2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid

The Mercury Mariner Hybrid offers a uniquely satisfying transportation choice for an ever-increasing segment of the population concerned about the environment. It's a stylish, upscale sport-utility vehicle with nimble handling and impressive performance, as well as ample cargo and towing capacity. In addition, it's an environmentally conscious SÚV with remarkable fuel economy – an estimated 33 miles per gallon (mpg) city, 29 mpg highway – and is expected to meet the cleanest emissions rating achievable by a fossil-fuel vehicle (California's Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle standard).

'Mariner Hybrid is the smart, sophisticated solution to environmental responsibility,' says Darryl Hazel, president of Lincoln Mercury. 'It's the perfect vehicle for Mercury customers, many of whom are looking for a distinctive design, the versatility of a sport-utility, and advanced technology capable of bettering both their lives and the environment.'

PRODÚCTION PÚLL AHEAD: Production begins a year ahead of schedule

Ford Motor Company continues to advance its environmental commitment and hybrid market leadership. To meet that commitment, Ford Motor Company executives added talent and resources to the Sustained Mobility Technical Team. The team's efforts increased the speed of engineering and validation testing, enabling Mariner Hybrid to launch a year ahead of schedule.

Initially planned as a 2007 model, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid was pulled ahead one year in response to growing customer interest in hybrid gasoline-electric propulsion. Mariner Hybrid is one of four additional hybrid vehicles Ford Motor Company will introduce in three calendar years. When it arrives in showrooms in the fall of 2005, Mariner Hybrid will be one of the most fuel-efficient and cleanest sport-utility vehicles on the road. It shares the same advanced technology that earned Escape Hybrid the 2005 North American Truck of the Year Award from a panel of 50 distinguished automotive journalists.

GROWING THE MERCÚRY BRAND: New models and goals

New products like Mariner Hybrid are a key component of Mercury's growth strategy. When Mariner Hybrid goes on sale this fall, it will join a transforming Mercury showroom with six new models introduced over four years:

The Monterey minivan offers upscale design, class-leading safety technologies and innovative cargo-management solutions.

The 2005 Montego, Mercury's first all-new sedan in nearly two decades, encompasses modern design, a spacious interior, a smooth, quiet ride and outstanding value in a full-size sedan. (concept carz)

The 2005 Mariner blends modern Mercury design with refined driving dynamics in a small, stylish sport-utility vehicle, and will be joined by the 2006 Mariner Hybrid this fall.

The 2006 Mountaineer offers distinctive Mercury styling, a new interior, new powertrain and chassis features, as well as amenities such as power-deployable running boards and a heated windshield.

The 2006 mid-size Milan sedan offers clean, crisp lines, a distinctive interior with room for five and driving excitement. A hybrid version of the Milan sedan is scheduled for introduction in 2008 (calendar year).

A crossover vehicle for Mercury showrooms will follow in a couple of years.

DISTINCTIVE DESIGN: Mariner features clean lines, careful craftsmanship

The Mariner Hybrid's exterior design follows Mercury's brand themes – clean lines and contemporary proportions inspired by modern urban architecture. Complex refractor headlamps are stacked over inset foglamps. The satin-aluminum-finished waterfall grille establishes a vertical theme surrounding a prominent Mercury emblem. Satin-aluminum finish also adorns the taillamps, a design cue shared with the Mountaineer and Monterey minivan. Bumpers, door handles, and protective side cladding are smoothly integrated and color-keyed, for a clean, tailored appearance.

'The Mariner purposely stands out from the crowded compact sport-utility field,' says J Mays, group vice president of Design and chief creative officer. 'It has an upscale design and premium features with no hint of brash or showy excess.'

Consistent with customer desire to make a statement in a tasteful manner, Mariner Hybrid has only a few distinctive exterior touches: an air vent built into the driver's side rear-quarter window to help manage the temperature of the hybrid powertrain's battery pack and discreet road-and-leaf 'HYBRID' badges mounted on the liftgate, front doors and acoustic engine cover, and unique 16-inch, five-spoke wheels.

A key engineering goal for the interior was to impose no sacrifices in style, passenger comfort and cargo-hauling capacity even with the hybrid technology. Mariner Hybrid's upscale interior ambiance is established by two-toned seats and door trim panels, accented with bright-ringed speaker grilles and chrome door handles. Satin-aluminum and chrome finishes harmonize with Sappele wood grain finishes on the center console and stack.

The instrument cluster features a multifunction message center, which reports trip statistics, mileage information and remaining oil life. A battery indicator dial is provided to inform the driver which way electrical current is flowing – to the battery during regenerative braking or from the battery to the electric motor when engaged to assist Mariner Hybrid's gasoline engine.

The available Hybrid Energy Audio & Navigation System features a four-inch screen that displays the energy flowing from the gasoline engine, the electric motors, the battery pack and the wheels. The graphics include idle state, electric drive, gas-engine drive, hybrid drive and regenerative braking.

