The Mercury Milan builds on a strong foundation of quality and reliability, adding to the mix for the 2010 model year an all-new hybrid model, more fuel-efficient gasoline powertrain options, class-exclusive technologies and a more refined, sophisticated design.
"The Milan has been a strong part of the Mercury lineup since its initial launch and has helped attract more consumers to dealer showrooms," said John Felice, general manager, Ford, Lincoln Mercury Marketing. "For sophisticated consumers looking for a stylish hybrid, the Mercury Milan now offers them the most fuel-efficient hybrid sedan in its class."
Chief designer Darrell Behmer and his team had the advantage of working from a vehicle that's been lauded by consumers and consumer groups. "Our approach was to build upon the Milan's strengths - to improve rather than reinvent," Behmer said. "From a design standpoint, we wanted to clarify the design, making it cleaner and more modern."
The changes to the exterior design were focused on the grille, fenders, hood, and front and rear fascias. The chin was pulled forward and the fascia was pulled down to give the 2010 Mercury Milan a wider, sportier look. Those changes as well as substantial underbody work made for a cleaner, more aerodynamic car.
With all models, the interior design team created a more contemporary, technical look with metallic new finishes on the instrument panel that carry through on the center console, doors and steering wheel. The all new instrument panel is finished with a soft upper and lower skin and has much less hard plastic than Japanese competitors. A redesigned leather wrapped steering wheel with form fitting palm swells, and new shifter, and wrapped and padded armrests have been added, increasing the Milan's sportiness and comfort at all key driver touch points.
The seats received a makeover, as well. The seat contour has been revised, with more side support and overall a more comfortable seat with smoother bolsters and more-textural inserts. The seats also feature contrasting stitching and leather inserts to give the Mercury Milan even more attitude, befitting this mid-size sedan.
The gauge cluster has been designed with day time backlighting, a black lens, and 3-D elements to create a high tech jewel-like appearance, similar to a fine watch. Drivers will be greeted by a new "welcome" sequence that makes the Mercury Milan seem as if it's coming to life.
Gauge needles sweep back and forth as the lighting and new chimes come on. The ambient lighting system offers the option of illuminating the front and rear footwells and front cup holders.
The two-tone look on the interior continues as a Mercury Milan signature, with satin-aluminum accents and a wood finish around the center stack. The Milan features Dark Charcoal Black, Medium Light Stone and Camel as interior choices through the Premier Series, which includes embossed leather.
An improved seat design with a new perforation pattern has been added as well. The seat contour itself was revised, with more side support to help create a softer seat overall.
All-new hybrid model
For the 2010 model year, the Mercury Milan adds an all-new hybrid model. The Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid join the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner Hybrids, doubling both the size and volume of Ford's hybrid lineup.
"Offering consumers more fuel-efficient vehicle choices, including improving and increasing our hybrid vehicle offerings and improving our high volume gasoline powertrains, is part of Ford's broad plan to deliver technology solutions for affordable fuel economy for millions," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president for Global Product Development.
"With the new Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid, we are now able to offer even better range of travel on battery power at a greater speed, thanks to a more efficient, seamless transition between the battery-powered motor and gasoline-driven engine," he said. "These new hybrids will exceed expectations on all fronts - fuel efficiency, comfort, convenience and drivability."
The Ford Hybrid team has developed a powertrain system that combines the best attributes of the gasoline engine and electric battery-driven motors to deliver the optimal experience for the customer in terms of driving performance and fuel economy.
Additionally, the propulsion system for the Mercury Milan Hybrid and Ford Fusion Hybrid transitions between gas and electric power and back more efficiently and seamlessly.
The overall system upgrade allows the Mercury Milan Hybrid and Ford Fusion Hybrid to operate longer at higher speeds in electric mode. The hybrid vehicles can operate up to 47 mph in pure electric mode, approximately twice as fast as some competitors. Plus, the city driving range on a single tank of gas is expected to be more than 700 miles.
The next-generation hybrid system features:
- New 2.5-literrn4-cylinder engine (155 horsepower/136 lb.-ft. of torque) running thernproven Atkinson cycle mated to an electronically-controlledrncontinuously variable transmission or e-CVT.
- Intake VariablernCam Timing (iVCT), which allows the vehicle to more seamlesslyrntransition from gas to electric mode and vice-versa. The spark and camrntiming are varied according to the engine load to optimize efficiencyrnand emissions.
- Enhanced electronic throttle control reduces airflow on shutdowns, reducing fueling needs on restarts.
- Arnwide-band lambda sensor analyzes the air-fuel ratio and adjusts thernlean/rich mixture accordingly to keep the system in balance and tornminimize emissions.
- A new smaller, lighter nickel-metal hydridernbattery has been optimized to produce 20 percent more power. Improvedrnchemistry allows the battery to be run at a higher temperature and itrnis cooled using cabin air.
- An added variable voltage converterrnboosts the voltage to the traction battery to operate the motor andrngenerator more efficiently.
- A new high-efficiency converter provides 14 percent increased output to accommodate a wider array of vehicle features.
- Smarterrnclimate control system monitors cabin temperature and only runs the gasrnengine as needed to heat the cabin; it also includes an electric airrnconditioning compressor to further minimize engine use and maximizerncomfort.
- The regenerative brake system captures the energyrnnormally lost through friction in braking and stores it. Nearly 94rnpercent energy recovery is achieved by first delivering fullrnregenerative braking followed by friction brakes during city driving.
- Arnsimulator brake actuation system dictates brake actuation and deliversrnimproved brake pedal feel compared to the previous generation brakingrnsystem.
