Last week, the world lost a true treasure. Yes, Golden Girl Rue McClanahan died and Magrath and I are still in mourning for our beloved Blanche. But in other mortality news, Mercury was finally put out of its misery and for that, we were significantly less broken up.
After perusing countless old Mercury photos and watching quite a few 70s-era commercials on YouTube while cringing most of the time, we got to thinking about the slew of recently deceased car brands. We've already forgotten about Saturn (What are you talking about? That planet is awesome! -Magrath) and Hummer is best left unmentioned, Mercury and Pontiac are the two brands with the most history and therefore mixed emotions.
But which deserved its demise more? Which was more guilty of automotive crimes against humanity? I, James Riswick, shall be prosecuting Pontiac, while Vice Admiral of Vehicle Testing Mike Magrath shall bring the case against Mercury.
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Categories: Face-Off, Mercury, Pontiac
Mercury has been put out of our collective misery. All those surprised by this development, please raise your hand.
That's what I thought. And while I'm not thrilled with yet another historic automotive nameplate being retired, the death of Mercury doesn't bother me nearly as much as the death of Pontiac, or even Hummer. Say what you will about Hummer, but at least that brand offered a unique product, not of just a re-grilled Chevy or GMC. And Pontiac certainly had more potential as a differentiated brand within GM than Buick (but the Chinese don't revere Pontiac, so off it goes).
But while Mercury's death seems long overdue, me thinks there are a few other brands out there living on borrowed time. Let's look at what exactly killed Mercury to get a sense of how and why brands die.
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Categories: Domestic Manufacturers Problems/Challenges, Karl on Cars, Mercury
Three years ago Ford set a new standard for in-car connectivity when it unveiled Sync here at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Co-developed with Microsoft, Sync has since proven successful on several levels. Not only does it make it easier and safer to use MP3 players and phones in the car thanks to accurate voice activation, but it's software-based architecture can be easily upgraded to expand capabilities and keep it up-to-date as new portable devices come on the market.
Ford has continued to add new -- and free -- features to Sync since its launch, including 911 Assist, Vehicle Health Reports, Traffic Directions and Information services. And in the weeks leading up to CES 2010, Ford debuted a flurry of new Sync features: smartphone apps, in-car Wi-Fi and iTunes Tagging for HD Radio. But three years is an eon in the fast-paced world of consumer electronics -- there were no iPhones or apps then, for example -- and at least one other automaker (Kia) is set to launch its own Sync-like UVO system with help from Microsoft.
Ahead of its unveiling to the public tomorrow, Edmunds.com got to preview the next stage in Ford's efforts to offer the most innovative, affordable and easy-to-use in-cabin technology in the auto industry. Called MyFord Touch, it's a new approach to how drivers and passengers interact with their vehicles.
Because it also includes the latest generation of Sync, it provides more ways to integrate portable electronics into a car and a ton of new features. Best of all, most of the services are free. Check out our take after the jump, including an exclusive hands-on video.
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Categories: Auto Shows, Car Audio and Technology, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury
I already reported that Toyota sales are down so far this year, something the automaker rarely has to report. But the bigger news, reported by Automotive News, may be that Toyota's sales have been on a sales slide for four straight months. That's the first time in 13 years that Toyota's sales have slid for four consecutive months. Ouch. And is it the big trucks/SUVs that are pulling down Toyota's sales? Nope. Those vehicles are off 5.3 percent, but Toyota's cars are off 5.9 percent. Double ouch!
Don't write them off just yet. Remember, most of the industry is down this year, and in terms of market share Toyota is still on the rise. They are at 16 percent so far in 2008, versus 15.6 percent for the same period last year.
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Categories: Lincoln, Mercury, Toyota
"Why doesn't Ford bring back the Zephyr?"
I can't believe anyone ever actually said this, but lo and behold that paragon of 1970s Mercury style and performance did return in 2006 -- as a Lincoln. Actually, the Zephyr was originally a 1930s-era Lincoln before it was a '70s Mercury, but how many people know (or care) about that? Should Ford have revived this nameplate? I guess its staying power (Lincoln changed that model's name to MKZ after one year) is answer enough.
I was recently thinking about dead nameplates that should not come back after someone brought up Edsel in conversation. I'm assuming Ford will never revive that nameplate, and I don't expect to see the words "Aztek," "Chevette" or "Volare" on a future model, either. But then again, who would have predicted the rise of "Aspen" from the automotive underworld. Which brings up today's burning question:
What dead vehicle nameplates do you most fear the return of? In my opinion there are two reasons for a nameplate to never come back: (A) it's associated with a horrendous vehicle (Aztek) or (B) it was a horrendous name itself, regardless of the vehicle it was affixed to (Probe).
