Mercury Mountaineer

The Mercury Mountaineer is a 1996 produced by 2010 Sport Utility Vehicle of the upper middle class. It is produced by the U.S. automotive manufacturer Mercury, who belongs to the Ford company. Therefore, the Mountaineer in technical terms, with the Ford Explorer is almost identical. The two models differ slightly in terms of the body design, the scope of the standard equipment and in terms of pricing.

First generation (1996-2001)

Mercury Mountaineer (1996-2001)

Nearly two years after the publication of the Explorer of the second generation launched the Mountaineer Mercury, which was derived from the Explorer, but was better equipped and fitted as standard with a 157 kW ( 213 hp) 4.9 -liter V8. As sales lagged in the first year of production below expectations, the Mercury on the grille was modified at the headlamps and at the rear and also received rims with a unique design, in order to better distinguish it from the Explorer. In addition, the Mountaineer received a new standard OHC four-liter V6 with 153 kW ( 208 hp) and a five-speed manual transmission. Sales of the model was increased, but without being able to reach the sales figures of its sister model by these modifications.

In 2000, it came after a series of accidents in which vehicles of the Explorer and Mountaineer had overturned while driving to a dispute between the tire supplier Firestone and the Ford Company. Ford made defective tires where the profiles were solved responsible for the accidents, while claiming at Firestone that the two SUV models are generally unsafe. Agreement was reached out of court, and the trade magazine Car and Driver was able to demonstrate that a majority of flashovers it went back that the drivers had to respond in terms of their behavior vehemently the bursting of the tires and thus itself contributed to the accidents.

Second generation (2001-2010)

Mercury Mountaineer (2001-2005)

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

With the new generation of Mountaineer sales increased considerably. With this model Mercury also took its new marketing strategy to equip their own models of Ford vehicles compared to luxurious. At the same time with the new Mountaineer style elements have been introduced, such as the " waterfall " grille with its vertical struts and the divided by chrome trim rear lights that also characterize later Mercury models.

Facelift

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

The lead frame has been completely redesigned and improved material quality in the interior, so that the Mountaineer for potential customers could be considered as an alternative to the now-defunct Lincoln Aviator. The car also received new wheels, a revised front fascia and a DVD navigation system.

The end of 2010 the production was stopped as in the other models of the Mercury brand.