Mercury Mountaineer

What is it?
Mercury Mountaineer

What's special about it?
While the Mountaineer has been with us since 1997, this latest iteration is a vast departure from the usual "take a Ford and add chrome" philosophy. Simple body panels and fenders now have a machined surface quality unlike anything Ford, Lincoln or Mercury brands have offered in the past. Built on the same platform as the upcoming redesigned Ford Explorer, the Mountaineer gets an independent rear suspension and becomes uncluttered and chrome less (with all exterior detail work finished in brushed aluminum). Expressive, innovative and individualistic is the best way to describe this new thinking from the Mercury camp. This is one concept we'd like to see on the road.

Why should you care?
When Edsel Ford started the Mercury brand in 1939, he intended the marque to be a stepping-stone between the Ford and Lincoln brands. Over the years, Mercury became known as just another gussied-up Ford with lots of extra chrome. That is clearly not the case anymore. With the introduction of the Cougar last year and this new concept, Mercury is getting back to individuality Edsel had in mind over 60 years ago.