Ford Planning Focus-Based Mercury Model

[mikeyb]

Ford is looking to inject some lift into the middling Mercury brand with a new compact car, based on the Ford Focus. While it’s not clear if the model will be a version of the Focus, after all, Ford is planning a total of 10 Focus-based models for the U.S., it is the most likely.

“Certainly, one [variant] will be a Mercury,” said Lincoln-Mercury spokesman Mark Schirmer. “It’ll give us something to put into showrooms, and help energize the Mercury brand.”

Ford recently showed two of the 10 models at the Detroit Auto Show, with the Focus hatchback and sedan. A Focus-based Grand C-Max MPV is also expected later this year.

According to Automobile Magazine, the car is likely to be a Mercury-badged Focus, which makes considerable sense, as this one model could almost double Mercury sales. We can’t imagine a hatchback Mercury, but a version of the Focus sedan is most certainly a possibility.

We expect the model could arrive as early as the LA Auto Show at the end of this year.


[Automobile]

 

[genericuser]

so people will blindly pay 4 grand more for a mercury focus?

mmmmhmmmmm.

 

[Kymerik]

what happened to mercury dying?

 

[genericuser]

what happened to mercury dying?

not enough, apparently.

 

[Rogue]

Does Mercury have any new vehicles at all?

 

[mikeyb]

Does Mercury have any new vehicles at all?

Not as of late. The most newest vehicle is the Milan.

 

[skylar2ups]

Not as of late. The most newest vehicle is the Milan.

Um... they never come out with new vehicles...

 

[martispeed]

Yea its just a fusion...

 

[mikeyb]

I can not believe the 70s era Grand Marquis is still in the lineup.

 

[Rogue]

Yeah, only 4 cars in their lineup... who do they think they are, Ferrari?

 

[mikeyb]

Mulally: Mercury's star still shining bright... for now

You'd be forgiven for assuming Ford would be willing to let Mercurydie a slow, drawn out death. In fact, it seems like that's what's taking place naturally, what with the stunning lack of interesting new product over the last few years decades. According to Ford head honcho Alan Mulally, though, that's not the plan, at least for now.

Speaking at the Washington Auto Show, Mulally reportedly said, "That's our plan to continuously improve the Mercury and Lincoln brands," reiterating twice that this is the plan "right now." Some are taking this to mean that Mercury's future may actually be up in the air, seeing the phrase "right now" as Mulally's way of saying the plan could soon change.

In any case, Ford's stated goal with the Mercury brand's lineup continues to revolve around small, premium vehicles that aren't necessarily available in nearly identical across the aisle in the Ford dealership. Whatever happens, we're just hoping that Ford finds a place in its heart to keep Jill Wagner around as a spokesmodel.

[autoblog]

 

[mikeyb]

Lincoln will be recieving a C-segment small car as well.