Mercury Mountaineer

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Mercury Mountaineer
Production period: 1996-2010
Class : SUV
Body versions : Station wagon

The Mercury Mountaineer is an upper mid-range sport utility vehicle produced from 1996 to 2010 . It was produced by the US automobile manufacturer Mercury , which was part of the Ford concern. Therefore, from a technical point of view, the Mountaineer is largely identical to the Ford Explorer . The two models differ slightly in terms of body design, the scope of standard equipment and pricing.

First generation (1996-2001)

1st generation
Mercury Mountaineer (1996-2001)

Mercury Mountaineer (1996-2001)
Production period: 1996-2001
Body versions : Station wagon
Engines:
Petrol engines : 4.0–4.9 liters
(153–157 kW)
Length: 4788-4844 mm
Width: 1783 mm
Height: 1694-1791 mm
Wheelbase : 2830 mm
Empty weight : 1750 kg

Almost two years after the second-generation Explorer appeared, Mercury launched the Mountaineer, which was derived from the Explorer, but was better equipped and equipped with a 157 kW (213 hp) 4.9-liter V8 as standard. Since sales in the first year of production fell short of expectations, the Mercury was modified on the grille, the headlights and the rear and also received rims with an independent design to make it stand out from the Explorer. In addition, the Mountaineer received a new OHC four-liter V6 with 153 kW (208 hp) and a five-speed manual transmission as standard . These modifications increased sales of the model without being able to match the sales figures of the sister model.

In 2000, after a series of accidents in which Explorer and Mountaineer vehicles rolled over while driving, a lawsuit broke out between tire supplier Firestone and Ford Company. Ford blamed the accidents on defective tires with loosened treads, while Firestone claimed that the two SUV models were generally unsafe. An out-of-court settlement was reached, and the specialist magazine Car and Driver was able to prove that a large part of the rollover was due to the fact that the drivers reacted too vehemently to their behavior when the tires burst and thus had themselves contributed to the accidents.

Second generation (2001-2010)

2nd generation
Mercury Mountaineer (2001-2005)

Mercury Mountaineer (2001-2005)
Production period: 2001-2010
Body versions : Station wagon
Engines:
Petrol engines : 4.0-4.6 liters
(157-218 kW)
Length: 4844-4915 mm
Width: 1831-1867 mm
Height: 1768-1849 mm
Wheelbase :
Empty weight : 2058 kg

In the fall of 2001 Ford presented a completely new generation of Mountaineer and Explorer models. In addition, new extras such as wood decor and DVD players have been introduced in the rear.

With the new generation of Mountaineer, sales increased considerably. With this model series, Mercury also implemented its new marketing strategy of making its own models more luxurious than Ford vehicles. At the same time, new stylistic elements were introduced with the Mountaineer, such as the “waterfall” grill with its vertical struts and the rear lights divided by chrome strips, which also characterize later Mercury models.

Facelift

Mercury Mountaineer (2005-2010)

In the fall of 2005, the Mountaineer underwent an extensive facelift .

The ladder frame was fundamentally redesigned and the material's appearance in the interior improved so that the Mountaineer could be viewed by potential customers as an alternative to the Lincoln Aviator that has since been discontinued . The car also received new wheels, a revised front fascia and a DVD - navigation system .

As with the other Mercury models, production was discontinued at the end of 2010.

Web links

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