Autoblog

Jaguar, Mercury tops in J.D. Power 2009 Sales Satisfaction study

Chris Shunk — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:40:00 EST

Filed under: Audi, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Lexus, Toyota

J.D. Power has released its 2009 Sales Satisfaction Index, and 29 of 38 brands improved their standing versus last year's numbers. The industry watchdogs at Power say that sales people improved the most over 2008, which isn't surprising given the fact that fewer vehicles are flying off dealer lots and every customer is a precious commodity. Even with the improved standing versus 2008, J.D. Power says that brands still lost 12% of sales on average due to poor service at the dealer level, a statistic that could have automakers cringing.

Jaguar took top luxury honors for the second straight year with an 898 index score, beating second place Cadillac by a scant five points. J.D. Power says Jaguar excels in both salesperson interactions and the handling of the dreaded financing/paperwork. The top five rounds out with Lexus, Mercedes Benz and Land Rover. Audi performed most poorly of any brand studied, while Infiniti and Volvo also fared poorly.

Mercury was the top non-luxury make with a score of 867, followed by Smart, Buick, Pontiac and Chevrolet. Mercury reportedly scored well on all five categories tested, though we're a bit puzzled how Mercury could beat Lincoln by four points in spite of the fact that the two makes usually share a common dealership. Japanese and Korean brand-dealers scored poorly in the survey as Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Kia and Mazda all scored below the industry average of 832.

General Motors and Ford dealers fared very well in the survey, with all of their brands except Lincoln coming in over the industry average. Chrysler brands, however, did not do as well, with all three makes falling under the industry Mendoza line. Mitsubishi was by far the worst dealership to deal with, with an industry-low 778 index score. Hit the jump to read over the J.D. Power press release and click on the gallery below to view the survey scores for both luxury and mass market offerings.

Gallery: JD Power 2009 Sales Satisfaction Study

[Source: J.D. Power]

Continue reading Jaguar, Mercury tops in J.D. Power 2009 Sales Satisfaction study

Jaguar, Mercury tops in J.D. Power 2009 Sales Satisfaction study originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

New features from Ford: Remote start and heated steering wheel

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 08:57:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Technology, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury

Good news, Ford fans: The Blue Oval will be adding remote start and heated steering wheels to its line of cars and trucks. The remote start option will make its first appearance on the 2011 F-Series Super Duty pickup truck while the heated tiller will initially be fitted to the 2011 Lincoln MKX.

Following those two launches, the automaker promises that both items will infiltrate the rest of its Ford, Lincoln and Mercury lineups in a jiffy. While it's been possible to have an aftermarket remote start system installed on any new car or truck for quite some time (including a dealer-installed option from Ford), JD Power reports that 90 percent of all purchasers would prefer a factory option, which makes perfect sense to us, particularly since Ford's system will be integrated with the heating and cooling systems to bring the cabin to a comfortable temperature regardless of the weather outside.

Ford predicts that the remote start system will help the vehicle's exhaust catalyst heat up more quickly, thereby reducing hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 75 percent. Further, the automaker suggests that a heated steering wheel will increase dexterity in the fingers and hands and reduce the need to wear gloves while driving in the winter. Want to know more? Use those nice and toasty digits to hit the jump for the press release.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading New features from Ford: Remote start and heated steering wheel

New features from Ford: Remote start and heated steering wheel originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

REPORT: Stand-alone Lincoln-Mercury dealers being scaled out of existence

Michael Harley — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:59:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury

In 2006, Ford began to shrink its dealership network in order to more efficiently align its distribution network. Three years later, it appears that the hardest hit are the company's stand-alone Lincoln-Mercury dealerships. While there were 619 Lincoln-Mercury dealerships nationwide just a few years ago, the number had dwindled down to just 357 at the beginning of 2009.

Automotive News recently spoke with Ford CEO Alan Mulally about the future of the Lincoln brand and its stand-alone Lincoln-Mercury stores. While Ford's current strategy is pushing combo Ford-Lincoln-Mercury retailers, Mulally would not confirm that eliminating the stand-alone Lincoln-Mercury dealerships was the desired end result. When pushed on the question, Mulally reiterated that Ford was focusing on building a distribution network which allowed sales volume, product breadth, and profitability... qualities that are apparently better served by the Ford-Lincoln-Mercury store.

