a follow-up to "How small is Small?"
a temporary lineup with small Mercs = 2010 to 2013
the Small Merc Theory is the flipside of the SuperTaurus Experiment
ver.5.a  (old versions: 4.1, 4.0, 3+, 2, 1 )
Lincoln starts climbing in status & profits but not in sales volume.
Mercury temporarily takes on the role of the ideal, just-within-reach, small-mid Premium brand.
Ford continues increasing marketshare & concludes its Taurus-Flagship experiment ...the result = ?
(please reduce fontsize if numbers don't lineup)
 
F-Awd:
FLX
 "
 "

 "
 "
euroMZ
ACE
 "
 "
 "
Ford

Am.Ka/A-Max  3d/5d 
Fiesta(s)/B-Max  3d,5d/5d+ 
Escort/C-Max  4d/5d 
(C-170) F17 sedan 
Focus~Reflex sport-3d 
Focus/D-Max  4d/5d 
-
Fusion  4d & 2d-coupe 
Edge (aka E-Max) 5d 
Taurus / Explorer 
Flex (aka F-Max) 5d 

Mercury

-
-
Comet  3d

XR3/Capri   2d*/glass-targa
Milanetto/Electron  4d*/5d
Milan/MetaSpace  4d*/5d
Milan
-       /MetaSpace   5d
Marquis/MetaIII  4d/5d,
-

Lincoln

-
-
-

-
MKG(Kuga)   Cuv 
-
MKZc  2d-coupe/glass-targa 
MKZxs / MKX(Aviator-Z)  4d/5d 
- (MKS 2009-2013MY only)
TouringCar(E386)/MKT sedan/Cuv

wlb
94
98
102
102.9
100
104
107.26
108
111
113
117

ovls       
150/153
  160
  169:166:  -
  175
  172:174:  -
  180:178: 178
-   :188:  -
  192:190:191
  188:194:193/188
  198:197:(204)
  203:  -  :206/208
also TransitConnect, work ver. "teeCÖ", premium/pass.ver. -   ?    ?
Rwd:
G.R.P.
 "
 "
 "
 
panther
 
 "
 
Mustang 2d-coupe/'vert 
-
Thunderbird flagship 2d? 
-
 
-
taxi 
taxi 
 
-
anniversary Cougar! (auFalcon)
- (auFairlane)
-
 
copcar-pursuit (fleet)
copcar-patrol (fleet)
Mercury Limousine (fleet)
 
HRL(MKR-)  2dcoupeCabrio only 
-
Continental(MKR+)  2+2d sedan 
'Panther'/V.I.P. (aka: 
  something completely different!
) 


 
108
112
116
120
 
114.6
119
123.7
 
185: - :190
191
195: - :197
199
 
200
205:205: -   
210:210: -   
 
4wd: 
small       Ranger/Bronco/Escape/ ... 
midsize    F100 / Raptor2 / Transit 
large        as is minus SUV's 
 
Trucklet/Mesa/Mariner/SportX
-
-
 
-
LLT (LincolnLuxuryTruck) / Navigator 
-
legend:
* = dual-backs, sedan/coupe look with dual rear opening, full-hatch + small trunk panel
'vert = traditional soft-top convertible
glass-targa = sliding glass roof, replaces coupeCabrio-hard'verts (except ConBrio & HRL)
Zxs = lowered sedan version of Aviator-Z(MkX), built in Canada
X2C = flexible Miata-RX8-Mercury Rwd platform
2+2d = opera/suicide rear doors (RX8/Conti'60s-style)
** = CommercialVehicle, non-retail versions
*** = 'Panther' flagship used for presidential limo

engines: (also see mechanical differentiation )
- direct-injection 5.0 mid-stroke version of the 4.6/5.4 v8 to replace both
- ~3.0 Diesel for most cars, to complement the larger BOSS-Diesel.
- A hybrid system that can be added to any drivetrain for +hp & +mpg.

new Mercury features:
- Fully programmable car/driver interface - that includes: IP display&alerts, memory settings for...
.. adjustable suspensions that can do tricks like adj. ride & height;
.. adaptive-cornering headlites - HID & halogen;
.. a version of the Mustang's MyColor variable IP lighting;
.. smart-key start-button remote-start option; and
.. a nav that can be dealer installed/retrofitted.
- Easy-swap aluminum/real wood/titanium/black-chrome trim options.
- New paint colors that are different from Ford or Lincoln & used for the entire Merc lineup.
- All front seats have tilting/height/lumbar adjustments & fold flat.
Lincoln: high-percentage aluminum construction, automated everything; & exports -
- Zc, Zxs, Aviator-Z (all std diesel6; opt 2.7 & 3.7 v6/EB)
- HRL, Continental, VIP (diesel6; 2.7v6, 4.0inline6, 5.0v8 na&EB)


[FWD/AWD] 

FLX-AB   smaller of FLX platform pair.
Ford only - Am.Ka, A-Max, Fiesta hatches, taller B-Max. 4 cyl & EB & hybrid. $10-20k
      (Am.Ka & A-Max intro ~2011)

C-170
F only - "F-17" old Focus continues while factory-change-over is completed

FLX-C2   larger of the FLX platform pair.
F  - Reflex 3d sport hatch. 4 cyl EcoBoost only - 2 displacement sizes.  $15-26k
      Escort/C-Max & Focus/D-Max: 4d-sedans/5d-crossovers.  4 cyl & EB & hybrid.  $14-24k
M  - Comet 3d, XR3/Capri 2d*coupe/targa, Milanetto 4d*. 4&6cyls na/hybrid/EB/EB-hybrid.  $17.5-34k
     (Electron would be a unique-bodied Plug-IN-Hybrid-Only 5-door - chop link) $27-39k
L  - ConBrio? coupeCabrio, Kuga Cuv 4 cyl & EB & hybrid.  $33-48k
     (ConBrio shares under-structure with euroFocus and Volvo C70 cc/hard'verts)

