Mercury Sable

The Mercury Sable is a produced since 1986 car model from the U.S., to the Ford company belonging Mercury brand. The Sable was based on the largely identical Ford Taurus. Meanwhile, from 2005 to 2007, he was replaced by the Mercury Montego, after a fundamental revision to the 2008 model year but again sold under the name Sable. The production of the Sable was discontinued on May 21, 2009.

Sable (1986-1991)

Mercury Sable Sedan (1986-1991)

Christmas 1985 Mercury presented as a successor to the Mercury Marquis to the very modern, aerodynamically designed and futuristic-looking front-wheel drive Sable, which was characterized by a drag coefficient of 0.29. In the first model year, customers had a choice between a 66 kW (90 hp) HSC four-cylinder in combination with a three-speed automatic or a 104 kW payable 3.0-liter Vulcan V6 coupled with a four-speed automatic. The V6 engine proved to be the more popular and more successful variant. The sales figures for the four-cylinder models were so disappointing that these versions were taken from the 1987 program ( the Taurus they were still available until 1991 ). Ford's 3.8-liter Essex V6 was added in 1988 the engine range.

Despite the identical with the Vulcan V6 power of 104 kW ( 141 hp ) had the Essex due to its larger displacement, higher torque of 291 Nm that was very welcome, especially in the severe combined variants. However, the 3.8 Essex suffered reliability problems with the cylinder head gaskets. Also cooling problems occurred.

Over the years, the Sable experienced only minor modifications, mainly in the areas of equipment and design.

In autumn 1991, after the sales had dropped to just under 90,000 copies, the second generation of Sable was introduced.

Sable (1991-1995)

Mercury Sable Sedan (1991-1995)

The Sable received first extensive body modifications in the autumn of 1991. In addition to the front end and the rear and the interior has been modernized, for which Ford has invested $ 650 million. The new model brought it despite the recent weakening sales of its predecessor again to 103,000 units sold in 1992. Though the design language remained largely unchanged, then each body part had been redesigned except the roof. The redesigned interior was available with optional side airbags, then a novelty in the middle class.

1993 extras such as the infamous InstaClear called Heated windshield were taken from the offer. A passenger side airbag counted as of 1993 the basic equipment, 1994, the Driver has been revised and modified the steering wheel.

The estate version of the Sable was usually available with the same options as the sedan. The combination models possessed a boot volume of up to 2294 liters with the rear seat folded down. Was this set up ( 60/ 40 split ), the trunk still took 1274 liters.

The station wagon had further includes a separately hinged rear window and roof rails, an optionally available third-row seats, which was aligned opposite to the direction of travel, a lockable compartment in the subsoil, and an optional pull-out picnic table. Combination models with a continuous bench seat in front and an additional third row of seats could carry up to eight people.

The last production year of the second generation model was 1995. For this model year, the equipment line LTS has been added to the offer. She offered leather seats, alloy wheels adopted from Taurus LX, special Kunststoffbeplankungen to the body and a partial leather interior. The LTS was available as standard with the three-liter Vulcan engine or on request with the 3.8-liter Essex engine.

From Sable the first and second generation in 10 years saw overall 1.09045 million copies.

Sable (1995-1999)

Mercury Sable Sedan (1995-1999)

In autumn 1995, Mercury brought out a completely newly developed model. After at most slight cosmetic revisions were stylistically been made in the second model generation, it was hoped at Ford with the radical design of the third generation equivalent successes such as the Sable introduced in 1986 to achieve. The controversial oval design language was not well received by the press and the public and was seen in the episode as a reason for weak sales.

With this model generation was trying to "higher" position the Sable and to affiliate him closer to the luxury segment, which also led to a considerable rise in prices and consequently to loss of customers. The Sable for 1996 was the first model, the body parts with the Ford Taurus was divided. Both differed mainly by different front and rear sections. Although the design of the Sable was less characterized by the controversial oval shape elements, decreased sales.

The Sable was 96 (203 hp) can be ordered with a 3.0 - liter Duratec 30 V6 with double overhead camshafts and 149 kW. The trim levels remained the same, with the GS as a base model and the LS as a luxury variant. The LTS was no longer offered.

