Press Release
Safety: A Mercury standard
Milan's competent, well-balanced chassis also helps drivers avoid accidents. Should an accident occur, the Milan features a comprehensive safety package with advanced high-strength steel construction and as many as six available air bags.Mercury safety engineers developed body structures that help direct crash energy away from the passenger compartment and used energy-absorbing materials to help cushion the effect on vehicle occupants.
"We analyzed the vehicle's structure in light of the complex forces that are involved in real-world crashes," says Kris Warmann, Milan safety supervisor. "With science, smart engineering and a lot of hard work, we learned that it is possible to design high-level safety performance into a vehicle in this class."
Engineers strengthened Milan's sides to better manage intrusion into the cabin during a side impact. Available side air bags and side-curtain air bags enhance this protection.
"During the last decade, the safety landscape for passenger cars has changed dramatically. Vehicles on the road today are bigger and speed limits are higher," says Sue Cischke, vice president, Ford Environmental and Safety Engineering. "The Milan takes on the challenges posed by larger vehicles in a unique way, and that's very important for sedan buyers."
Clean and Potent: 160-hp Duratec 23 I-4 or 210-hp Duratec 30 V-6
The new Milan comes with a choice of powertrains geared for the challenges and responsibilities of city driving, offering performance balanced with fuel efficiency and clean emissions.Milan offers two engine choices – a 2.3-liter Duratec 23 inline four-cylinder that provides 160 horsepower flowing through either a five-speed manual or automatic. A 3.0-liter Duratec 30 V-6 pumps out 210 horsepower through an advanced six-speed automatic transaxle.
Ford Motor Company is taking a leadership position in six-speed automatic transmissions to simultaneously boost performance – without necessarily going to larger engines – and fuel economy with the wider ratio spreads allowed by the extra gear.
"We believe performance and fuel economy can go hand-in-hand if you invest in the right technologies," says Dave Szczupak, vice president, Powertrain Operations. "That's why Ford is investing in six speed automatic transmissions, engines with advanced controls like variable cam timing and other advanced powertrain technologies."
Today, less than one percent of all vehicles sold use a six-speed automatic. But by 2010, Ford Motor Company expects 15 to 20 percent will have six speeds, and 50 percent by 2015.
This V-6 powertrain gives Milan an edge in passing situations with quick kick down and acceleration for crisp acceleration from 55 to 75 miles per hour (mph.)
"Milan drivers will appreciate the performance level, good sound qualities and the refinement offered by either engine," says David Foulkes, chief powertrain engineer.
The engines also are fuel-efficient and burn fuel cleanly. The Duratec 23 will qualify for Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle certification in California while the Duratec 30 will earn Low Emission Vehicle II evaporative standards in most states and even Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle II tailpipe recognition in California.
"Milan is a vehicle that owners can be proud of in terms of its overall appearance, its packaging and the comfort level, as well as its safety and environmental benefits," says Cischke.
In about a year, Milan's powertrain offerings will expand with the availability of all-wheel drive. And in 2008, Milan will become Mercury's second full-hybrid vehicle, joining the Mariner. It will also be the fifth full-hybrid offered by Ford Motor Company after the Ford Escape Hybrid, Mercury Mariner Hybrid, Mazda Tribute Hybrid and Ford Fusion Hybrid.
Great Value: With distinct style, premium features
Complementing the new sedan's upscale design, Milan's raft of standard features appeals to customers seeking smart designs and smarter values.Both the entry Milan and more well-equipped Milan Premier arrays give consumers the choices they want by offering both the four- and six-cylinder powertrains. All Milan models feature a six-way power driver's seat, a CD-equipped audio system, an analog clock, remote keyless entry, power windows and locks, and power heated exterior mirrors.
"Milan's exterior design and interior styling is well appointed, sophisticated and modern," says Revier. "And the available two-tone interior is something you don't see in this segment, only in more expensive luxury cars."
Transforming Mercury: Continuing the brand's growth
Mercury's renaissance hits full stride in 2005 as the brand's design-led transformation spreads across the entire lineup. Milan enters Mercury's burgeoning showroom alongside Montego, Mariner, Mariner Hybrid, Mountaineer and Monterey. By the end of 2005, Mercury will offer its largest lineup in 37 years, with six all-new vehicles within just four years.Milan is designed to be the "youngest" Mercury vehicle, targeting customers between 26 and 35 years of age. Attracting these new buyers is a key component of the growth strategy driving the Mercury brand and the Lincoln Mercury Division.
"We have announced an ambitious goal of increasing Lincoln Mercury sales from 300,000 to 500,000 annually by the end of the decade," says Hazel. "We measure Mercury success not only by sales, but by the increasing consideration rate among shoppers. Before, Mercury wasn't really on people's radar screens, or they perceived Mercury as just the Grand Marquis. Due to our new marketing focus and new products like the Milan, Mercury is becoming more and more relevant to consumers."
