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Mercury issued the following press release:
The all-new 2004 Mercury Monterey minivan provides interior luxury, modern design and functionality usually reserved for a luxury sedan.
Mercury’s new minivan, which goes on sale in fall 2003, offers distinctive design and exclusive features like a stylish, well-crafted instrument panel and a standard 4.2-liter V-6 engine possessing greater torque than any other vehicle in the minivan segment.
Monterey takes minivan safety, quality and versatility to a new level with improvements including:
’ Available front-and-rear parking assist system
’ A fold-into-floor third-row seat and clever storage options that make the interior more functional and adaptive
’ Available heated and cooled front seats
’ “Safety Canopy’” three-row curtain airbags and structural reinforcements for offset frontal crashes
’ Sound-deadening and other noise-vibration harshness (NVH) enhancements for a quiet, comfortable ride
’ Improved body stampings for a stiffer body and an excellent fit between panels
“Mercury is revitalized and re-energized ’ the new Monterey is just the beginning of a multi-year strategy to update and expand our product offerings,” says John Fitzpatrick, general marketing manager, Lincoln Mercury. “We’ll follow the Monterey with a compact SUV and two distinctive new cars ’ four new products in three years.” — 2006 Mercury Milan premium mid-size sedan.
The Monterey complements the freshened 2003 Grand Marquis, the all-new 2003 Marauder and the Mercury Mountaineer, which was all-new for the 2002 model year.
“Monterey begins to define the design path Mercury is taking,” says Susan Pacheco, director of Mercury programs. “This new minivan delivers elegance and energy, distinct Mercury cues and intelligent functionality that consumers will love.”
The minivan market represents more than one million units, and further growth is expected in the $30,000-plus luxury market. The new Monterey is aimed squarely at the buyer who is in his or her 30s to mid-40s and needs the functionality of a minivan, but is not willing to compromise on luxury.
Front AND Rear Parking Aid
Monterey will offer a forward and reverse object-sensing system rather than simply rear sensing. The system uses sensors in the front and rear bumpers that detect objects in front of and behind the vehicle and assist in negotiating distances while parking.
Fold-into-Floor Third-Row Seating
A standard folding third-row seat can be neatly stored in the vehicle’s floor when not in use, freeing space and creating a completely flat load floor ’ without the struggle typically associated with removing a heavy, cumbersome seat.
Heated AND Cooled Front Seats
The new Monterey offers a minivan exclusive luxury feature: heated and cooled front seats.
First introduced as a feature on the Lincoln Navigator, the driver or passenger can direct heated or cooled air through the seat cushion and back.
The gentle convective flow helps ward off perspiration in hot climates and takes the edge off cold winter temperatures almost immediately. — 2006 Buick Lucerne's new direction.
Linked with the dual-zone climate control system, these Imola leather-trimmed seats provide exceptional comfort in extreme temperatures. The climate control system is automatic for set-it-and-forget-it convenience.
One Hand Folding 2nd Row Seats
For remarkably easy access to the third row, the second-row seats are easily moved out of the way with one pull of a lever. Standard dual captains chairs have a fold-and-tumble feature. When occupied, they are fore/aft and rake- adjustable for comfort. For maximum cargo capacity, they can be removed without tools.
Premium Audio and DVD
A premium audio system with 140 watts of power and in-dash six-disc CD changer is available, as is a rear-seat DVD entertainment system.
Safety Features
Safety is a key priority for Mercury customers. Monterey offers a segment-exclusive Safety Canopy’ curtain air-bag system, a reinforced structure designed for offset frontal impacts, an advanced restraint system, three-point safety belts and head rests at all seating positions, and a low tire-pressure monitoring system.
’ Full-length Safety Canopy’: a segment exclusive
’ Reinforced structure improves offset crash protection
’ “Smart” air bags with Occupant Classification Sensing
’ Three-point safety belts for all passengers
’ Ford Motor Company’s BeltMinder’ system
’ AdvanceTrac’ stability enhancement system
’ Four-wheel disc brakes with Panic Assist
Driving Experience
Customers want a minivan to be responsive, to feel nimble and to handle predictably in all situations. Monterey meets these expectations with a standard 4.2-liter V-6 engine, direct and precise steering, powerful brakes and a specially tuned suspension.
’ Standard 4.2-liter engine: more torque than any other minivan
’ Automatic transmission with “fast-acting” hydraulics
’ Suspension tuned for special driving character
’ Sound deadening for a quiet ride.
Modern Design, Smartly Done
The firm foundation of Mercury styling ’ laid down by the 2002 Mountaineer and built upon by the Mercury Messenger concept vehicle ’ is now taken to the next level with the 2004 Mercury Monterey.
“From its signature waterfall grill to the satin tail lamp bezels, the new Monterey heralds ’Mercury,’” says Darrell Behmer, chief designer, Mercury vehicles. “Our vehicles are evolving and adopting distinct Mercury DNA ’ what you see on the Monterey is just the start.” — all-new Cadillac CTS development.
Following the introduction of the Monterey, a car and SUV introduced during 2004 will further demonstrate the new Mercury DNA. Another car will be introduced in 2005.
All new Mercury vehicles will feature proportion and package efficiency with optimized surface language that is clean and simple, lean and taut, possessing a drama of attitude and produced with a product design approach.
Interiors will provide a contemporary environment that is technically advanced: innovative seating, comfort with simplicity and high-tech materials. Driver and passenger interfaces will be logical, and storage opportunities will be creative.
On the outside of the all-new Monterey, these design goals are attained by the generous use of satin aluminum finishes on all door and lift gate handles ’ and on the bezels around the fog lamps, on the roof rack and tail lamps, on the “waterfall” grill and on all vehicle badging. Unique machined wheels match the look of the satin aluminum accents.
“The look of the new Monterey is distinctive,” adds Behmer. “We combine value, space, superior entry and egress with what is definitely a premium-looking minivan.”
Mercury has tripled its investment in interior design ’ and that investment pays off in the all-new Monterey. “Everything you see and touch has a high level of craftsmanship,” says Behmer. “This is a story of using superior materials and textures to create an ambiance of luxury and quality. The interior looks expensive, with a feeling of symmetry, balance and harmony.”
Luxury Begins with Quality
Mercury engineers went to great lengths to ensure the quality and refinement of the new Monterey. Improvements in design and manufacturing ’ and a fanatical attention to detail ’ have already improved quality by more than 20 percent on minivans being produced today at Ford’s Oakville Assembly Plant, according to independent analysis. In the Monterey, quality and refinement will be taken to an even higher level.
