Other Cars at Chicago: Mercury Montego

[Rex Raider]

Ford Motor Company is launching into the Year of the Car in 2004 by introducing six new car and crossover models, including an important sedan with available all-wheel drive for Mercury dealers: the all-new Montego.
The 2005 Montego mid sized sedan is the third of four all-new Mercurys that will arrive in showrooms over the next three years as Lincoln-Mercury continues to revamp and bolster its lineup.
Montego offers many innovations, including Ford’s industry-leading safety technology. Its all-new, continuously variable transmission and six-speed automatic transmission combine performance with fuel economy. And its European-inspired chassis delivers crisp, responsive handling.
Montego’s premium interior is roomy and contemporary. Its smart ergonomics – flexible seating and cargo storage capability – set new standards for midsize sedans. A spacious, second row and new-to-the-class "high-package" seating position provides for unprecedented passenger comfort and reinforces the driver’s commanding view of the road.
There is no mistaking the modern design cues on the new Montego for anything but a Mercury. The signature waterfall grille, strategic use of contrasting metallic surfaces such as satin aluminum and chrome, distinctive taillight bezels and unique tailoring continue the distinctive automotive design vision Edsel Ford set for Mercury some 65 years ago.

[sykboy]

Volkswagen/Audiesque(with exception to the grill) in design.

[Ming]

The headlights are horrible with the 1992 slats inside the plastic covers, but the rest of it is not bad.

The interior is classy, if you just have to have gray plastic, the gray wood-like molding works.

[tom]

It looks dated (exterior) and its not even out yet. The Ford 500 version looks better, but I can see that Ford will be reskinning it regularly. They should follow the Audi A8 / VW Phaeton exterior look.

[paul8488]

horrible grill, great stance, audi roofline, mercedes talilights, yucky interior finish (is that grey fur around the stereo and along the dash?!?). why does mercury get to stay and oldsmobile has to go? not fair. ford version looks better overall. hope a new impala is in the works (on a side note, can anyone explain why the impala is selling like crazy these days? it deserves to... but why now?).

[frenstall]

Originally posted by paul8488@Feb 4 2004, 03:22 PM
(on a side note, can anyone explain why the impala is selling like crazy these days? it deserves to... but why now?).

Fleet sales and incentives would be my guess but I have nothing to back that up.

[BigAls87Z28]

is...is that... is that.... is that grannett trim? WTF!?!?
other then that, the sable/taurus lives on. At least this one is getting a 5spd auto awd and a cvt.

and, can someone explain to me the Holden steering wheel? But over all, its a nice looking car, and the Impy better look awesome to top the ford twins. I think GM falling back behind on sedans? Damn, they were so close.

[tgagneguam]

Admittedly, the styling is a bit tepid, and I'm not a huge fan of the front-end, but this car is light years ahead of the Camry is terms of looking more expensive than it actually is, particularly with respect to the interior. Honestly, J. Mays and crew have it all over Toyota and Nissan in terms of their pedestrian interiors. Overall, not a homerun, but generally pleasing.

Which will do better, the Sable or the LaCrosse? I wonder.

[cyboexpo2002]

Originally posted by paul8488@Feb 4 2004, 08:22 PM
horrible grill, great stance, audi roofline, mercedes talilights, yucky interior finish (is that grey fur around the stereo and along the dash?!?). why does mercury get to stay and oldsmobile has to go? not fair. ford version looks better overall. hope a new impala is in the works (on a side note, can anyone explain why the impala is selling like crazy these days? it deserves to... but why now?).

Naw, that's not fur, it's plastic... instead of plastic that is fake wood...

[Smilingoat]

sorry i just think this is one of the ugliest cars around. the inside is nice-er than a lot though.

[tmp]

Boy, remember when there was some design reach at Ford? Now they just take design bits of each German car, dumb it down and slap a name from the 60's on it.

I mean, it's really nice that the interiors are not crap anymore, but I have t look at the outside of it too.

[R.E Sanchez]

:lol: Oops

[nsap]

Originally posted by R.E Sanchez@Feb 4 2004, 06:03 PM
:angry: Whats-up with the big black bumper car nose?...YUCK!!!! the rest of it looks ok. (for Hyundai)

What are you talking about?

[bradlemp]

did anyone notice that the clock is analog, very classy looking. woudl liek real wood or chrome instead of that but im sure my gramps and uncle will like it. (their ford guys)

[genjy]

It's not a coincidence that new Fords look like Audis/VWs. Ford's designer is J. Mays, who designed the jellybean Audis/VWs we know today.

Ford didn't "steal" anything from VW.... it's just J. Mays' style.