Mulally added that although these combo dealerships will be selling the Lincoln MKS on the same lot as the Ford Taurus (both vehicles share platforms and mechanicals), retailers will learn how to deliver the sales experience that fits the vehicle and differentiates the brand. Whether this concept works or whether car salesmen simply take the easy route and sell the less expensive Ford remains to be seen.

Either way, it has to be asked - is peeling away at the automaker's stand-alone LM dealers part of a larger plan to do away with Mercury altogether? Inquiring minds want to know...

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req. | Image: Stephen Brashear/Getty]

REPORT: Stand-alone Lincoln-Mercury dealers being scaled out of existence originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

REPORT: Ford Kuga could come in Lincoln, Mercury flavors, replace Escape, be built in USA

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Ford

Ford Kuga - Click above for high-res image gallery

How's this for an odd twist - Ford essentially kicked off the SUV craze with its Explorer, an embiggened four-door Ranger. And man, did we go crazy. Before the cheap-gas bubble burst, slightly more than half of all passenger vehicles sold here in America were SUVs. Just below the Explorer was and is Ford's little truck (which is no longer little) the Escape. And almost ten years later, the Escape pretty much looks like a body-on-frame SUV, even though people stopped associating SUVs with mud during George W Bush's first term.

So what if the next Escape looked more like the CUV that it actually is, and less like the SUV it isn't? And what if Lincoln got a version? Mercury too, though they already have the Mariner, a rebadged Escape. Also, what if the next escape was built here, but then badged as a Kuga and sold in Europe? According to CEO Alan Mulally and some other, more chatty Ford folks, it's all more than possible.

The latter is really interesting, and shows you just how far the dollar has fallen against the Euro. And it also shows you Ford's One Ford strategy at work - wherein starting very soon, most Ford cars are going to be global in nature. Aside from essential legal parts (like standard stability control in U.S. vehicles) the cars can be sold wherever. Built wherever, too. For instance, the Ford Fiesta, which will be coming to our shores next year, is Ford's best selling car in Europe and will soon be built only in Mexico and shipped both across the border and across the Atlantic.

Back to the Kuga, the plan is to begin building the Kuga in Louisville, Kentucky in late 2011 for export to Europe. Sometime after that, the Kuga will replace the Escape and the Lincoln/Mercury editions. Moreover, this could be the start of a trend - Fords being built in the U.S. for export across the pond.

Gallery: First Drive: 2008 Ford Kuga

[Source: Automotive News sub-req]

REPORT: Ford Kuga could come in Lincoln, Mercury flavors, replace Escape, be built in USA originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Top Ten "green" cars that met their fate during Cash for Clunkers

Sebastian Blanco — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:22:00 EST

One rule that all clunked cars needed to adhere to was a maximum rating of 18 MPG from the federal government, right? What wasn't required was that the clunked car be considered dirty. After all, it's pretty clear that CNG vehicles burn clean, but that didn't stop 232 of them from meeting their sodium silicate solution-induced death.

We looked through the official, but as of yet unverified, list (PDF) of trade-in cars that were clunked using the Car Allowance Rebate System (Cash for Clunkers) and found that the aforementioned CNG vehicles, 1,779 flex-fuel vehicles and 24 LPG vehicles found their way to the recycler thanks to CARS. Which alternative-fuel models were most dumped? Which single hybrid took a dive? Click above for our top ten and check out the full list after the jump.

Photo by dno1967. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

Continue reading Top Ten "green" cars that met their fate during Cash for Clunkers

Top Ten "green" cars that met their fate during Cash for Clunkers originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Autoblog Interview: 15 minutes with Mercury spokesmodel Jill Wagner

Chris Paukert — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Celebrities

Mercury spokesmodel Jill Wagner - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's fair to say that since April of 2005, we've all paid a bit more attention to Mercury. While the marque's products have steadily improved along with those of parent company Ford, it's been the brand's spokesmodel that has made us sit up and take notice. Quite simply, we have put Mercury 'on our list' because the Blue Oval has put actress Jill Wagner out in front of its wares.

A Winston-Salem, North Carolina southern belle at heart, we had heard through the grapevine that Mercury's stunning spokesmodel was also something of a down-to-earth car gal. We wanted to find out for ourselves, so Jill was kind enough to make some time to speak with us as she geared up to start filming another round of ABC's Wipeout, where she is in her third season as co-host of the obstacle course reality tv series.

