originally inspired by GMI poster, AmericanRevolution's "Your Ideal Mercury Lineup" thread
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| XR3/Capri/Milanetto | |||
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a 173-179" ovl coupe, vistaroof-targa, & sedan based on the next more flexible Reflex-Focus platform.
The sedan is a Jetta competitor> The Capri would be built off the coupe with a glass roof that slides back over the rear windscreen (instead of going the cabrio-hard'vert route)... wonder if a hatch could be engineered with that? |
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| Milan needs No major changes - just 'continuous improvement'... more choices: |
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| new engines? tranmissions, definitely new/more colors. 3.5v6 - 2.3/2.5 Hybrid - 2.3/2.0 turbo - & direct injection (DI) on all of them; also manumatics for these new powertrains. |
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| But... add a semi-euro inspired MetaSpace (a bit more car-like than this chop) |
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half van, half wagon, NO competition for the Edge/MkX (intro Fall '07) |
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Aug'07 update: new thought - WhatIF 'they' decided to really make a STATEMENT (not to be confused with a 'NOUNCEMENT), and built multiple versions of my MetaSpace? ...and as pointed out [Here], the S-Max's mechanicals are not as needed as much as its style.So dress up a Milan's 107.4" wlb with a new sleek-yet-capacious 'tophat' and possibly a max-cargo version with an extended 'bustle'... but also make the front and rear 'shells' able to fit the Edge's 111.2" wlb and elevated ride height. Use the Milan's & Edge's doors and floorpans, respectively + same rear hatch on all MetaSpaces = max.commonality (could the hatch even fit the MicroMax?). Overall-lengths might be 188.1/195.1" and 191.9/198.9"... lighter and narrower than either the Edge or Taurus-X, ideal for a urban lifestyle... one vehicle that can be dished up in serving-sizes from one-notch-bigger than the Mazda5 all the way up to the Freestyle/Taurus-X. Would four (4!) versions, 5-passenger (and 7-passenger for all but the shortest), be too much? Too like Mazda offering the CX 7 + 9? Or like Volvo with proliferating XC's + V's? Or like BMW with their multiplying X's? (including an X-fastback??) Or like Lexus depends on the RX for a sizeable 30% chunk of their total volume?
I might even recommend they make 5-peep versions (2-row only option) across the board - for those with more stuff than people to move! The Fairlane-concept (based on the same CD3 platform) was too sweet of a 'package' to not produce offspring! Would it show that they really mean business for a change? If they really went with the 'same sausage/different lengths' philosophy for this One Model, would one advertising campaign sell 4 times as much? Could these 4 MetaSpaces add a 30% increase to Mercury sales? Would the MetaSpace finally be Mercury's "Model-M"? as ubiquitious of a do-everything vehicle as the Model-T once was? Also, when the Milan&friends switch to EUCD2, could Europe's S-Max and Galaxy be built in NorteAmerika? assuming the $/euro exchange rate stays low...
Oct'07 addition.... MilanCX: |
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Sep'07 update: recent events (the Lincoln MkTruck's discontinuation & McGarrett's post at GMI) have led me to consider: when they get the new T6... they could make the KingRanch trim Ranger (that they'd never DARE have on the Ford lot competing with the sacred F-series) into a swanky-deluxe Mercury Trucklet! (probably only the medium-size supercab with a shortbed... but offer a hybrid too) since Ford'll have all the versions, they can play around with which to offer 'next year' as Mercs... ...maybe even use the T6 to make the Bronco-concept into the Mercury MountainLion? |
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| Montego/Sable/Tomahto
as said, (is getting) GOT a major re-do (next) THIS year. But no word of a "M-style" crossover-version (I am sooo over the MetaOne) ....for your consideration: |
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| img src=MontegoMax.jpg width=532 height=220 image down for a re-think |
pick up the greenhouse from the euro-Smax, plunk it down on the Montego's body, VOILA! MontegoMAX (intro July '07) |
| oops - maybe go back to the Milanetto platform for a tall, boxy MicroMax ? a just touch beefier, more powerful (opt v6!) & upscale than the Mz5, MetaOne styling might even be better on a smaller package |
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& how about stealing this bike-bumper idea from Opel?
