Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: Mercury Sable reaching the end of the line Thursday]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/18/mercury-sable-reaches-the-end-of-the-line-thursday/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/18/mercury-sable-reaches-the-end-of-the-line-thursday/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/18/mercury-sable-reaches-the-end-of-the-line-thursday/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


2008 Mercury Sable - Click above for high-res image gallery

Mercury's born-again Sable sedan is dead again - or, more accurately, it will be come so on Thursday. According to The Detroit News, Ford's gussied-up Taurus (itself a gussied-up Five Hundred) will expire later this week, leaving Mercury with just four models: the Milan, Mariner, Mountaineer, and Grand Marquis.

And while the Taurus is getting a brand-spanking new replacement model for 2010, a Sable stablemate is apparently not in the cards, in large measure because Ford reportedly chose to spend more money on developing and marketing its Taurus replacement.

Ford's middle-tier brand is expected to lose both the Mountaineer and Grand Marquis within the next couple of model years, and the only new product mooted for the waterfall-grille brand is a new small car that has yet-to-be confirmed.

Eerily, the Blue Oval recently tested the small car waters for its Lincoln luxury brand with its Concept C showcar that debuted at the Detroit Auto Show in January. The presence of the tidy Euro-look hatchback once again set tongues wagging that Ford may be pondering whether or not to axe the Mercury marque altogether. For its part, Blue Oval officials dismiss such plans, but there is no denying that Mercury's stable is getting smaller, and at the moment, little product appears to be in the replacement pipeline.

According to the DetNews, Ford sold just 1,158 Sables in April, a drop of nearly 40% year-over-year versus 2008.


Gallery: 2008 Mercury Sable


[Source: The Detroit News]

REPORT: Mercury Sable reaching the end of the line Thursday originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 May 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blue OvalBlueOvalDetroit NewsDetroitNewsFordFord TaurusFordTaurusLincolnLincoln MercuryLincoln-MercuryLincolnMercuryMercury sableMercurySableNAIASTaurusMon, 18 May 2009 10:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Picture of the Day: Home of the Taurus finally torn down]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/11/picture-of-the-day-home-of-the-taurus-finally-torn-down/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/11/picture-of-the-day-home-of-the-taurus-finally-torn-down/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/11/picture-of-the-day-home-of-the-taurus-finally-torn-down/#commentsFiled under: , ,


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]]>atlanta assemblyAtlantaAssemblyfordford taurusFordTaurusgeorgiahapevillemercurymercury sableMercurySablepicture of the dayPictureOfTheDayWed, 11 Mar 2009 15:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Mercury Sable and Taurus X dead next year?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/11/mercury-sable-and-taurus-x-dead-next-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/11/mercury-sable-and-taurus-x-dead-next-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/11/mercury-sable-and-taurus-x-dead-next-year/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



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]]>fordford taurusford taurus xFordTaurusFordTaurusXmercurymercury sableMercurySablesabletaurus xTaurusXMon, 11 Aug 2008 09:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Chicago Auto Show: We do Chi-Town right]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/07/chicago-auto-show-we-do-chi-town-right/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/07/chicago-auto-show-we-do-chi-town-right/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/07/chicago-auto-show-we-do-chi-town-right/#commentsFiled under:



Our men on the ground have left the building, weary from a long day of press conferences, bad coffee and pointy-elbowed photographers. Wednesday has turned out to be a resounding success, with the introductions of the Pontiac G8, Volkswagen R32, Alpina B7, the Ford Five-Hundred Taurus (plus it's X counterpart) and the Mercury Montego Sable. If you haven't had the chance yet, be sure to check out the galleries and, if you're into watching the sausage made, you can view the press conferences that we were able to record via this new fangled gadget called a video camera. Amazing stuff, really.

We'll be back tomorrow to cover the official debuts of the new Scions, the Rondo concept and a few other surprise unveilings. In the meantime, click on through for anything and everything from Chicago. We're gonna get some rest.

Continue reading Chicago Auto Show: We do Chi-Town right

Chicago Auto Show: We do Chi-Town right originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Feb 2007 20:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chicago auto showChicagoAutoShowford taurusFordTaurusgtimercury sableMercurySablevolkswagen r32VolkswagenR32vwWed, 07 Feb 2007 20:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Chicago Auto Show: Mercury revives the Sable for 2008]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/07/chicago-auto-show-mercury-revives-the-sable-for-2008/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/07/chicago-auto-show-mercury-revives-the-sable-for-2008/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/07/chicago-auto-show-mercury-revives-the-sable-for-2008/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click image for full high-res gallery of live and media pics

Shocking absolutely nobody, Ford's Cisco Codina revealed Mercury's newest model in Chicago today, the 2008 Sable, and we've got live shots and additional official images for you. We've already talked about what a great decision this was, and even given you the details about this "new" model, but we'll sum it up so you don't have to use our search feature, as nifty as the new search might be.

By resurrecting the Sable (and Taurus) nameplates, Ford will save millions of dollars trying to imprint the 500 and Montego brands on customers' minds. Sable alone has a 60% customer awareness level. Dealers in particular were cited as a strong voice in bringing back the name for Mercury. The car itself is pretty handsome wearing its new face. Strongly resembling the outgoing Montego with a Milan schnoz, the new Sable should offend nobody, and possibly boost dealer traffic. Perhaps in an attempt to explain why the Mercury division won't likely get a tall-wagon version like Ford's Taurus X, Codina pointed out that Mercury's Mariner cute ute is generating more conquest sales from other brands outside the Blue Oval than any other vehicle besides the Mustang.

You can check out the full press release again after the jump, or browse the gallery that includes never-before-seen shots from the manufacturer and images from the show floor.

Gallery: 2008 Mercury Sable

Continue reading Chicago Auto Show: Mercury revives the Sable for 2008

Chicago Auto Show: Mercury revives the Sable for 2008 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Feb 2007 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Cisco CodinaCiscoCodinaMercury MontegoMercury SableMercuryMontegoMercurySableWed, 07 Feb 2007 13:55:00 EST