World class fuel economy is available from the Milan hybrid, at least for the moment.
The herd mentality of the media is in full view during this week’s feeding frenzy and rampant speculation over the impending demise of the Mercury brand. Such a move, if it is presented to and approved by Ford Motor Company’s board of directors at its next meeting, will cost a lot of money to shut dealers and see Ford lose the sales of roughly 100,000 annually provided by the Mercury brand.
This, of course, is not the first occasion when Mercury had to fight for its survival.
In recent times, the decision not to provide Mercury with a version of the Ford Focus in 2000 started a product diet – critics say starvation plan – that has resulted in Mercury’s paltry product lineup today. With the impending cancellation of the Mountaineer sport utility this year and Grand Marquis sedan next year, the Mercury lineup would be down to just four derivative products –the Mariner compact SUV and the Milan midsize sedan, along with hybrid versions of both.
It’s a tribute to Mercury dealers that without any support from the parent company that they are able to sell as many cars as they currently do. As an example of the criminal neglect that Ford executives imposed on Mercury, consider that the Grand Marquis website hasn’t been updated since the 2008 model appeared.
Alan Mulally, Ford’s CEO, clearly signaled the end this morning while speaking to analysts when he said that he had nothing new to add on speculation that Ford is planning to shut down its Mercury brand after 71 years. Mulally said that Ford continues to look closely at its portfolio of brands and consider strategic options that would be good for business. So my take on this is it’s all over but the funeral.
Look for an upcoming detailed history and analysis of the tribulations and trials of Mercury since its extremely successful introduction as a 1939 model – 80,000 sales the first year in what was a much smaller, depression market then – from our resident expert, Mike Davis, aka Mercuryphile Mike.