The 2006 Mercury Milan goes on sale in the United States in the fall of 2005.
Chassis
Milan is intended to be a driver's sedan in the mid-size segment – with the performance, braking, handling and ride normally associated with more expensive cars. Its robust architecture is especially well suited to taking on busy metropolitan streets.Its wide track gives it the stability needed to negotiate unexpected obstacles, and its long wheelbase – combined with its rigid platform – easily shrugs off road imperfections. And when its driver wants to escape city life, the Milan's chassis offers spirited driving on twisty back roads.
To make Milan engaging and responsive to drive, Mercury engineers utilized some powerful tools:
- Ford Motor Company's all-new, well-regarded CD3 architecture was selected as the foundation.
- Ambitious customer satisfaction goals were determined for every critical area, including braking, wind noise, Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) and climate control.
- Computer-aided engineering was used to test every phase of the design to ensure tight body-shell tolerances and class-leading torsional rigidity.
Torsional Strength: Foundation for outstanding driving dynamics
With the assistance of thorough computerized "digital" development, it is expected that Milan will have class-leading torsional rigidity – a measure of vehicle stiffness. In fact, Milan has 12.7 percent greater torsional stiffness than its already solid base architecture, without adding weight – and despite the fact that the architecture was stretched to be 30 millimeters (1.18 inches) wider and 55 millimeters (2.17 inches) longer.A rigid structure permits the suspension to absorb more of the rigors of everyday driving before it can reach the passenger compartment. A stiff chassis also enables distinct handling benefits.
State of Independence: Independent front and rear suspensions
Milan's fully independent front and rear suspensions help keep tires in contact with the road, and are carefully tuned to meet the contradictory needs of Milan drivers: they offer the body control and agility necessary to negotiate crowded city traffic, and the compliance needed to comfortably traverse uneven roadways.Milan employs a multi-link independent rear suspension that performs like a double-wishbone setup by limiting lateral forces on the springs for more composure. It also keeps suspension movement at a lower plane relative to the trunk floor, eliminating the need for large shock towers that reduce trunk cargo space.
"The intelligent design of the CD3 architecture allowed us to optimize all aspects of the car," notes Baldori. "Not only did it allow us to tune the suspension for every kind of driving environment, but it also gave us the ability to maximize interior space and cargo capacity, too." In front, Milan uses an advanced short- and long-arm (SLA) design, with a double ball-joint lower control arm and coil-over shock suspension. Compared to the more common MacPherson strut, the Milan system puts the effective kingpin axis farther outboard. This contributes to a reduced scrub radius and helps to isolate the steering system from undesirable feedback.
Rebound springs in the front shocks help reduce harshness at the extremes of wheel travel, while helping decrease vehicle pitch under acceleration and reducing roll during cornering. Like the rear, the design helps maintain a more constant camber angle – meaning less understeer and better tire contact with the road, even while cornering at higher speeds. Stabilizer bars (24 millimeters in front, 17 millimeters – 16 millimeters for I-4 – in the rear) further help to reduce body roll.
Also contributing to the Milan's impressive driving dynamics are the base 16-inch wheels with 60-series tires and optional 17-inch wheels and low-profile 50-series tires. Both tire sizes are tuned for comfort as well as grip. Despite their generous dimensions, they also have relatively low rolling resistance to help contribute to good fuel economy.
Engaging Driving: Precise steering and braking
Milan's precise ride, handling, steering and braking were developed to work together and complement each other for a confident driving character. For example, braking performance was a major goal – but just as critical to reduced stopping distances was providing ample feedback to the driver that the braking action is controlled and predictable.Additional goals were to reduce brake dust and achieve quiet, low-noise braking performance while maintaining solid, repeatable stops. To get there, engineers increased the thickness and diameter of the brake rotors, selecting 299 x 25-millimeter ventilated front rotors and 279 x 10-millimeter solid rear rotors. The calipers also were designed to very tight tolerances to help assure that initial pedal travel is short and that the brakes feel solid when used.
Milan employs a rack-and-pinion steering system that, with its gear mounted to the front perimeter sub-frame, takes advantage of the car's rigid structure for reduced noise and vibration. This solid construction keeps the driver better apprised of the car's relationship to the pavement via the steering wheel – regardless of whether it's a low-speed parking maneuver or a high-speed lane change.
"The car does what you ask it to do, and it goes where you point it," says Baldori. "All aspects of the chassis are working together, which makes the Milan driving experience so engaging. This is especially important for those that need to move around congested streets with confidence."