The Premium Package also includes leather seating surfaces, heated front seat and side mirrors, a reverse sensing system, and safety package (side curtain air bags with rollover sensors and front side air bags.)

POWER PLAY: Full-hybrid gasoline and electric powertrain

The Mercury Mariner Hybrid powertrain blends the best features of a gasoline engine and an electric motor to achieve nearly 50 percent higher driving efficiency and lower emissions with no loss of the conventional Mariner's functionality or performance. This remarkable feat is accomplished by six powertrain components that work in perfect unison. Ford Motor Company has received more than 40 patents, and has another 70 patents pending, on these technologies shared with the Ford Escape Hybrid.

The core powertrain components are a 2.3-liter DOHC Duratec four-cylinder engine with an Atkinson operating cycle, two AC electric motors that provide both motor and generator functions, an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT), and 250 D-size nickel-metal hydride batteries in a compact, rear-mounted, sealed package.

Configured as a full hybrid, this powertrain is able to propel the Mariner to 25 miles per hour (mph) solely with clean electric power. When its 133 horsepower isn't required – during coasting, at stoplights, or crawling at low speeds through traffic – the gasoline engine automatically shuts down to conserve fuel and curb emissions.

Both the gasoline engine and the AC traction motor team up when needed for passing acceleration, climbing steep grades, or towing a 1,000-pound trailer. With a combined output equivalent to 155 horsepower and the continuously variable transmission's immediate ratio-changing capability, passing acceleration is comparable to the conventional Mariner powered by a 3.0-liter Duratec V-6.

Mariner Hybrid delivers impressive fuel economy, with estimated ratings of 33 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. Únlike conventional vehicles, Mariner Hybrid gets greater fuel economy in the city, where its electric motor can propel the vehicle up to 25 mph without assistance from the gasoline engine. In addition, Mariner Hybrid takes advantage of frequent stops for regenerative braking. The stop and go of the urban commute is where Mariner Hybrid shines. Certified to California emissions standards, Mariner Hybrid is expected to meet the rigorous Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) emissions standard in California, and other states that have adopted California's emissions standards. ( posted on conceptcarz.com)

Mariner Hybrid's Intelligent four-wheel-drive system monitors throttle position and individual wheel speeds to supplement front-wheel drive with four-wheel drive before slippage and loss of mobility occurs.

DYNAMIC CHASSIS: Nimble handling and a smooth, quiet ride

The solid foundation is accompanied by a fully independent suspension. The MacPherson strut front suspension features shock absorbers, coil springs, L-shaped arms and a stabilizer bar. The independent multi-link system uses a trailing arm and two lateral links to locate each wheel, and coil-over shocks.

Engineers placed the additional hybrid powertrain components low and to the rear, to lower the center of gravity and improve the conventional Mariner's front-rear weight distribution.

The rack-and-pinion steering is electrically assisted, rather than using the traditional hydraulic steering pump for consistent steering efforts and control whether the gasoline engine is stopped or running. Regenerative braking uses the traction motor to assist the four-wheel disc brakes in slowing Mariner Hybrid while simultaneously generating electricity for charging the battery.

The result is a confident, fun-to-drive vehicle, defined by its smooth, controlled ride, nimble response to steering commands and inspiring brakes.

DISTINGÚISHED SAFETY: Full array of safety features

The nimble handling and four-channel anti-lock brake system help Mariner Hybrid owners to avoid accidents. However, should an accident occur, Mariner Hybrid is backed by a full array of safety features.

The standard Personal Safety System™ includes Occupant Classification Sensing to tailor the front passenger air bag deployment to match the passenger's size and severity of impact. The optional Safety Package includes side chest air bags for the front seats, and Safety Canopy™, Ford Motor Company's exclusive side air curtain rollover protection system that senses an imminent rollover and automatically deploys front and rear air bags to help guard occupants from injury.

The unibody structure is engineered to help protect the occupants in all types of collisions, including offset front impacts.

GREEN MISSION: Ford Motor Company's strategy for sustainability in vehicles

The goal at Ford Motor Company is to eliminate motor vehicles from the environmental debate by designing them to have a negligible impact on the environment. The industry is in agreement that vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells are the long-term solution, but still are decades away from being commonplace.

As Ford works to develop hydrogen fuel cell technology, potential alternatives that improve on today's conventional internal combustion engines are emerging, such as hybrid-electrics, advanced clean diesels and hydrogen internal combustion engines. And, of all the manufacturers on the planet, only Ford Motor Company is actively involved in the development of all four leading technologies: hybrid-electric, clean diesel, hydrogen internal combustion and fuel cells.

As such, Mariner Hybrid is a key component of Ford Motor Company's commitment to building a better world. The hybrid technology and engineering knowledge gained on the hybrid programs will be applied to similar functions in fuel cell vehicles.

Source - Mercury Media