Mercury Brand Manager Kim Irwin said it is Mercury's "first product to truly deliver 100 percent of the design DNA for Mercury as a brand."That DNA includes a front end with an "eyebrow" lamp design and a larger grille with a bigger, centrally located Mercury waterfall badge. It also involves a redesigned interior that is intended to be more "technical-looking" — which means a floor-mounted shifter, new seats with Alcantara trim and chrome accents, as well as a space in the center console that can hold a laptop computer.
Among the technical upgrades is the addition of speed-sensitive Electric Power Steering. The 2008 Mariner also has Ford's roll stability control system (AdvanceTrac with RSC) and standard side curtain airbags.
The standard Mariner engine is a 2.3-liter Duratec four-cylinder that makes 153 horsepower and 152 pound-feet of torque. There's an optional 3.0-liter Duratec V6 that makes 200 hp and 193 lb-ft.
A hybrid version of the Mariner will be available as well, powered by a 133-hp 2.3-liter 16-valve four-cylinder engine along with an electric motor.
© Source: original article on insideline
