You may have noticed that the Mercury Sable was not only a bit geriatric, but was also a staple of the nation’s rental fleets. This fact has not slipped by the product planners at Mercury. To fill in the lower-priced end of the mid-size segment, Mercury launched a MAZDA6-based sedan in the fall of 2005, the “Milan”.
According to Darryl Hazel, Lincoln Mercury president, “We use the words ‘different’ and ‘smarter’ quite a bit when talking about Mercury. They absolutely apply to the new Milan. Milan will bring a different customer to Mercury dealers – significantly younger customers drawn to the upscale design and smart feature packaging that define Mercury’s new products.”
Ford’s CD3 vehicle architecture, which also supports the Ford Fusion sedan, Lincoln Zephyr entry-luxury sedan, and next-generation Lincoln Aviator, has already found great admiration as the basis for the current-generation MAZDA6 sedan, hatchback, and wagon. The “6” is arguably one of the most solid and best-driving cars in the Ford family of vehicles. With such a pedigree, I have no doubt the Milan will come mechanically-equipped to compete.
Styling shares cues with other recent Mercury products that include a waterfall grille, satin silver finishes, LED tail lamps, and contemporary-looking aluminum wheels. Shaped and detailed like an Italian-American, the Milan should have the elegance and sporting stature to woo thirty-something Gen-Xers.
Production is at Ford’s Hermosillo, Mexico assembly plant. Competition for the Milan includes the Volvo S40, Nissan Altima, Pontiac G6, and Volkswagen Passat.
by Casey Williams
www.car-data.com
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