Mission Mercury

[2b2]

...more "expresive" and upscale style...

really believe soo much is in the details & most-every vehicle could be improved with a 'tweak'
(sometimes Drastically!)
might do a thread about Minimal changes I'd love to see
(edit: crossreference ^^ link)

&

Check it out! Mercury ideas from another forum. The renders are very basic, but in a few cases....like the S Max, Falcon, and Mondeo for example....I think this Topnotch does a good of showing just how little needs to be changed aesthetically to turn these cars into proper Mercury models.

belated-TY for liking the Mercatini, JS, & TYVM for the link - tho it seems to have changed/moved to HERE
&
care to invite TopNotch over here for a looksee? (noticed this thread of his too)


&
been taking some time to put together some numbers to try to explain some of my thinking,
(sorry it's still a bit disjointed)
but there IS an idea (or 2) in there trying to come out...

A number of recent thread have made me (more) aware that Mercury MUST get at least a couple new/missing models in the near future.

Following my "Mercura Meriniti Meraudivvagen" mantra, here's the info on the top 3 vehicles the namesakes are selling so far this year & their percentages of total brand sales:

_________________Feb_______________08 ytd___________
Acura sales    13,084              24,252
MDX*            4,545   34.73%      8,527   35.15%
TL              4,127   31.54%      7,373   30.40%
TSX*            2,295   17.54%      4,368   18.01%

Infiniti sales 10,068              18,712
G Sedan         4,085   40.57%      7,455   39.84%
G Coupe*        1,657   16.45%      3,208   17.14%
M               1,581   15.70%      3,004   16.05%

Audi sales      6,152              12,570
A4/etc*         2,775   45.10%      5,689   45.25%
Q7*             1,130   18.36%      2,339   18.60%
A6/etc            847   13.76%      1,830   14.55%

VW sales       16,556              30,967
Jettas*         6,823   41.21%     13,311   42.98%
Passats         3,346   20.21%      5,447   17.58%
Wabbits*        3,129   18.89%      5,781   18.66%

* segments in which Mercury has no entry
. 
. 
. 
(cont)

&

not saying they'd sell this many 
but these subtotals DO influence my recommendations
segments:
sub-Milan      11,893              25,941     (Milanetto)
"wagon"         5,675              10,886     (Milan-CX)
coupe           1,657               3,208     (XR6 or Cougar)

subsub-Milan    3,129               5,781     (no Merc-Wabbit reco ...yet)

...

hope those code-boxes work for everyone

[2b2]

transplanting sumthin more lighthearted:

As I have said before it's certainly a great looking car and I'm sure it'll do Lincoln well.

Now if I may have a Mercury moment, this car would have made for a fantastic new Mercury Sable.

the car & the color are called...

kinda *like* the idea of having MERCURY on the side of all their models
Not saying to get rid of names or anything else,
just that that kind of brand identity **cough**MKalphabetsoup**cough** might be achieveable by Letting people ask
"OH! Nice Mercury! Which one is it?"
&
umm... umm... all I'll say is, "Mercury is used to handmedowns..."

[MERCURYSABLE08]

transplanting sumthin more lighthearted:


the car & the color are called...

kinda *like* the idea of having MERCURY on the side of all their models
Not saying to get rid of names or anything else,
just that that kind of brand identity **cough**MKalphabetsoup**cough** might be achieveable by Letting people ask
"OH! Nice Mercury! Which one is it?"
&
umm... umm... all I'll say is, "Mercury is used to handmedowns..."

Thanks 2b2 I love it. It's amazing how the little changes make such a difference.

I to also like the idea of putting Mercury on the side of all the models.

And you're right Mercury is used to getting handmedowns but I think Mercury does quite well with it gets. But like we've said before we all know that the Taurus is just a Sable with a three bar grille and the same goes for the Fusion, Escape and Mountaineer. LOL

[2b2]

there's a lot of uncertainty about how Mr.M's ONE FORD will play into the brands' futures.
we know global platforms are coming BUT the models based on them will be "fine-tuned" to the local markets
so here's an idea mostly said-before but maybe phrased-oriented differently:

how about for Mercury - they offer a trim-pkg that has the Exact/All-the-features as in the foreign/native-to-them market AND as much as possible use the same trim-level Name as Over There? (in addition to base and Premier)
((Don't expect the pricepoints would work for Ford - unless they want to advertise that they're offering a lower euro-trim.... hmmm ))
edit: UtubeLinks to "It's the Reeaal Thing" & "MERC IS...for the drive of your life" version &! LYRICS!

ex:
- assuming the next Milan&friends shares the Mondeo's platform , let there be a MILAN "TitaniumX" *
- when the GRP gets here, have a MARQUIS-G6E **
- C2 Focus? see I have trouble believing the Cabrio version would Pay-Go but see no reason why there couldn't be a MILANETTO &or CAPRI Z/T ***(for Zetec/Titanium), the Capri would of course have a superduperBAMR std.

