2008
MERCURY NEW CAR MODEL GUIDE
 Two
sedans and three wagons make up Mercury's
2008 class, derived from the Lincoln-Mercury
Division of Ford Motor Company. Sedans
include the premium, mid-size Sable and
the elegant, and slightly smaller Milan.
Wagons range from the truck-based, sport
utility vehicle (SUV) Mountaineer to car-based,
crossover utility vehicles (CUV) such
as the Mariner and its gas-electric variation,
Mariner Hybrid.
 Sable
Mercury's premium sedan, the 2008 Sable,
garners lots of enhancements including
a new powertrain pumping more horsepower.
The Sable has the body of a mid-size model,
with the luxurious cabin of a big car
that seats five. The fuel-efficient, 3.5-liter
V6 makes 263 horsepower and links to a
six-speed electronic automatic transaxle
with standard front-wheel-drive (FWD)
or optional all-wheel-drive (AWD) traction.
Standard safety equipment includes side
air bags for front seats and Ford's Safety
Canopy curtain-style air bags. Optional
Mercury Sync adds voice control over in-vehicle
phones, media players and USB storage
devices.
 Milan
Four new equipment packages and five fresh
paint colors apply to Mercury's 2008 four-door,
mid-size sedan. The Milan shows expressive
sheetmetal outside and comes with a passenger
compartment large enough to comfortably
carry five adults. The model offers two
trims with the entry-issue Milan and the
dressy Premier. There are two engine choices,
a 2.3-liter four-pack or 3.0-liter V6.
The four-pack produces 160 horsepower
and links to a five-speed manual transmission
or five-speed automatic. The 221-horsepower
V6 employs a six-speed automatic. For
added safety, the 2008 Milan stocks a
tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
and keyless entry keypad.
 Mariner
This compact wagon is an easy-driving
CUV riding on a car's platform. It stocks
premium equipment, optional V6 power and
FWD or automatic AWD traction. The tony
cabin, with two rows of seats for five,
features woodgrain trim with bright chrome
and satin aluminum accents. The Mariner
offers two grades — Mariner and the
luxurious, leathered Premier. A base 2.3-liter,
four-cylinder engine makes 153 horsepower,
while the Premier's 3.0-liter V6 climbs
to 200 horsepower. All 2008 models offer
new body styling with revamped cabins
in monochromatic or two-tone treatment.
 Mariner
Hybrid
Based off the Mariner CUV, Mercury's hybrid
electric vehicle (HEV) has a 2.3-liter,
four-cylinder gasoline engine and a battery-powered
electric motor. The electric plant can
propel the wagon or work alonside the
gas engine to deliver a power boost that
kick like a V6. An electronic control
module manages energy produced by the
two plants and sends it directly to the
front wheels — or to all four wheels
for the optional AWD version. The fresh
sheetmetal styling for the 2008 Mariner
looks keen, and the cabin flashes new
chrome accents with Satin Pewter finishes.
 Mountaineer
The mid-size, truck-based Mountaineer
SUV brings a passenger compartment of
generous scale with three rows of seating
and lots of on-board amenities including
power-controlled running boards tucked
into rocker panels. The seats include
benches on second and third rows, which
fold down to form a flat cargo floor.
A 210-horsepower, 4.0-liter V6 is the
standard engine, while a 4.6-liter V8
with 292 horsepower is also available.
The optional AWD models use Ford's Control
Trac system to automatically channel engine
torque to any wheel. The AWD gear also
includes Ford's AdvanceTrac traction controller
with Roll Stability Control (RSC).
For
more information on Mercury.
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