AB: We wanted to ask you some questions that are perhaps a bit different than your usual Hollywood entertainment publication interviews since we're more car-related. We understand you've got some auto history in addition to your Mercury campaign?

JW: Right - my father has a tire shop in North Carolina - he was always kind of a wheeler and a dealer. I'd come home and he'd have old Cadillacs that he'd bought - cars that he'd fix up and sell. He'd always have a new car every week that he was trying to sell. I was always at the tire shop answering phones and stuff, messing around with the cars, so yeah, I have a love for cars.

AB: So the Mercury campaign was a natural fit for you then?

JW: It was funny, because in the audition, they have this chair, and they sat it in the middle of the room, and they were like, 'Okay, that's your car - walk around and talk about it.' And I think by the end of the audition, the woman was like, "Okay, I have no idea what a carburetor is, I don't have any idea what you're talking about, but it sounds good." It was meant to be.

To continue reading our interview with Jill Wagner, click on the jump, and be sure to check out our high-res gallery of Jill below (as if we had to tell you that!).

Gallery: Mercury Spokesmodel Jill Wagner

[Source: Jill Wagner Official; Image: Stephen Shugerman/Getty]

Continue reading Autoblog Interview: 15 minutes with Mercury spokesmodel Jill Wagner

Autoblog Interview: 15 minutes with Mercury spokesmodel Jill Wagner originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Bad Brakes: Rust triumphs over Mercury Gran Marquis

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Humor

Talk About Bad Brakes - click above image for high-res gallery

There's surprisingly little to say here. "D'oh!" comes to mind, as does "Epic Fail." A picture of a spazzed out cat captioned with, "I can haz brakes?" would also work. As would a photo of Jill Wagner getting a tetanus shot. Other than that, um, you would think someone would have noticed something before it got this bad, right?

We've heard about wearing 'em down to the rotors, but this is just silly. And for all you heroic defenders of the mighty Panther platform about to come out of the woodwork, we agree - it's probably an aberration. But still... yeesh. Thanks to VW Vortex forum member barry2952 and the Gluckster for the tip!

Gallery: Bad Brakes

[Source: VWVortex.com]

Bad Brakes: Rust triumphs over Mercury Gran Marquis originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Customer satisfaction study puts Big 3 in top five, Cadillac tied for No. 1 with Lexus

Chris Tutor — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Buick, Cadillac, Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Lexus, Toyota, Volkswagen

2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon - Click above for high-res image gallery

The American Customer Satisfaction Index for automakers from the University of Michigan is being released today, and sitting at the very top are Cadillac and Lexus in a two-way tie for first place. The study continues its Detroit lovefest by giving the third spot to a tie-up of Lincoln-Mercury, Buick and Honda. And that moves us into spot No. 7, where Toyota shows up in a tie with Volkswagen.

Great news for American automakers? Great fodder for the marketing departments at least. Automotive News (sub. req.) quotes Claes Fornell, the director of the MSU's National Quality Research Center as saying the great leap in customer satisfaction is, oddly enough, at least partially due to a huge drop in sales. Fornell says that the few people buying American cars are hardcore American car drivers, and are more likely to respond as satisfied to a survey.

The good news, Fornell says, is that a smaller, more devoted group of buyers is more likely to be repeat buyers. In a New York Times story, Fornell says, "In most cases that's not a good thing, to increase the satisfaction of their customers by losing them. But in Detroit's case, it's probably not that bad. It leaves them with a smaller, more satisfied customer base that they might be able to manage better and build from."

In the study, Volkswagen was the most improved, bettering its placement by 6.2% from last year, and Ford jumped 5%.

A table of scores since 1996 is available here and should be updated sometime today with 2009 numbers.

Gallery: 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon

[Sources: Automotive News and The New York Times]

Customer satisfaction study puts Big 3 in top five, Cadillac tied for No. 1 with Lexus originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Autoblog Podcast #138

Dan Roth — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts, Hybrid, Etc., GM, Lexus, Mercury, Porsche, Electric, Diesel, Luxury

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Episode #138 of the Autoblog Podcast is here. Chris, Sam, and Dan take the 'cast meta for a moment and discuss the freshly-minted Autoblog 4.0, as well as the arrival of ace scribe Jonny Lieberman to the Autoblog Team. Once we're done navel-gazing, we talk over the Wiedeking departure from Porsche, the new role for Bob Lutz, and what it might mean for General Motors' marketing, the speculation about a Lexus competitor for the A3/1-Series, an excuse for Mercury's continued existance, and the rumors of a Prius Coupe. It wraps up with a question and a comment, and that's it, nice and tidy. Thanks for all the response so far to our survey, and iTunes users can submit reviews of our work at the Autoblog Podcast iTunes page, too. We're always reachable at Podcast at Autoblog Dot Com, too. See you next week!