This should provide a couple important themes imho
- International Style - that's frequently said to be Mercury's direction & now they'd have international content too
- Authenticity - those who want a 'true version' - Mercury's got it

This could be used as just an advertising thing - spinspinspin
but wouldn't it be cool if it was done for real
...maybe they could make this part of the Voga program or replace the Voga program with this



footnotes
*TitaniumX selected (by me) Key features:
‘Ford Power’engine start/stop button
Alcantara trim with heated front seats
Halogen Adaptive Front lighting System
Power fold door mirrors and puddle lights
Ambient interior lighting
Air conditioning with dual EATC (think that's euroSpeak for 'auto-climate')
Rear compartment air conditioning vents
17" Y-spoke alloy wheels (see attachment)
(+ avail. on all Mondeo trims:)
Electronic Stability Programme (ESP)
Ford Easy Fuel capless refuelling
Intelligent Protection System including driver's knee airbag

**G6E & ***Zetec/Titanium - I pooped out, here's links:
Ford AU
Ford UK

[2b2]

been working on a revised 'BladeRunner' lineup - no flying cars just current tech...
"ver.4" takes an austere look at a CAFE/depression-ready lineup ($5, 6, 7,...? gas & 10%++ unemployment)
kinda hard to give the big picture without including F&L lineups, but:

Mercury fulfills its most important role as the ideal, just-within-reach brand.
Lincoln climbs in status & profits but not sales volume.
Ford is relegated to
- economy/ecology models (Fusion=largest family sedan),
- business-paid-for commercial vehicles, and
- the few fans able to pay near-collector-prices for their beloved Rwd nameplate(s).

notes:
* = dual-backs, sedan/coupe look with dual rear opening, full-hatch + small trunk panel
_ovl_ __model name__ _config_ _descriptions/platform(mates)

F-Awd _______________________________
166" ____Comet_____3d__ entry-level feature-rich hatch with a taller roof than the / Reflex it's based on
174" __XR3/Capri___ 2d*/glass-targa __ sporty models based on the / neoFocus
178" __Milanetto____4d* & wagon __ future.perfect.size family cars / neoFocus
190" ____Milan_____ 4d*__TheBest current.size familycar / EUCD
190" __MetaSpace___ 5d___med.small people+stuff mover / EUCD
196" _MetaSpace+___5d___medium people+stuff mover / EUCD
196" ____XR8______ 4d*__sportsedan, largest modern hatch on the market / D385s
201" __Marquis_____4d___large sedan (restyled MKS) / D385
201" __MetaOne____ 5d___med.large people+stuff mover / D4##
205" _GrandMarquis_4d__ luxury-size sedan (& limos) / E386 < remember that?

Rwd _______________________________
183" ____XR6_____2+2d*&glass-targa__ SPORTScar / Mazda RX+
191" ___Cougar___ICON__limited-anniversary (every 10 years) / GRP
199" ___Orion _____4d___ world-class sedan / GRP(AU Fairlane)
200" _L.M.Custom__4d*__ leadsled-inspired neoRetro premium familycar / GRP

4wd _______________________________ all T6 platform
__"Trucklet™"_ _ _ premium small pickup / Ranger
____Mesa____5d Suv__ rugged yet refined / Bronco
___Mariner__5d Cuv__ stylish, still-rugged micro-van / Escape?

I won't go into all the engines but will mention:
__XR8___ hi-perf 5.0 v8 or 3.5 v6-hybrid
_Marquis__ 3.5 v6 only, with or without hybrid
_G.Marquis_ 5.0 v8 or 3.7 v6-hybrid
and possibly all Mercurys would have Only/mainly PowerShift/DSG tranmissions.

with this future lineup;
Mercury+Ford+Lincoln will maintain their collective sales volume,
which Ford/Lincoln by themselves WON'T (imho)

[2b2]

2010 super Montego/Sable


Milan "vi"

each attachment is 800x400 and under 150kb

[2b2]

came across a great design for a new Mercury Comet at MotorTrend forums,
created by GRIMEYtheFatman,
who gave me permission to post it here as well as 'tweak' it, & TY!!!
on the condition I post the 'tweak' there too Link

Grimey also has a second sedan version & a coupe on MT
Thanks also goes to Nd4spd, who's Comet drawing started it all!

mine turned into a slightly larger car in the process so it's renamed ORION

attached is a slightly higher-res version (800x500, 149k)
that also has a new logo idea - a godhead this time
based on a photo of an old Roman coin I found online
+ the current logo used-as/replacing the wings I tried first that didn't work.
(the neoLogo is reason this is posted here instead of in the Tweak thread)

[YellowZx5]

I was listening to the Autoblog podcast and close to the end, they were saying that Mercury just needs to end. Sometimes it might be better to end Mercury and give Lincoln/ Mercury dealers the option to change to a Lincoln/ Volvo dealer at no additional charge for the change over.

This also makes me wonder why we could not produce our own PodCast..... hmmmm makes me wanna do one.

[GRIMEYtheFATMAN]

It's not often that I get 1-uped(in fact, I don't think it's ever happened before), especially with my own creation, but NICE!!
But, as I stated on the MT forum, I wonder why you went with the earlier drawing as the basis?
Either way, I do believe I drew a pretty sweet Mercury, for a GM fanatic(yeah that's right). Then again, I like all American cars, even American badged imports(because unlike American made, import branded cars, the money goes to an American company). Sure, the Chevy Aveo is a re-badged Daewoo(the Ford Aspire was a re-badged Kia), but GM owns Daewoo.

[GRIMEYtheFATMAN]

Here's a suggestion for the new logo: take the current logo and shift the stylised M down and to the right while placing the god's head profile behind it but clearly visible in the space remaining, looking to the right and up, signifying "we are coming up and out of these dark ages".