2006 Mercury Milan

Press Release

Exterior / Interior

Mercury's renaissance hits full stride in 2005 as the brand's design-led transformation spreads across the entire lineup to give young, independent thinkers affordable upscale alternatives to increasingly common automotive designs. The 2006 Milan shakes up the staid sedan scene by wrapping Mercury's sophisticated look ??????????????????????????????????????? first established by the 2002 Mountaineer ??????????????????????????????????????? around a well-proportioned mid-size car.

Design Renaissance: Mercury's new look revitalizes mid-size sedan segment

The Milan's exterior brings Mercury's signature design cues ??????????????????????????????????????? the dramatic waterfall grille, clean lines, distinct rear treatments, satin-aluminum finishes and attention to detail ??????????????????????????????????????? to the brand's first mid-size sedan in a decade. The Milan evokes modern architecture with clean, sculpted lines and vertical themes that accentuate its long wheelbase and dynamic stance, contributing to the sedan's expressive image.

"The name 'Milan' connotes visions of a modern, fashionable European city, fitting the car's design theme and young customers like a finely tailored suit," says chief designer Darrell Behmer.

Cosmopolitan Profile: Long, clean, modern proportions

The Milan's side view is clean and purposeful, chiseled around substantial wheels ??????????????????????????????????????? all communicating a connection to modern, large cities.

"Good design starts with great proportions," Behmer adds. "The Milan has a dynamic stance, long wheelbase and sophisticated, taut surfaces that make for a modern looking car.

"The long wheelbase sets the greenhouse between the wheels and enhances the positioning of the C-pillar relative to the rear wheels to reinforce Milan's modernity. It's a subtle thing, but a few millimeters here or there can make a big difference."

Milan's wheelbase stretches 107.4 inches, yet the new sedan is only 191.4 inches long overall. Such proportions help push the wheels out toward the corners of the car, enhancing Milan's dynamic capabilities and its visual stance. The longer wheelbase also provides ample interior room, especially in the rear, challenging class leaders in virtually every interior dimension.

Milan's profile is not cluttered with unnecessary adornments, allowing the eye to focus on the balanced, modern proportions.

"The car has a distinctive, clean profile that appeals to the younger audience Mercury is drawing with its design renaissance," says Behmer. "There's not a line on the car where you can say 'why did they do that?' Every detail was carefully considered and addressed. It just looks right."

For example, many cars use a bright chrome strip to surround side windows or to accent the side windowsills. Building on Mercury's design vocabulary, Milan forgoes excessive bright work. The only such element is a single line of bright "belt molding" along the base of the side windows that helps accentuate the car's length. Satin aluminum finishes appear on Milan's grille, front fascia and rear decklid ??????????????????????????????????????? a theme repeated by unifying interior trim accents.

"Design is a key differentiator in the marketplace and is what separates us from the competition. Mercury is always about good design," says Behmer.

Face Time: A distinct front-end presence

For Milan's face, Mercury's signature waterfall grille, with its strong vertical bars and satin aluminum finish, is precisely set between projector headlamps that wrap up over sharply creased front fenders. A critical part of the design is the tight radius of the front corners, which curve back quickly beneath the front fenders.

"One of the most dramatic aspects of the design is the front-end plan view," Behmer says. "We moved the front corners back for better proportional balance and to visually shorten the front end. This, coupled with the strong graphic identity, is both fresh and confident."

The wide grille and headlamps, as well as a wide lower air intake and foglamps set at the corners of the lower front fascia, reinforce Milan's wide stance. The angular projector lamps and satin-aluminum accents are instantly recognizable as the distinctive new face of Mercury.

"Horizontal elements help to emphasize a car's width, but the Mercury design theme features vertical elements on the front end of its cars," says Behmer. "Wrapping the headlamps up over the fenders serves visually to take your eye back and to shorten the front end even more, giving the car a more upscale look.

"In addition to the waterfall grille and satin-aluminum finishes, we emphasized the floating Mercury badge to give the car more presence when you see it coming down the road."

Rear View: Sculpted and clean with a high-tech flair

Milan also has a distinct presence when seen from behind. To underscore Milan's roomy rear seating area and its large trunk, a strong tail section was designed. Special attention was placed on details that visually enhance the car's width and that also signal its technical precision.

"We designed light-emitting diode (LED) taillamps for this car," says Behmer. "In addition to the safety benefits of LED lights, they add to the Milan's modern technical appearance. The red and clear lenses give Milan a distinctive, dramatic rear visual."

Behmer's team extended the taillamps into the decklid to reinforce the car's width. Positioning the taillamps higher also enhanced the substantial rear end, creating substance, depth and solidity.