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #138

Autoblog Podcast #138 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

REPORT: NHTSA investigating if 2002-05 Ford Explorers/Mercury Mountaineers can slip out of park

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Recalls, Safety, Ford, Mercury

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has begun looking at Ford Explorers and Mercury Mountaineers from the 2002-2005 model years. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, out of some 1.4 million SUVs produced, more than 200 complaints have been filed with the government agency regarding transmission issues: 11 owners have said that the vehicle will go from park to reverse on its own, and 61 have said that the gearshift mechanism has failed when trying to get the SUV into or out of park.

NHTSA's action isn't a full-on investigation, and there is no recall - it is a "preliminary evaluation... to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences of the alleged defect and any relationship of the alleged gearshift lever mechanism failures to the alleged vehicle rollaway incidents." For its part, a Ford spokesman has said, "We do not see a safety risk and we will be fully cooperating with the government with the investigation."

[Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution]

REPORT: NHTSA investigating if 2002-05 Ford Explorers/Mercury Mountaineers can slip out of park originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Picture of the Day: Home of the Taurus finally torn down

John Neff — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:32:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Ford

Ford assembly plant in Hapeville, Georgia - Click above to enlarge

Ford's assembly plant in Hapeville, Georgia stopped producing the last generation Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable back in late 2006. At that time, Ford had long since ceased selling the Taurus to the general public, as the last remaining units went directly into fleet service.

Autoblog reader Drachen sent us these images recently of the Hapeville plant that produced the original Taurus, or rather, what's left of it. The site was purchased by Jacoby Development in June 2008 and demolition of its buildings began last August. On February 12 they tore down the final standing structure, which happened to be the main assembly building. Commuters on nearby I-75 had driven past the building countless times and seen the large blue oval and "Atlanta Assembly - World Acclaimed Home of Ford Taurus & Mercury Sable" on its side.

Times have changed. The Taurus name was resurrected a couple of years ago to replace the Five Hundred moniker on Ford's large sedan, which has been significantly redesigned for the 2010 model year. That car, however, will obviously not be built in the 60-year-old plant that proudly pieced together the last model, but rather Ford's Chicago Assembly plant.

Gallery: Demolition of Ford Atlanta Assembly plant

Picture of the Day: Home of the Taurus finally torn down originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Detroit 2009: Little Bigtime - Concept C takes Lincoln in a brand-new direction

Chris Paukert — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:05:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Budget, Green, Technology, Hatchback, Ford, Lincoln

Click above for high-res image gallery of the Lincoln Concept C

Play the word association game with an average American, and when the topic is "Lincoln," you're likely to hear words like "traditional," "big," and "limousine." Terms describing compact hatchbacks like the Concept C shown above simply won't be on the tips of anyone's tongues. So what gives? Has Dearborn finally looped it? Take a closer look, and what at first seems like a designer pet project reveals a good deal more forethought and finesse.

Yes, the Concept C is small. Said to be underpinned by the next-generation Ford Focus platform, this is a C-segment car, much shorter than any current Lincoln, and indeed, much shorter than any Lincoln we can recall. But how about that width? Emphasized by its sizable fenders and the strong shoulder-line in the doors (said to be inspired by the saddle tanks on go karts), the Concept C may be as long as a Focus, but it's roughly as wide as a MKZ sedan. The extra width and the upright greenhouse (there's almost no tumblehome at all) mean that the C can accommodate two rows of three full-sized adults in surprising comfort. The bustle back shape reminds of a number of Gallic automobiles, including the previous Renault Megane, but rather amazingly, the formal roofline, twin wing grilles and full-width rear light bar that are Lincoln hallmarks don't look out of place. Click on the gallery below or follow the jump to read more about the Concept C and check out the official press releases.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Lincoln C Concept Live

Gallery: Lincoln Concept C

Continue reading Detroit 2009: Little Bigtime - Concept C takes Lincoln in a brand-new direction

Detroit 2009: Little Bigtime - Concept C takes Lincoln in a brand-new direction originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Detroit 2009: Lincoln MKT debuts with a big, toothy smile

Chris Paukert — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Crossover, Lincoln

Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2010 Lincoln MKT

Ford has a major-league hit on its hands with the 2009 Flex crossover - with the media. Sadly, despite its varied and considerable charms, sales haven't met the Blue Oval's admittedly lofty expectations. Blame the recession, blame the marketing department, blame the Flex's divisive styling, blame what you will, but Dearborn is plainly going to have to find more volume for its D4 platform. Enter the 2010 Lincoln MKT.

