Is There Still Life in Mercury?

Special Coverage

North American Int’l Auto Show

DETROIT – Rumors have persisted for years that Ford Motor Co.’s Mercury brand is headed toward Boot Hill, joining such other once-stalwarts as Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saturn and Plymouth.

Ford insiders say Mercury is absent from Ford’s future new-product portfolio. The venerable Grand Marquis is being phased out, and Ford has chosen not to spin off a Sable version of its all-new ’10 Taurus.

But J Mays, Ford group vice president design and chief creative officer, hints during an impromptu interview at the North American International Auto Show here there may yet be life for Mercury.

Standing near show models of the upcoming ‘11 subcompact Ford Fiesta and ‘12 compact Focus, Mays declines to comment on whether there will be Mercury versions of the cars.

“Mercury is a good complement to Ford (brand) cars,” he says in regards to the brand’s future, citing the Milan as an example.

The Mercury marque has a decidedly low profile at this year’s show. No concept cars and only four vehicles on display: the Mountaineer SUV, Mariner Hybrid, Milan Hybrid and standard Milan sedan.

Mercury has been a Ford mainstay for more than 70 years. It was introduced to compete with mid-price General Motors Co. as an upscale version of the Ford brand.

Dropping Mercury would leave the company’s Lincoln-Mercury dealers bereft of a lower-cost offering, unless Ford chooses to attach the Lincoln nameplate to a more moderately priced vehicle.

There also is the rumor that Ford is looking at rationalizing its retail organization into 1-stop points for all brands, something current Lincoln-Mercury dealers likely would oppose. Lacking Mercury, however, obviously would weaken their competitiveness.

No new product for Milan to show in Detroit.