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2006 Mercury Montego

The innovative Montego midsize sedan offers Ford's industry-leading safety technology, along with modern powertrains that combine performance with fuel economy. Its European-inspired chassis delivers crisp, responsive handling.

Montego's premium interior is roomy and sophisticated with flexible seating and cargo storage capability that set new st andards for midsize sedans. A spacious second row and 'high-package' seating position provide unprecedented passenger comfort and reinforce the driver's comm anding view of the road.

Mercury is improving the Montego this year with more available equipment.

Montego takes its place at the top of the midsize sedan segment. Offered in Luxury and Premier trim levels, Montego's distinctive exterior design, contemporary, roomy interior and available features like all-wheel drive are expected to attract new customers to Mercury showrooms.

It is built in Chicago, Ill.

Design and Equipment

Design cues instantly identify the new Montego as a Mercury. The signature waterfall grille, strategic use of contrasting metallic surfaces like satin aluminum and chrome, distinctive taillight and unique tailoring continue the distinctive automotive design vision Edsel Ford set for Mercury some 65 years ago.

Some design elements incorporate technologies that deliver consumer benefits, like the HID headlamps that present a clearer view of the road at night, and LED taillights that provide highly visible communication to other drivers on the road.

For 2006, three new paint colors – Satellite Silver Clearcoat Metallic, Dark Blue Pearl Clearcoat Metallic and Vivid Red Clearcoat Metallic – join Montego's palette.

A key feature of Montego's interior design is its upscale, two-tone treatment. A satin-aluminum finish is used on the door h andles while chrome trim rings enhance the dash-mounted analog clock and gauges. The steering wheel and shift knob are wrapped in leather.

This year, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with satin-aluminum cuffs and redundant audio controls becomes st andard across the range. New options include a rear-seat DVD entertainment system and a navigation system for Premier versions.

Montego's interior dimensions put it among the leaders in virtually every category, including best-in-class headroom and knee room in the second row. The natural, upright seating position offers both comfort and visibility that give the driver confidence and comm and of the road.

Montego's remarkable 21.2-cubic-foot trunk is nearly 50 percent larger than that of most competitors. With the split second-row seat folded, the trunk exp ands to offer a best-in-class 49.9 inches of total load floor length. The front passenger seat also can fold flat for added cargo-carrying capability.

Powertrain and Chassis

The Montego's Volvo-inspired platform provides a stable platform, with fully independent suspension for a quiet ride and responsive h andling.

The proven Duratec 30 V-6 engine offers smooth, quiet performance and is teamed with a premium six-speed automatic transmission on front-wheel-drive models. All-wheel-drive versions use a continuously variable transmission. Each offers wide overall gear ratios for strong acceleration and economical operation.

Mercury Montego's optional all-wheel-drive system also uses electronic controls to achieve optimum performance whether on dry, wet or snow-covered roads.

Normally, the vehicle functions with front-wheel drive only. But when the electro-hydraulic Haldex™ limited-slip coupling senses a difference in speed between the front wheels and rear wheels, it distributes up to 100 percent torque to the rear wheels.

Safety and Security

The 2006 Mercury Montego builds on Ford's industry-leading Personal Safety System™ with new features that address front-, side- and rear-impact protection. It has earned top five-star ratings for front- and side-impact performance in government testing, as well as a 'Best Pick' rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for frontal crash performance.

Anti-lock brakes are st andard on all Montegos, and all-speed traction control is st andard on all but front-drive Luxury models, where it's a no-cost option.

Major Features and Options

Luxury includes: Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, 17-inch seven-spoke wheels, automatic HID headlamps, LED taillamps, fog lamps, remote keyless entry with keypad, interval wipers, folding heated power exterior mirrors, power windows and door locks, driver and front passenger air bags, passive anti-theft system, dual-zone electronic climate control, front and rear floor mats, six-way power driver seat, fold-flat front passenger seat, seatback map pockets, split-fold rear seat with head restraints, fold-down rear armrest with cupholders, auto-dimming rearview mirror, two 12-volt powerpoints, AM/FM stereo with CD player and leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel with remote audio controls.

Premier adds: 18-inch 15-spoke alloy wheels, remote perimeter lighting, Audiophile AM/FM stereo with six-CD changer and subwoofer, leather seating surfaces, heated driver and front passenger seats, two-way power passenger seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, overhead console with universal garage door opener, woodgrain interior appliqués, memory function for power seats, mirrors and adjustable pedals and a trunk cargo net.

Options include all-wheel-drive, rear-seat DVD entertainment, navigation system, power moonroof, reverse sensing system, Safety Canopy™ air curtains with rollover protection and seat-mounted side impact air bags.

by Mercury Media

by Mercury


Produced during the 1960's, the Montego was an intermediate vehicle manufactured by the Ford Motor company from 1960 until 1976.

A British version of the Mercury Montego was the Austin Montego. Available only in Canada, the Meteor Montego was the top trim level model of the Ford Meteor.

The model name was an inspiration from the exotic Montego Bay, the second city in size and importance in Jamaica. Montego Bay is also the island's tourism capital, and the name has been originally used for this Mercury vehicle since 1967.

Replacing the intermediate Comet in 1968 with the same body-type, it was upsized from the Mercury Cougar. The main differences between the Montego and Comet were the curb moldings, the cigar lighter and a glove box lock.

The MX version of Montego had both full length upper and lower body trim, and chrome wheel well trim. It also came with a vinyl top, metal upper door frames, wood inserts in the lower body molding, carpeting and wood grain trimmed door panels.

Basically considered to be a twin of the Ford Torino, the Cyclone was a variation of the Montego through 1971. The Cyclone came with a mid tire level body tape stripe and shared the same production numbers as the GT version.

In 2005, Mercury used the name for their version of the Ford Five Hundred which eventually replaced the Mercury Sable.

The new and improved Montego includes an optional all-wheel drive system, and has an MSRP of $25,000.

by Jessican Donaldson