It doesn't take more than a brief glance to realize that Ford's stylists have exacted much more than a quick nip/tuck on the rectilinear Flex en-route to minting this new Lincoln. But beyond the crossover's assertive looks, there is a host of new technology on offer inside and out that should help put the MKT on luxury crossover shopping lists. Follow the jump to learn more about the MKT and read Lincoln's official press release.

Gallery: 2010 Lincoln MKT

Continue reading Detroit 2009: Lincoln MKT debuts with a big, toothy smile

Detroit 2009: Lincoln MKT debuts with a big, toothy smile originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mercury Sable dies along with Taurus X

Chris Shunk — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:02:00 EST

Filed under: Ford, Mercury

Next month Ford is expected to unveil the all new 2010 Ford Taurus at the Detroit Auto Show, but don't expect the large sedan to be accompanied by a new Mercury Sable. Ford spokesman Mark Schirmer told Automotive News that the spacious sedan will take a dirt nap in April, one month after the Taurus X drives off into the sunset. The Sable never did make inroads with customers despite of its unoffensive sheet metal, smooth ride, and spotless safety ratings, and sales are down 20% for the year through November. Schirmer stated that part of the reason for the Sable's departure was that Ford was readying itself for lower industry volume levels, which makes multiple nameplates more difficult to justify. Dealers will need to order their last Sables by March 6th, and production comes to a halt on April 30. In a letter to dealers, Ford stated that it was discontinuing the Sable to "have a laser sharp focus on delivering the products that consumers want the most." Fair enough.

We never quite understood why the Sable performed as poorly as it did. The Sable was no standard bearer, mind you, but even the Grand Marquis regularly kicked the Sable's arse on the sales charts. And it's been around since Jimmy Carter was president.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Mercury Sable dies along with Taurus X originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

LA 2008: 2010 Mercury Milan stays out of the fray

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Ford, Mercury

Click above for high-res image gallery of the Mercury Milan

It's almost hard to believe that a few months ago Mercury was headed for the River Styx. Now it's slated to live, although life is only slowly returning. The Mercury Milan sat up on its plinth at the LA Auto Show today and didn't do much - not even turn - but it didn't look too bad. The revamped model has a new grille, fenders, hood, front and rear fascias, and a cleaner underbody for aerodynamic reasons. Inside gets more leather - embossed skins on the Premier Edition - and backlighting for the gauges.The 3.0L V6 gets an extra 19 hp to touch 240, and you'll get up to 5 mpg more than those other, previous-gen Milan owners. Sorry, no 3.5L V6 for the Milan though, as that larger, more powerful engine is exclusive to the new Fusion Sport. But the Milan has also been filled with more electronic doodads than the CES convention. Check them all out after the jump, and check out the gallery of high-res photos below.

Gallery: LA 2008: 2010 Mercury Milan

Gallery: 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid

Continue reading LA 2008: 2010 Mercury Milan stays out of the fray

LA 2008: 2010 Mercury Milan stays out of the fray originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford of Europe may design next all-new Mercury

Chris Shunk — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:27:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Ford, Mercury

Ford has promised that the Mercury brand will live on in a way that sets the marque apart from it's Blue Oval-badged siblings. Many Autoblog readers have commented that Ford should utilize its European models to meet this end, and all indications are that you were right on. Ford has said that the next all-new Mercury would come in 2010, and Ford of Europe CEO John Fleming told Automotive News that the vehicle will "likely" be designed and engineered in Europe. The reason for Mr. Fleming's confidence comes from the fact that the new vehicle will be based on the Ford Focus platform, and that vehicle architecture will, for the foreseeable future, be developed overseas.

