DOORS OPEN AS THE 2008 MERCURY MARINER IS UNVEILED IN MIAMI 

• 2008 Mercury Mariner and Mariner Hybrid debut at the 2006 South Florida International Auto Show and go on sale in early 2007.
• Mariner and Mariner Hybrid feature a sophisticated look inside and out, chassis upgrades for improved driving dynamics and a quieter, more comfortable cabin.
• Mercury paints city of Miami with special advertising campaign to mark launch of new 2008 Mariner.
• Miami residents get first auto show look at all-new Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossovers that are set to enter fast growing CUV segment in November.
• Hot Ford Fusion cruises into south Florida with available all-wheel-drive system and in-dash navigation system added for 2007.

The new 2008 Mariner and Mariner Hybrid raise Mercury sophistication to the next level with their unveiling today at the 36th annual South Florida International Auto Show in Miami. Significantly updated for the first time since introduction in late 2004, the new Mariner and Mariner Hybrid will go on sale in early 2007.

The updated Mariner features all-new sheet metal, a completely remade interior, a comprehensive safety package, a quieter ride and more refined driving dynamics. What has not changed is the overall package: Mariner retains the fuel-efficiency, maneuverability and the fun-to-drive nature that is a core characteristic of the small SUV package.

“The 2008 Mercury Mariner is part of a very aggressive new product plan that will see 70 percent of our Ford, Lincoln and Mercury products either new or significantly freshened by the end of 2008,” said Cisco Codina, group vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service for Ford in North America.

The new Mariner and Mariner Hybrid feature a number of fresh Mercury design cues that will be core to the brand moving forward. They include a more prominent waterfall grille, higher beltline and updated materials inside and out and new ice blue interior lighting cues. The Mariner will continue to answer customer needs for a smaller SUV that delivers attributes such as four-wheel drive, a commanding seating position, towing capability and good cargo capacity.

Mercury Goes Outside of Auto Show to Launch New Mariner

Leading into the launch of the new Mariner, Mercury has pursued a comprehensive outdoor advertising campaign in Miami – touching everything from bus shelters to bridges to boats and balloons . The local marketing effort is an offshoot of Mercury’s “New Doors Opened” campaign and kicked off in Miami in mid September. Initially, the outdoor advertising only ‘teased’ the launch of the new Mercury model. Today, all the outdoor ads changed to reveal the new 2008 Mariner and will remain in Miami for the duration of the 2006 South Florida International Auto Show.

Mercury is also inviting consumer to sign up to learn more about the 2008 Mercury Mariner by visiting www.drivezen.com.

In addition to the outdoor advertising and launch website, consumers in Miami were invited to the “Mercury Oasis” on Nikki Beach where, from October 4 th to 7 th, they have been enjoying complimentary hot stone massages, manicures, henna tattoos and reflexology. Sand sculptures of the Mercury Mariner dot the beach.

Mercury is also supporting the Miami Latino Film Festival, which opened Oct. 5 th with the screening of six short films developed for the Mercury Latino Lens Short Film Challenge. This competition urged Hispanic student and professional filmmakers to create short films involving a Mercury vehicle and submit them for review by a panel of respected Hispanic filmmakers. Six films were chosen and are being screened during the festival, as well as on www.cinemercury.com, for voting in order to declare a winner.

Ford, Lincoln and Mercury Heat Up the NAME

With nearly 50 cars on a display of over 33,000 square feet, the combined Ford and Lincoln Mercury stand is among the largest at the show. In addition to the new 2008 Mercury Mariner and Mariner Hybrid, key new and updated vehicles at the show include: 

• 2007 Ford Fusion: Currently one of the hottest cars on sale in North America, Fusion sales have increased an average of 15 percent each month since launch. The 2007 Fusion has been upgraded with an all-wheel-drive option and available, in-dash navigation system. Priced at approximately $24,000, the Fusion AWD model is one of the most affordable and capable in the market. The 2007 Mercury Milan is also offered with optional AWD. 
  
  
• 2007 Lincoln MKZ: Successor of the Zephyr sedan, the 2007 Lincoln MKZ is reborn with an all-new 3.5-liter V6 engine and a fuel-efficient six-speed transmission. On sale now and with an available all-wheel-drive system, MKZ is one of three new products for Lincoln to launch this fall.
  
  
• 2007 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator: The all-new full-size sport-utility vehicles from Ford and Lincoln are making their way to showrooms now and are equipped with some of the most advanced safety features ever offered on full-size SUVS, including standard AdvanceTrac ® with RSC ®, a Ford Motor Company-exclusive roll stability control and active safety system.
  
  
• 2007 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX: Set to go on sale next month, the all-new crossovers from Ford and Lincoln will redefine the booming crossover segment in North America. Prices for the Ford Edge will start just under $26,000. The MKX starts at under $35,000.
  
  
• 2008 Ford Super Duty: Launched last week at the State Fair of Texas, the new Super Duty is the most capable F-Series pickup ever with a more powerful 6.4-liter Power Stroke ® Diesel engine and available industry exclusive features like the innovative Tailgate™ Step, PowerScope™ mirrors and stowable bed extender. It goes on sale in the first quarter of 2007.

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