Mercury Unveils 2008 Mariner

In a move that caught the automotive world off guard, Mercury on Friday quietly unveiled the second-generation 2008 Mariner SUV. The all-new sheetmetal aims to better encapsulate Mercury's revitalized design direction, manifesting itself in the waterfall grille, clear taillight lenses, and a clean, cladding-free lower body. The new interior, featuring a simplified center console and a cool new light scheme, is a harbinger for future Mercury products. Speed-sensitive Electric Power Steering (EPS) improves overall steering feel and helps fuel economy by reducing the draw on the engine. A retuned suspension and a host of NVH enhancements are designed to give the 2008 Mariner more car-like handling characteristics.

The Mariner Hybrid - the successor to Green Car Journal's 2006 Green Car of The Year - is improved too. The basic mechanics remain the same: a 2.3-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine is paired with a 70 kW electric motor to provide a combined 155 horsepower, yielding 0-60 times that rival the 200 horsepower V-6 engine while boosting city-driving fuel economy over the V-6 by nearly 75 percent. Changes for 2008 include revisions to software in the control system to make the transition between gasoline and electric operation less perceptible to the driver, as well as a retuned four-wheel-disc regenerative braking system designed to provide better feel. The Mariner Hybrid will also be available for the first time with a choice of front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, unlike the four-wheel drive only previous generation.