Mercury Mountaineer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Mercury Mountaineer
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Production: 1997-present
Class: Mid-size SUV
Body style: 4-door SUV
Related: Ford Aerostar
Ford Explorer
Ford Ranger
Lincoln Aviator
Mazda B-Series
Mazda Navajo
Similar: Buick Enclave
Chrysler Aspen
Nissan Murano
Toyota 4Runner
First generation
Production: 1997-2001
Engine: 4.0 L Cologne V6
5.0 L V8
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
5-speed automatic
Wheelbase: 111.6 in
Length: 190.1 in
Width: 70.2 in
Height: 70.5 in
Related: Ford Aerostar
Ford Explorer
Ford Ranger
Mazda B-Series
Second generation
Production: 2002-2005
Engine: 4.0 L Cologne V6
4.6 L Modular V8
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Wheelbase: 113.7 in
Length: 190.7 in
Width: 72.1 in
Height: 69.6 in
Related: Ford Explorer
Lincoln Aviator
Third generation
Production: 2006–present
Engine: 4.0 L Cologne V6
4.6 L Modular V8
Transmission: 6-speed 6R automatic
Wheelbase: 113.7 in
Length: 193.5 in
Width: 73.5 in
Height: 72.8 in
Related: Ford Explorer
The Mercury Mountaineer is a luxury SUV manufauctured by the Mercury brand name, owned by the Ford Motor Company. The Mountaineer shares many features with the Ford Explorer, and in terms of hardware, the vehicles are virtually identical. [1] Externally, they are styled somewhat differently, and the Mountainer is positioned with a more upscale interior, with the Mountaineer's MSRP coming in at $1,000–6,000 more than the Explorer. [2] It was mildly redesigned for the 2006 model year due to a new frame, but looks very similar to its previous model.
Contents [hide]
1 First generation (1997-2001)
2 Second generation (2002-2005)
3 Third generation (2006-present)
4 Firestone Tire Controversy
5 Canadian market
6 References
7 External links
[edit] First generation (1997-2001)
Although the redesigned Explorer had already been out for 2 years, Mercury introduced a Explorer twin called the Mountaineer. The Mountaineer was only slightly different from the Explorer, although it did offer a few extra luxury features that the Explorer lacked. First year sales for the Mountaineer were not exactly up to par with the Explorer. For 1998, so customers could differentiate the Mountaineer from the Explorer, the front fascia was flipped upside down, and the headlights were made smaller, while it got a new rear hatch and unique wheels. Mountaineer sales sped up because of this, though they still lagged behind the Explorer. In 2000, a huge punch came to the Mountaineer with the Firestone vs Ford Motor Company controversy, where a large amount of rollovers were happening involving Explorers and Mountaineers. While Ford blamed Firetone's faunty tires, which had problems with the tread separating, Firestone blamed Ford, claiming that the Explorer and Mountaineer were unsafe. The case was settled, and Car and Driver proved that a large amounts of the rollovers were caused by the drivers overracting to the tire blow out.
[edit] Second generation (2002-2005)
For 2002, Ford redesigned the Explorer and Mountaineer. This Mountaineer was new from the ground up, offering even more luxury features than the last generation. This Mountaineer offered features like woodgrain trim, rear radio deck, and a rear-seat TV/DVD player. Sales sped up drastically with the introduction of this generation, and it was a look ahead at the entire revamp of the Mercury line, to offer more luxurious looks and features. Some design cues found on this Mountaineer, like the waterfall grille and barred taillights, would go on to form Mercury's new signature look, which would appear on all its models.