- Mercury Mariner
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Mercury Mariner 
Class Compact Crossover SUV Manufacturer Ford Motor Company Production 2005–2011 Body style 4-door SUV Layout Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive Platform Ford CD2 platform Engine 2.3 L 153 hp (114 kW) I4
3.0 L 240 hp (180 kW) V6Transmission 4-speed automatic
6-speed automaticWheelbase 103.1 in (2,619 mm) Related Mazda Tribute
Ford EscapeThe Mercury Mariner is a compact crossover SUV that was introduced in 2005. It is a sibling of the Mazda Tribute and Ford Escape, although it is more upmarket than the other two. Mechanically, it is identical to the Ford Escape (with the exception of not having a manual transmission). It also includes stylistic differences, such as a two-tone interior, European-style turn signal repeaters, monotone cladding, and the signature Mercury "waterfall" front grille. The Mariner is Mercury's first car-based SUV, and is slotted below the Mountaineer in the lineup. It was also the first Mercury with a four-cylinder since the Mercury Cougar was dropped in 2002. When Ford eliminated the Mercury brand, the Mariner ended production in October 2010.[1]
The Mariner was officially offered in the U.S., Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the U.A.E.
Contents
Hybrid
First generation 
Production 2005–2007 Assembly Claycomo, Missouri
Avon Lake, OhioLength 174.9 in (4,442 mm) Width 70.1 in (1,781 mm) Height 69.7 in (1,770 mm)
Hybrid: 70.4 in (1,788 mm)The Mariner Hybrid powertrain is identical to its sibling, the Ford Escape Hybrid, and it was launched to the U.S. market in 2006.
Mercury Mariner Hybrid
Like the Ford Escape Hybrid, the Mariner Hybrid is a "full" hybrid electric system, meaning the system can switch automatically between pure electric power, pure gasoline engine power, or a combination of electric battery and gasoline engine operating together, for maximum performance and efficiency at all speeds and loads. When braking or decelerating, the Mariner's hybrid system uses regenerative braking, where the electric drive motor becomes a generator, converting the vehicle's momentum back to electricity for storage in the batteries. With 155 hp (116 kW), the Mariner Hybrid has nearly the same acceleration performance as the conventional 200 hp (150 kW) V6 Mariner. Again, just like the Escape Hybrid, it gets a respectable average of 34 miles per US gallon (6.9 L/100 km; 41 mpg-imp) and is sometimes said to be the most fuel efficient sport utility vehicle on the road.[2]
Presidential Edition
On September 7, 2006 Ford delivered a special "Presidential Edition" Mercury Mariner Hybrid to former President Bill Clinton. Its custom features include:
- LED lighting
- A 110-volt outlet
- Rear bucket seats
- Center console & rear seat fold-out writing desks
- Personal DVD players for each seat
- Refrigerator
- Increased rear seat legroom
There have also been several undisclosed security modifications made to the vehicle.[3]
Second generation
Second generation 
Production 2008–2011 Assembly Claycomo, Missouri Length 2008: 175.2 in (4,450 mm)
2009: 174.7 in (4,437 mm)
2010: 175.1 in (4,448 mm)Width 71.1 in (1,806 mm) Height 68.8 in (1,748 mm)
Premier: 70.0 in (1,778 mm)
Hybrid: 67.7 in (1,720 mm)For the 2008 model year the Mariner was significantly updated with a new look although it remained on the Ford CD2 platform used by the previous generation.
The changes included a new seats, headlights, taillights, a new liftgate, a higher beltline and new doors and wheels.
The interior was also significantly updated with higher quality materials and more refined features.
The engines remained the same but the 3.0 L Duratec V6 has been modified to reduce fuel consumption by 10%.
Mariner and its Ford Escape sibling were the first vehicles to feature Ford's pull-drift steering compensation, an enhancement made possible by applying software control to the Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.[4]
The first 2008 Mercury Mariner was unveiled at the South Florida International Auto Show on October 6, 2006 and was touted as a new direction for the Mercury brand.[citation needed]
2009 changes
The 2009 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner were unveiled at the 2008 Washington Auto Show. Sporting a 2.5-liter engine and 6-speed automatic transmission that replaced the four speed automatic transmission, the new powertrain improved the EPA fuel economy by 1 mile per gallon and increased power by 11% to 170 horsepower (130 kW). Also, the existing 3.0-liter Duratec V6 was bumped from 200 hp (150 kW) to 240 hp (180 kW).