Here are my Top 5:
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Categories: Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Toyota
According to Automotive News, Ford's future product is going global, while the Mercury division may be going...away? The industry publication shows a slow (probably too slow, IMHO) product ramp-up over the next three years for Ford and Lincoln, while Mercury simply seems to be slowing to a stop. The core strategy to Mr. Mulally's plan involves cutting costs by sharing platforms and parts on a global scale. Don't forget that while Ford continues to struggle in the U.S. market the Blue Oval is doing rather well in other parts of the globe (including Russia). Here's the three-year plan by division...sorry there isn't more to report...
Ford: The most exciting thing in Ford's future is the launch of Flex
(pictured above) in 2009. If you're looking for more than a "refresh" or "reskin" or "re-engineer" in the coming years you'll have to wait for a possible Focus redesign in 2012 (only about seven years late) and an Expedition redesign in 2011. The all-new, global products won't start showing up until after 2012. Mustang gets a reskin in 2010 (I hear it may look something like that Giugiaro thing
from last year's L.A. Auto Show -- please say it ain't so), and the F-150 gets a re-engineer in 2009 that should keep it competitive. Otherwise it looks to be a long half-decade.
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Categories: Ford, Future Vehicles, Lincoln, Mercury, Talk Back Tuesday
I'd hate to simply link to my last Ford Fusion post and call it day, but like most Mercury vehicles these days that's the most efficient manner of reporting on a winged-foot product. Let's see -- solid driving dynamics with steering feel approaching Honda's Accord; unique styling that trumps the Accord and Camry while giving the Altima and 6 some solid competition; a 3.0-liter V6 with 221 horsepower that is barely adequate in this segment and a bit raspy at high RPM; an interior that is quiet and attractive. I like the availability of AWD, but where's my stability control? It's going to be required technology on everything pretty soon, Mercury, so you better get on it...
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Categories: Ford, Mercury
Ah, the Mercury Montego. At some point in the brand's history this nameplate had a bit of muscular/performance flair, but like too many Mercury nameplates it ultimately became an oversized, underwhelming shadow of a Ford product. To me the Montego nameplate will always represent the blue car that was really a red car (that was really a gray car?) in the movie Used Cars. And to save the dealership from evil "Roy L. Fuchs" a superstitous car salesman had to jump a 1974 (or so) Montego sedan over a moving train. If you claim to be a car nut, or just enjoy the subject of buying and selling cars, you must see this movie.
The new Montego lives up to the nameplate's history, as it's basically a warmed over Ford Five-Hundred. And like the 1970s Montego, this version is being retired in favor of a more recognizable (and, Ford hopes, appealing) nameplate. The 1970s Montego was replaced by the "upsized" Mercury Cougar of 1977 (ugh, let's not go there...), and the current Montego will become the Sable for 2008.
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Categories: Cars in Entertainment, Mercury
What was the last Mercury model to represent more than a weak Ford rebadge? Was it the 1999-2002 Cougar? And before that the Capri? Before that... And no, the Villager and Tracer don't count (those were just rebadged Nissans and Mazdas).
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Categories: Fuel Efficiency, Hybrid Vehicles, Mercury
I just got a news release from Ford saying that April should be the company's best-ever for hybrid sales. The release notes the use of 0% financing -- nationwide -- for Escape/Mariner hybrids (in March they offered it only in California and Washington D.C.). It also mentions the Kermit ads and Ford Escape Hybrid appearances in Extreme Makeover: Home Edition as possible reasons for the sales bump. For those interested, we're talking around 200 Mariner Hybrid sales and 1,800 Escape Hybrid sales (for reference purposes, Ford sold approxmiately 200,000 F-Series in the month of March).
I seriously think we could see $4-a-gallon gas this summer, which is still:
A...
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Categories: Ford, Hybrid Vehicles, Mercury
I just drove the new Mercury Mariner Hybrid and -- suprise-surprise -- it seemed a lot like our long-term Escape Hybrid
. That means adequate power, plenty of storage space, pleasant (dare I say confident) handling and, yes, good fuel mileage. I was driving with my normal verve (read: not efficiently) up PCH and still scored over 26 mpg. On the complaint side, I'm not thrilled with the LCD display...
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Categories: Mercury