Models equipped with the V-6 have twin exhaust tips placed within a black lower valance panel and a satin-aluminum finished trim strip across the decklid to provide distinctive accents to Milan's strong rear view.

To enhance Milan's aesthetic appeal, ten colors were selected for its exterior palette, and one of them ??????????????????????????????????????? Satellite Silver Metallic ??????????????????????????????????????? is unique to Milan.

"Cars with good proportions have an inherent competence about them," adds Behmer. "Mercury builds on this competence with the distinctive, technical style of a design-conscious brand. The look of Milan, as in all of our new Mercury products, has that unique quality that says Mercury is about smart design."

The 2006 Mercury Milan's interior reinforces the upscale exterior design, using satin-aluminum accents as a unifying theme, and reflects the company's increased investment in leading interior designs. Mercury hallmarks of quality materials and a passionate attention to details grace both trim levels ??????????????????????????????????????? entry or Premier ??????????????????????????????????????? to provide a refreshing departure from bland sedan interiors.

The Milan is designed to provide the same comfort, premium features and technical details found in the homes of young professionals who spend as much time in their cars as they do on the couch. These savvy buyers expect style and comfort to be married with panache and affordability ??????????????????????????????????????? much like the products they find at the increasing number of clothing or home-improvement stores catering to their discerning tastes.

Two Themes: Technical Satin Metallic or warm Wales Mahogany wood trim appearances

The Milan's interior can be furnished with a warm Wales Mahogany wood finish for an inviting setting or a cool Satin Metallic trim appearance that makes a more dramatic, modern statement. Either trim is available with Mercury's signature two-tone leather interior with contrasting stitching offered on the Premier model for a more bold automotive fashion statement.

On all models, the door panels and the dashboard are finished with soft-touch composite skins rather than hard surfaces. The round, easy-to-read gauges have satin finished bezels that subtly connect the interior to the upscale exterior design treatment.

"The Milan interior offers two unique themes that are both distinctly Mercury and appeal to the most savvy customers," says Barb Whalen, color materials design manager, Large and Mid-size Cars. "It's a fresh, smart design ??????????????????????????????????????? either for the 'sport' or the 'pampered needs' in you.

"Great design connects directly with the consumer, and the Milan speaks to the Mercury customer looking for a distinctive style. We carefully considered the options and created these distinct appearance packages to deliver designs that reflect owners' personal styles and tastes, just as their homes do."

Distinctive Upholstery: Available contrasting stitching and two-tone interior trim

The standard entry Milan model comes with premium cloth seating surfaces in Dark Charcoal, Medium Light Stone or Camel colors. This interior has a modern, sporting appearance accented with a satin-metallic finish on the center panel and on the decorative spears that extend on either side of the instrument panel.

Milan Premier features leather seats in Dark Charcoal with Light Stone contrasting stitching, in Camel with Medium Dark Parchment contrasting stitching or in the more dramatic two-tone scheme with Medium Light Stone inserts between Dark Charcoal bolsters with Light Stone contrasting stitching. The Premier interior also offers Wales Mahogany wood finish decor on the center panel and the dash trim.

The use of premium materials and contrasting finishes creates a refreshing, contemporary ambiance, says Whalen, "No matter which model or color scheme you choose, the Milan interior is cool and sophisticated."

Individuality: Customers can choose an ambiance and trim to fit their style

All entry Milan models are equipped with audio systems featuring a CD player with MP3 capability, an analog clock, an overhead console with sunglass holder, covered flip-up storage bin on top of the dash and a six-way power driver's seat with manual lumbar.

Milan Premier adds a six-disc CD changer with MP3, auto dimming interior rearview mirror and a message center with compass. The optional "Comfort Package" offers a leather-wrapped steering wheel with redundant audio, speed and climate controls, automatic electronic climate control, auto headlamps, fog lamps and puddle lamps.

"In Milan, you recognize that you're in a modern interior, but not modern in the sense of stark, cold avant-garde," says chief designer Darrell Behmer. "It's modern in the sense of good, intelligent design that makes the owner instantly comfortable, intuitively knowing where the controls are."

Milan's innovative storage solutions include eight cupholders, located in the center console, door pockets and rear armrest. Exclusive to Milan are covered front cupholders that provide a more distinctive, finished look when the flip-top covers are closed.

"The key to good design is the special touches and attention to detail," says Behmer. "If you look at upscale handbags, shoes or belts, the finish on the buckle, the stitching on the clasp, and the leather set them apart from the mainstream. These details, like Milan's contrasting stitching, contribute to the overall dramatic statement, but also show a sense of quality, style and design."