After having done major changes in the 2009 model of Mariner, this time Mercury Mariner is up with some new features to be displayed at the Chicago Auto Show 2011. This vehicle shares the basic design with the Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute. Mariner is a 5-passenger, 4-door wagon which has a liftgate with opening glass. Base and uplevel Premier trim levels return. Each has a 171-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. A 240-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 that can run on E85 ethanol-blended fuel is optional.
Both engines team with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Also returning is the gas/electric Hybrid that teams a 153-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gas engine with a battery-powered electric motor. It requires no plug-in charging. Hybrids have a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that behaves much like an automatic. Maximum towing capacity is 1,500 pounds for 4-cylinder models, 3,500 pounds for the V6. All Mariners are available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, and front-side airbags. Also available are leather upholstery, heated front seats, rear-obstacle detection, a navigation system, and a rearview camera.
Features
Exterior
Expressive Styling
It begins with contemporary, flowing lines. The prominent waterfall grille and satin-aluminum accents help give Mariner a confident stance. Attractive and functional roof rack side rails are standard in black, available in satin aluminum.
Active Park Assist
Available Active Park Assist can detect an available parallel parking space and steer the vehicle into the space (hands free). You control the accelerator, transmission and brakes and can interrupt the parking maneuver at any time by placing your hands on the steering wheel or pressing the Active Park Assist control switch. The system will visually and/or audibly instruct you throughout the procedure to park your vehicle. Optional on Mariner Premier models and the Mariner Hybrid.
Reverse Sensing System
The Reverse Sensing System uses innovative ultrasonic sensors in the rear bumper to audibly alert you to certain objects behind the vehicle when you’re backing up at slow speeds. The closer you get, the quicker it beeps. Optional on Mariner Premier models and the Mariner Hybrid.
Power, heated exterior mirrors
On those snowy and icy days, heated exterior mirrors – standard on the Mariner Premier and optional on the Mariner Hybrid – warm up quickly to melt away snow, frost or ice and enhance your visibility. Integrated into the mirrors are two smaller standard blind spot mirrors to help detect vehicles you can’t see.
Rear view camera
The available rear view camera provides a video image of the area behind your vehicle on the available Navigation System screen (or interior rearview mirror if the vehicle is not equipped with the Navigation System). It also displays a green/yellow/red grid to provide you a graphic aid. The system activates automatically when the vehicle is shifted into Reverse.
Inerior
Expressive interior accents
From attractive door panels and chrome trim to the shifter knob featuring a chrome insert, the 2011 Mercury Mariner interior is quite inviting. The standard leather-wrapped steering wheel and optional two-tone leather-trimmed seats with contrasting Alcantara® inserts on Mariner Premier models add a touch of sophistication.
Alcantara is a trademark of Alcantara S.p.A, Italy.
Voice-activated navigation system with integrated sirius travel link
SIRIUS offers both SIRIUS Satellite Radio® with more than 130 channels of music, news, sports and more, and integrated SIRIUS Travel Link
with the available Navigation System. And right now, both come with an introductory six-month subscription. Travel Link provides real-time traffic information, current and forecast national weather information, gas prices and stations, live sports scores and schedules, and movie times with theater locations.** On top of all that, it has a 10GB hard drive so you can store approximately 2,400 songs. Browse your music with your fingertips on the touch screen or use voice activation to play back a track.
Ambient lighting
LEDs illuminate the front and rear footwells, front center console bin and two front cupholders. Scroll through and select the color you want: red, yellow, green, blue, purple, white or aqua. Available on Mariner models and the Mariner Hybrid and standard on Mariner Premier.
Adaptable Environment
Seats
Stylish cloth seating surfaces are standard on Mariner models and the Mariner Hybrid. To help you find your optimal driving position, Mariner Premier and the Mariner Hybrid have a standard six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. Optional on Mariner Hybrid, standard on Mariner Premier, the driver’s seat also features lumbar support.
Storage
The versatile 60/40 split-fold rear bench seat on all models can easily accommodate three passengers. It can also be folded down to provide up to 67.2 cu. ft. of cargo storage space behind the first row (up to 66.4 cu. ft. on Hybrid models).
The center console has two storage bins that can be removed and attached to the back or the side of the console. With both bins removed, there’s room for a large purse or standard-size laptop computer.
Specifications
Engine size (Base Model): 2.5 L
Cylinders: inline 4
Cam type: Double overhead camshaft (DOHC)
Valves: 16
Valve timing: Variable
Torque: 171 ft-lbs at 4500 RPM
Horsepower: 171 HP at 6000 RPM
Turning circle: 36.7 feet
