
I agree with you Lee -- good luck to Mercury.
IMHO, this was overdue. I think the look is okay from what we can see here --- but I'll reserve final judgement for when we see it in person.
Additionally, notice how FoMoCo moved the license plate to the lower bumper from the trunk? It makes me wonder if the rear lights will be changed more from what we see -- maybe the light cluster will extend into the trunk like the way it is on the Milan?
Much better look so far --- and much much much nicer looking overall than the Five Hundred at first blush IMHO.
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Chad 1:46PM (1/26/2007)
I think its looks great a much inmprovement over the 05-07 design plus its now got the 265HP 3.5L V6.
But in my opinion what it really needs is a 350HP 5.7L V8 to reallt compete against the 300C but other than that its a great looking car.
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Thomas 1:52PM (1/26/2007)
From what i can see it looks better than the current design and it looks better than the
2008 Ford Five Hundred...
Also i hope they reworked the interior to be nicer than the current design and i hope they did away with that cheap grey colored wood trim and brought out some real wood trim or just have the satin trim .
But its a big improvement of the current model doest look plain in the front .
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tbyron 2:15PM (1/26/2007)
It does look better than before, and better than the Five Hundred. But, this sort of monkeying around with the front & rear styling had better be a transitional move towards real differentiation between the other Ford brands.
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Steve0 2:21PM (1/26/2007)
Ok, this is an improvement. But I was hoping for a little more in the way of a revised greenhouse/window area, and more differentiation from the Five Hundred. Then again, the new 265HP V6 is the MOST important update.
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carlos 2:22PM (1/26/2007)
Its too little too late.
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Wookie 2:58PM (1/26/2007)
This car's front/rear facias should have been on the first Montego.
The designers successfully pulled together all the strong design elements of existing Mercury line up into one coehesive package.
Now, if only they could have done something about that dome of a roofline...
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Jake 4:54PM (1/26/2007)
Everyone complains about the roofline but no one has a problem with the Azera's roofline, which is very similar, not to mention the Audi A6.
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Matt M 6:01PM (1/26/2007)
This is like putting perfume on a pig. Just sell the damn Mondeo stateside as a Mercury. Ford is f**king stupid. I'd be much more inclined to check out a Merc dealer if they sold the Aussie BF Falcons out of them as well. All these great Euro and Aussie products Ford has in its bag of tricks and yet we in America are saddled with ho hum and half assed crap.
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