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XR6 stretching & wrapping Mazda's RX-8 around the 3.5v6... |
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| Panthers (plural!) |
| Many say the panther platform (notice lowercase p's) is long overdue for retirement... but NOT before a replacement is ready! Here's what can be done for the near future - immediately (Fall '06) offer the 300hp 3valve-4.6v8 with a 6 speed automatic, then with the 2008cy update, build variations. (see description/rant after pix) |
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| update Feb'06: stylistically Buick-China is getting close to a new |
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 Grand Marquis - an old 'scribble' | ||
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minimum requirements for the '09 Panther update: M: 3.5v6/DI 285hp GM: 3valve 4.6v8 300hp XR8: 3valve 4.6v8/DI-CVVT 350+hp opt: 3.5v6-Hybrid 320hp all: 6 speed manumatic seriously upgraded interior shorter overhangs sheetmetal? just morph it a bit (+ HID's & LED taillights) |
Then for the next-gen, blend Ford with Acura, Infiniti, and pre-Bangled BMW;
from the original Cougar, add the beautiful top-to-bottom curve of its flanks;
auto-show a compelling sedan concept as an American-Iosis;
and
have it on sale it 6 months later!
| [rant] 2005 sales CV 63,939 GM 64,716 TC 47,122 = 175,777 total. But they sold over 200k in 2004... I've read that the GM's sales are mainly retail where the CV & TC's aren't. (The Marquis is even sold in Canada - no other Mercurys are!) Between the Zephyr, D385/MkS, and later the E386, wouldn't Lincoln make up (and then some) for the loss of the TC? They'd better! If the GM got a significant redo, would ONE MODEL keep all those sales? Could the Marquis be a unique vehicle for Mercury in the future?
Or how about Four-in-One? FML has 4 (FOUR!) different Panther wheelbases in current production - 114.7, 117.7, 120.7, 123.7". They could have a short 114.7" wheelbase sport model, my XR8. Use the 117.7" wheelbase for Marquis, have a longer 120.7" wheelbase Grand Marquis; and if they want, still use the 123.7" longest wheelbase exclusively for a new, more premium than ever Also, wouldn't building just one sheetmetal version make it even more profitable? Maybe they could afford to give all of them different rooflines - a semi-tunnel-fastback something like the classic Marauders for the XR8 (could it even be a dual-back hatch?), stick a window in the C-pillar for the Marquis but keep it solid for a more formal Grand Marquis, and square up the rear window's angle for the Panther.
They could still give the 'taxi-cops' a plain grille to protect the retail versions - maybe even use a CommercialVehicle badge. And since the platform would be kept 'alive', they'd have the option of re-creating a Ford Galaxie someday, too!
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the sign of the Cats
| [sorta rant] Dealerships Although I'd love a double-cat logo... instead of Lincoln-Mercury's defacto-dual, maybe just encourage partnering from within Mazda, Mercury, Volvo, & Lincoln - whichever suits the local demographic - for an above-avg/mid-range/premium/lux-ish group to complement PAG's higher-lux group. (Also, is a FordOfEurope/FordAU-based Lincoln sub-brand a possibility?) Imho having every Milan sitting next to a MkZep, doesn't do its sales any favor - how many salesmen refrain from trying to upgrade their commission by pushing the Lincoln? Does the Camry have the ES sitting next to it in every showroom? Do Honda/Acura now have mainly joint dealerships? I'm including Mazda in this due to the overwhelming praise I've seen for the Mazda3 - often compared to higher-priced semi-competitors - and face it, Mazda needs more dealers. Now if Mercury can get that better-than-expected response the Mz3 has (for more than just a Milan or Mariner) they'll really be on their way. Yet... I remind myself that Ford might be pulling some punches until the after the UAW negotiations next year. |
more Panthers: Lincoln-speed (& something completely different)
full FML lineup - the Mercury files - MercuryColors & trim proposals