ACE   a flexible EUCD-derived platform replaces CD3
F  - Fusion 4d sedan, 2d-coupe; Edge crossover. 2.5 4 cyl, 3.0v6, & hybrid versions of both.  $19.5-28;32.5k
      Fusion 4d sportsedan & 2d-coupe (ST = Fwd/Awd-3.5v6, GT = Awd-3.5v6EB)  $22-34k
M - Milan 4d sedan*dual-back. 2.5 4cyl, 3.0-3.5v6's, and 2.5EB & hybrid 2.5-3.0  $21-39k
      MetaSpace wagon-ish monospace. 2.5 4cyl, 3.0-3.5v6's, and 2.5EB & hybrid 2.5-3.0  $22-40k
L  - Zc 2d-coupe, Zxs 4d X-sedan, Aviator-Z XUV. (3.0v6 coupe only), 3.7v6  $(34)39-55k

ACE+   replaces  D3, increased efficiency & shorter overhangs.
F  - eXplorer replaces Taurii & Explorer  2.5 4cyl-EB, 3.5v6, and hybrids.  $24-42k
   - Flex continues... $29-48k
M  - Montego/Meta III. sedan/Cuv. 3.0 and 3.5v6's, and hybrid 2.5 & 3.0  $28-46k
    (these are 'descendants' of the MKS-superTaurus & MetaOne-concept)
L  - MKT/Constellation = D3.2 MkPeoplemover luxury van 7doors  3.7v6 & 3.5-EB & hybrids.  $49-65k



[ RWD ]

GRP-   lightest, smallest form of new extra-flexible RWD platform
F  - Mustang - 2d-coupe, convertible. 3.5v6, 5.0 na & EB.  $20-40k
M  - none
L  - HRL (MKR-), 2seat/2+2, 2d CC-hard'vert ONLY, Hybrid, 4.0inline6, 5.0v8 na&EB.  $45-70k
      (All/mostly aluminum body, replaces-or-tops Shelby/KingOfTheRoad models)
      (HRL/Mustang share NO sheetmetal with Falcon, only doorframes with HRL)

GRP   medium wheelbase (no rebadges)
F  - AuFalcon
M  - (every-10-years anniversary Cougar?) rebodied Falcon
L  - none

GRP+   long wheelbase (no rebadges)
F    - Thunderbird - sport-lux 2door? 3.5v6, 5.0v8 na & EB.  $27-45k
       - F.Au Fairlane (half-Thunderbird half Continental with AU styling & higher roof)
M   - none
LM - L.M.Custom -  "       "     with neoRetro LeadSled-ish body & interior  $37-50k
L    - Continental 2+2door swoopy sedan ('vert added 2nd year)  2.7v6 EB or hybrid; 4.0inline6, 5.0v8 na&EB.  $42(/46)-72k 
      - "Panther"/V.I.P. - possible ultimate Lincoln roadcar  2.7v6 EB or hybrid; 4.0inline6, 5.0v8 na&EB.  $70-99k

panther platform - continues in 3 wheelbases
F  - taxis only
M - LawEnforcement, government, & coporate vehicles and limousines
L  - none

 
[ 4WD ]

small (T6)
F   - Bronco, Escape, Ranger, Expedition, more... - see pix links in above chart
M  - Mesa, based on Bronco-concept themes. If Ford doesn't want to do it, let Merc!
     - Mariner, preserving as much of the current style as possible in a more van-like vehicle
     -"Trucklet™", supercab-shortbed only, 3.5v6 or hybrid-4.
      (King Ranch version of a Ranger that Ford would never DARE allow to compete with the F-series)
     - SportX, in the spirit of X6/5GT ("sportXcars"), a fastback hatch on the Mariner chassis
L   - none

midsize ?
F   - F-100, Raptor, Transit
M  - none
L   - LLT, super-luxury version of the F-100; new Navigator (the Last REAL Suv)

large - as is minus SUV's
Mazda:  in addition to helping Ford with the FLX & X2C, how about a MX-9 sport-flagship?

Volvo:  get the "S60c" supersportsedan out soon ( minCLSish + hatchback? by FBálint ).
2/3door:
4door:
5door:
XUV:
C30  
 
P50
 
 
 
XC60
 
S60c
C70  
S80
 
 
P80
XC90
C90  
S100
ovls = 167.5 174  178 182  186 190 192.5 195 197.5
(C90 & S100 are based on a moderately stretched S80 & use mainly aluminium construction)
(new: 'P' series are sleeker hatches - not quite wagons)

to MercuryColors & trims  -  to the next, next Mercury  -  to a new B/C platform
'dual-back' (Doppelbetätigung) previewed on the VW Passat concept (German)

return to              
  the Mercury files....

Feb 2005 original
2005-2006 numerous updates
Nov 2006 version 3
Jun 2007 'global' update
Spring 2008 - ver.4 CAFE/Depression lineup
June 2008 "musical-factories' update
Sept 2008 major revision
Dec 2008 minor revisions & added Comet chop & 4.0inline6 engine for Lincolns
Jan 2009 added link to MKG-KuGa chop (& belatedly the VI-Milan)
Oct 2009 ver.5.a