2006 Mercury Milan Preview

Design is all Mercury executives have to discuss these days. Traditionally, a Mercury was nothing more than a Ford with snazzy trim and additional standard equipment, the epitome of a practice known as brand-engineering. In the 1990s, Mercury executives vowed that products distinctly different from their Ford counterparts would boost sales over the long term, saving the brand from the same fate that ultimately befell now-defunct Plymouth. This strategy cost Ford Motor Company extra development money and resulted in sales flops like the blobby, undersized Villager minivan and that rolling mass of triangles known as the Cougar sport coupe. Today, it's clear that yesterday's marketing philosophy has Mercury firmly back in its grip for the foreseeable future. That's how Lincoln-Mercury President Darryl Hazel is able to assert that his "more new products, faster," business strategy is working. Witness the debut of the swanky new 2006 Mercury Milan, a handsome sedan with a sound foundation that splits the already narrow difference between a Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr in an effort to "attract younger buyers, and many women, who might otherwise buy European or Asian brands," according to Phil Martens, Ford Group vice president of product creation.

Design

Based upon the same corporate CD platform as the Fusion and Zephyr, powered by the same engines and transmissions, and sharing the bulk of its exterior design with the Ford and Lincoln, the primary differentiator for the 2006 Mercury Milan is a waterfall grille coated with a liberal dollop of satin-silver trim. Actually, that's an overstatement. The Milan's styling differences go beyond the grille. Unique fascias, a different decklid, and modified LED tail lamps set the Milan apart from the Ford Fusion. Plus, the Milan rides on multi-spoked 17-inch alloy wheels, and the outside mirrors are heated. Inside, there are subtle interior upgrades such as a standard power driver's seat and optional two-tone leather upholstery to give the Mercury a more luxurious cabin.

Fancy Fusion

Otherwise, the 2006 Mercury Milan is a carbon copy of the Ford Fusion, from its four-wheel-disc antilock brakes and four-wheel-independent suspension to its interior control layout, optional side-curtain airbags, and snug rear seat accommodations. Choose between a 2.3-liter, 160-horsepower, inline four-cylinder engine (PZEV-rated in some regions of the country) and a 3.0-liter, 210-horsepower V6 - each driving the front wheels. The four-cylinder can be equipped with a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission, while the V6 is matched to a six-speed automatic. Either engine can be installed in the Milan's two available trim levels of base and Premier. Indeed, when selecting a new midsize sedan from Ford Motor Company, all you need to do is decide how much you want to spend and which styling cues you prefer. Yet, with an all-wheel-drive option arriving for 2007 and a planned hybrid version slated for 2008, the future of the new Mercury Milan appears to be bright and shiny. Like the satin-silver trim that decorates it inside and out.

Photos courtesy of Ford Motor Company