Ford of Europe currently builds the C-Max, the three-, four-, and five-door Focus and the Kuga off the C-platform, meaning any one of those variants could one day wear a Mercury waterfall grille. While it would essentially still be a rebadged Ford, this new Merc will be a slightly reworked version of a vehicle that won't otherwise be sold stateside, so it will be new to us. That sounds a lot better than the Mercurys we have today.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

Ford of Europe may design next all-new Mercury originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

John McElroy — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Ford, Mercury, Autoline on Autoblog

HOW FORD WILL SAVE MERCURY

When Alan Mulally came to the Ford Motor Company two years ago he finally forced the company to face reality. It wasn't going to go anywhere, he told his executive team, unless it put all its resources into resuscitating the Ford brand on a global basis.

So Jaguar and Land Rover were given the heave-ho, and Volvo was put "under review." The decision was made to let Mercury slowly die, and Lincoln's turn-around was put on the back burner until the Ford brand revived.

But as the company formulated its turn-around plan, it slowly dawned on everyone involved that there was a real opportunity to save Mercury. They figured out a way to give the brand a unique line-up of vehicles without breaking the bank. So in April of this year they took their ideas to Mulally, and after extensive studies they got the go-ahead in June to save it.

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers. Follow the jump to continue reading this week's editorial.

Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Sep 2008 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Lincoln mulling compact sedan to slot in below MKZ

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Lincoln

Automotive News sat down with Derrick Kuzak, Lincoln's product development chief, to discuss what lies ahead for Ford's erstwhile luxury marque, and Kuzak was quoted as saying, "We do think that there is room for a smaller car in the Lincoln brand," but he was unable to provide any hard details on what - if anything - is planned.

Lincoln surely has a slot to fill below the MKZ sedan (think 1-series or compact Caddy competitor), but Kuzak said in the past that Mercury will be repositioned to fill the gap between Ford and Lincoln, with a focus on smaller, premium cars. If that plan has any chance of success, Lincoln has no business getting into the compact marketplace. Ford's mid-level luxury brands are in desperate need of definition, but brand overlap seems to be de rigueur for the domestics, and if a compact Lincoln comes to fruition the cannibalization will continue unabated.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Lincoln mulling compact sedan to slot in below MKZ originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Spy Shots: 2010 Mercury Milan is up next

John Neff — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Mercury

Click above for high-res gallery of 2010 Mercury Milan spy shots

It seems like the Mercury Milan's lot in life is to follow the Ford Fusion, go wherever the Fusion goes and do whatever the Fusion does. Thus it's no surprise that when spy photographers happened upon prototypes of the 2010 Ford Fusion out being tested, the 2010 Mercury Milan was not far behind. Comparing the two sets of spy shots, the Milan appears to be making a bigger departure from its previous look than the Fusion. Its grille retains vertical slats, but the grille itself is much wider pushing the new headlights farther out towards the corners. Just like the Fusion, the Milan also gets a new front bumper, but its lower air intake and fog lamps have been incorporated into the same space rather than being separated into three distinct elements. In these spy shots we also get a clearer view of the Milan's new taillights, which, while retaining the same shape as those found on the current model, appear to have new covers with new elements inside. All the new Mercury Milan spy shots can be found in the gallery below, so get to browsing.

Gallery: 2010 Mercury Milan - spy shots

[Source: KGP Photography]

Spy Shots: 2010 Mercury Milan is up next originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mercury Sable and Taurus X dead next year?

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Crossover, Ford, Mercury

Mercury, after nearly being introduced to oblivion, was rescued from the void because Ford needs a brand that could be devoted to small cars. The Ford brand, still fighting off oblivion itself, has recently been devoted to fresh, new designs that provide consumers the flair and features they've been looking for.

Two of the hitches in those plans are the Mercury Sable and the Taurus X. The Sable, sister of the Ford Taurus, has remained so unloved that even Jill Wagner couldn't save it (through no fault of her own). In these days of the Flex, Edge and Escape, the Taurus X is a conveyance from the Myocene era. To paraphrase Sesame Street, two of these things are not like the other... and so they are being killed, according to The Detroit News.

Ford hasn't confirmed the demise of the two cars. However, sales of both are in decline, they fall outside the missions of their respective brands, and Ford is furiously retooling plants and planning new rollouts. In light of all that, the real question might be: why put off until tomorrow...

[Source: The Detroit News]

Mercury Sable and Taurus X dead next year? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Aug 2008 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments