I’m betting on a phase-out that will finish around 2012. Right now, Mercury’s lineup consists of:
1. cloned Fusion (Milan)
2. cloned Taurus (Sable)
3. cloned Crown Victoria (Grand Marquis)
4. cloned Escape (Mariner)
5. cloned Explorer (Mountaineer)

The Crown Victoria has been collecting dust since 1979, and both it and the Explorer are set for oblivion anyway. That would leave the Mariner, Sable, and Milan, which aren’t enough to sustain a brand, and all three are set to run their course in a few years.

oh, I liked Mercury cars, Well it was bound to happen.

cknarf-

http://www.newcougar.org

They were much better cars than the MN12 things before them. Those Fox bodied things are awful.

they need to bring back the cougar. i mean a cougar with some beef.
can really call their last few years cougars?

They need at least 2 successful models, I think. The Milan is selling, but the rest could go bye-bye and maybe the Milan would still be called a Mercury but Mercury would exist only in name pretty much.
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The problem with the “Infinity” argument is Lincoln. In a fight to the death between Mercury and Lincoln, Mercury will very likely lose.

5-10 years. They haven’t been doing that bad… A new Cougar would help make them the “Infiniti” of Ford, instead of just the higher priced Ford.

Idk, i heard rumors of badging euro Fords as Mercury here so i still have faith in it’s survival. Not to mention that the Milan is selling quite well.

I give Mercury 2 years, tops.