The new engine was also the new basis for Ford's hybrid models, including the Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid. “For every eight Escape and Mariner vehicles we sell, one of them is a hybrid, and the appeal is growing,” says Sue Ciscke, Ford senior vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering.
2010 changes
For the 2010 model year, the Mariner added Ford's MyKey and trailer sway controls as standard on all trim levels. The Mariner engine has a Flex-Fuel option on all of them which features being able to use E85 fuel and/or regular unleaded only on the optional V6 engine. Ford has also done away with the Euro-style turn signal repeaters for this model year.
2011 changes
For the 2011 model year, the Mariner featured HD Radio as a standard, but continued with the same features as the 2010 models. This version of the Mariner was its last, as Ford discontinued the Mercury brand due to declining sales. Ford ended production of the Mariner in October 2010.
The last one rolled off the assembly line on October 5, 2010
Awards
- Consumers Digest best buy for 2005, 2006, 2007.
- Mercury Mariner Hybrid was awarded 2006 Green Car of the Year.
Sales
Calendar Year American sales 2004[5] 7,171 2005 34,099 2006[6] 33,941 2007 34,844 2008[7] 32,306 2009[8] 28,688 2010[9] 29,912 See also
Notes
- ^ "Mercury production to cease in late September?" from Autoblog (July 12, 2010)
- ^ "2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid Review". Automoblog.net. http://www.automoblog.net/2008/11/11/2009-mercury-mariner-hybrid-review/. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
- ^ "Clinton to get custom hybrid SUV". CNN.com. September 7, 2006. http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/09/07/clinton_hybrid/index.html. Retrieved 2009-11-09.
- ^ "Ford builds on electric power steering technology to enhance drive quality, enable more features". Media.Ford.com. March 12, 2009. http://www.media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=30019. Retrieved 2009-11-09.
- ^ "Ford Achieves First Car Sales Increase Since 1999". Theautochannel.com. 2004-11-17. http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2006/01/04/204860.html. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
- ^ "Ford Motor Company 2007 sales". January 3, 2008. http://media.ford.com/article_download.cfm?article_id=27379.
- ^ "F-Series drives ford to higher market share for third consecutive month" (PDF). Ford Motor Company. January 5, 2009. http://media.ford.com/images/10031/dec08sales.pdf. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
- ^ "FORD CAPS 2009 WITH 33 PERCENT SALES INCREASE, FIRST FULL-YEAR MARKET SHARE GAIN SINCE 1995 | Ford Motor Company Newsroom". Media.ford.com. 2010-01-05. http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=31604. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
- ^ http://media.ford.com/images/10031/Dec10sales.pdf
External links
Mercury, a division of Ford Motor Company, 1939–2011 Category · Vehicles Final models
(2010-2011)Historic models Bobcat · Brougham · Capri · Colony Park · Comet · Commuter · Custom · Cougar · Cyclone · Eight · LN7 · Lynx · M-Series · Marauder · Marquis · Medalist · Meteor · Monarch · Montclair · Montego · Monterey (car) · Monterey (mini-van) · Mystique · Park Lane Brougham · S-55 · Sable · Topaz · Tracer · Turnpike Cruiser · Villager · Voyager · ZephyrConcept cars « previous – Mercury passenger vehicle timeline, 1980–2011 Type 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 Subcompact Bobcat Lynx Tracer Compact Tracer Tracer Zephyr Topaz Topaz Mystique Mid-size Monarch Marquis Sable Sable Sable Sable Milan Full-size Marquis Grand Marquis Grand Marquis Grand Marquis Grand Marquis Colony Park Marauder Montego Sable Sport compact Capri Capri LN7 Cougar Personal Cougar Cougar Cougar SUV Mariner Mariner Mountaineer Mountaineer Mountaineer Minivan Villager Villager Monterey Categories:- Mercury vehicles
- Compact SUVs
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- Ford CD2 platform
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