While there was for all models from 1998, the 3.0 Duratec engine as an option in the offer, he remained the LS reserved by model year 1999. In model year 1999 were available for the GS version as an option, individual front seats. Also in 1999, the 2000 Duratec was increased in performance, in the hope of being able to increase the sales.

To counteract the declining sales of the Sable, Mercury tried to reduce production costs. The Sable was therefore given 1998 a new, more cost-effective front end, to which the sale price could be reduced by 1999 to $ 2000. In addition, some equipment options were canceled, resulting in further savings.

Sable (1999-2005)

Mercury Sable Sedan (1999-2003)

The Sable received another facelift in late 1999, under which the oval design molds were weakened. With the new design, the vehicle also received a higher roof line above the rear, which caused both more headroom as well as an enlarged trunk volume. The interior has been completely redesigned, in a less polarizing, much more conventional design. The chassis was even softer tuned to be a broader, less sporty oriented customers needs. In order to reduce production costs accounted for some features of its predecessor, such as four-wheel disc brakes.

The Sable 2002 vintage had one in each trim level extensive interior appointments, including an audio system with CD player and an electrically adjustable driver's seat in the GS version, an electric sunroof and leather interior in the LS version. Side airbags and traction control were now available for all models as extras.

In the fall of 2003, the Sable minor cosmetic changes to the front end, especially in the form of a new chrome grille, and modifications in the tail region learned. Inside, the instruments and the steering wheel were revised.

Since the Mercury brand was no longer being offered now in Canada, the fourth generation of Sable was there no longer available and was sold exclusively in the USA and in Mexico.

As the successor of the Mercury Montego Sable ( 2004) and the Mercury Milan (2005) were presented. Shortly after the introduction of the Montego Sable was set to coincide with the Taurus station wagon. The Taurus was initially continued to be produced as a sedan for major customers. The last Sable left the production facility in Atlanta on April 29, 2005.

Sable (2007-2009)

Mercury Sable Sedan (2007-2009)

The idea to provide as part of the transformation of the model range, new models with a name that starts with F and Mercury begins in the case of Ford with M, denoted Alan Mulally, CEO of Ford, in retrospect as a poor marketing strategy, as this many traditional names such as Taurus and Sable also would have been lost. Mulally, therefore, decided to revive some traditional name. This includes the term " Sable " as the Montego is again named since the beginning of the model year 2008. It was hoped to be able to attract more buyers with the familiar name again.

The facelift in autumn 2007, with the accompanied the name change included a new front fascia and headlights, which are similar to those of the Mercury Milan. Then there were mirrors and door handles in aluminum look and new LED tail lights. The engine range was complemented by the 3.5 -liter Cyclone V6 Ford Edge with 196 kW with a torque of 337 Nm. Power transmission was via a 6F six-speed automatic by Ford

The actually achieved sales figures remained but to fall short of expectations. With the model change of the Ford Taurus, the production of the Sable ended in May 2009 without a successor.

Special models

From Sable the first generation, there were some very rare special models.

In 1987, a special version called LS Monochrome Edition was offered, in which the bumpers, side skirts and the wheels were painted white. This model was only offered in 1987; the production number is not known.

A 50th Anniversary version came on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Mercury brand in 1989 on the market, came from more than 50 copies in the sale. Thus, Mercury was planning a sporty luxury version of the Sable called the LTS. This luxury sports variant should be based on the Ford Taurus SHO (Super High Output ) with a V8 engine. The idea was dropped in order not to create unnecessary competition for the Taurus SHO. 1994 Sable LTS was put on the market, however. Rather than the sporty top model, but merely as a particularly well-equipped LS version

A special unique piece, a Sable convertible was built in 1988 for the SAE Motor Show in Detroit. It was based on an ordinary Sable sedan, but had a separate two-door body with a folding roof. The concept was not pursued and not ready for the market. The only convertible ever built Sable stood for years in a warehouse before it was given a type number and approval. It was auctioned on eBay in 2006.

Awards

The Sable was supported by the U.S. car magazine Car and Driver three times on the annual list of the ten best cars ( Ten Best Cars) performed for the first time in his appearance in 1986 and then 1990 and 1991.

Swell

• Flammang, James M. and Kowalke, Ron: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1976-1999, Krause Publication, Iola 1999, ISBN 0-87341-755-0, pp. 666-697.