"Because our hybrid can run at a much higher speedrnin electric mode, you can do so much more in city-driving situations,"rnsaid Gil Portalatin, Hybrid Applications Manager. "Under the rightrnconditions, you can drive in your neighborhood or mall parking lotsrnwithout using a drop of gasoline."
The Mercury Milan Hybrid alsornoffers drivers a way to be more connected to the hybrid drivingrnexperience thanks to Ford's SmartGauge with EcoGuide, a uniquerninstrument cluster execution that helps coach them on how to optimizernperformance of their hybrid.
SmartGauge with EcoGuide featuresrntwo, high-resolution, full-color liquid crystal display (LCD) screensrnon either side of the analog speedometer that can be configured to showrndifferent levels of information, including fuel and battery powerrnlevels, average and instant miles-per-gallon. Growing leaves and vinesrntrack and reward the driver's efficiency.
EcoGuide uses arnmulti-layered approach to coach the driver to maximum fuel efficiency.rnA tutorial mode built into the display that helps the driver learnrnabout the instrument cluster and the hybrid in a whimsical way thatrndoes not overpower.
For instance, drivers can choose one of fourrndata screens to choose the information level displayed during theirrndrives. They are:
- Inform: Fuel level and battery charge status
- Enlighten: Adds electric vehicle mode indicator and tachometer
- Engage: Adds engine output power and battery output power
- Empower: Adds power to wheels, engine pull-up threshold and accessory power consumption
Allrnlevels can show instant fuel economy, fuel economy history, odometer,rnengine coolant temperature, what gear the car is in and trip data (triprnfuel economy, time-elapsed fuel economy and miles to empty). The enginerncoolant temperature indicator turns green when engine conditions arernwarm enough to allow engine pull-down.
Several other elementsrnhelp differentiate the Mercury Milan Hybrid from its gas-poweredrnsibling, including unique hybrid "road and leaf" badging on both sidesrnand the rear of the vehicle; unique 17-inch, eight-spoke wheels;rneco-friendly seat fabric made from post-industrial 100 percent recycledrnmaterials; and a standard 110-volt power outlet.
More horsepower, better fuel economy
Bothrnthe inline four-cylinder and V-6 engines are upgraded, with thernfour-cylinder engine increased to 2.5 liters and the 3-liter V-6rnincreasing its horsepower rating from 221 to 240. Each engine improvesrnfuel economy as well, up to 4 or 5 mpg depending on the model.
Thern2.5-liter I-4 engine, which improved its 0-60 mph time by more than 1rnsecond to achieve best-in-class performance, is available with either arnsix-speed manual or automatic transmission, up from five speeds.
"Therngear ratios and the overall span of the transmissions allow us to haverna more-efficient shift schedule," said Matt Hettenhouse, powertrainrnteam leader for the Milan. The first gear can be made a little deeper,rnwhich provides smoother acceleration. At the top end, a higher gearrnallows the engine to run slower in highway conditions, which also aidsrnfuel economy.
The innovative Easy Fuel™ capless fuel fillerrnsystem also is standard. This industry-exclusive feature helps tornreduce evaporative emissions that create smog and global warming. Whenrnfueling is completed, and the fuel pump nozzle is removed, the systemrnautomatically seals shut.
Better handling in a quieter, more-comfortable ride
Bringingrna premium driving experience to the Mercury Milan was one of the goalsrnfor the team. For the 2010 model, strides were made in steering andrnhandling, turning circle (better by about 1 foot) and an improved brakernpedal feel. Upgraded 17-inch painted aluminum wheels are anotherrnperformance and appearance enhancement standard on the Premier.
Thern2010 Mercury Milan team also took a look at how to improve the comfortrnof the car. "We made a major improvement on interior quietness," saidrnChief Engineer J.D. Shanahan. Hood insulators, inner and outer dashrnabsorbers, new carpet, revised ceiling baffles, additional soundrndeadening in the trunk, new interior material and new headlinerrnmaterial are among the improvements made.
In addition, improvedrnbody and door sealing defends and improves upon Milan's best-in-classrnstanding in wind noise. Reductions in wind noise and road noise givesrnMercury Milan drivers the level of quiet luxury they demand.
Withrndesign refinements to the exterior creating a sportier look as well asrnupgraded technology and materials inside, the 2010 Mercury Milanrnexpands on the value package that makes it a leader in the mid-size carrnsegment.
Staying connected
New technology features available on the 2010 Mercury Milan include:
- BlindrnSpot Information System (BLISTM) with Cross Traffic Alert, which canrnhelp provide extra confidence to drivers in parking lots by alertingrndrivers sooner of nearby traffic while backing out. It uses twornmultiple beam radar modules, which are packaged in the rear quarterrnpanels. The radar detects moving objects within a 65-foot range fromrneither side of the vehicle. The radar identifies when a vehicle entersrnthe defined blind spot zone and illuminates an indicator light on therncorresponding side-view mirror providing a warning that a vehicle isrnapproaching. An audible alert is sounded as well.
- SYNC: Thernvoice-activated hands-free in-car communication and entertainmentrnsystem developed by Ford and Microsoft. The system fully integratesrnmost Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and digital media players,rnproviding customers hands-free cell phone and music selectionrncapabilities - plus new 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report providedrnwith no monthly fees.
- 911 Assist: When a phone is properlyrnpaired, turned on and connected to SYNC, the system is ready to assistrnin placing a call directly to a local 911 emergency operator in thernevent of an air bag-deploying accident. The key advantage of SYNC 911rnAssist is speed, as calls are placed directly to local 911 operators.
- VehiclernHealth Report (VHR): SYNC gathers relevant information from the majorrnvehicle control modules and packages diagnostic data into a usablernformat in a matter of minutes. That data packet is sent to Ford via anrn800-number automatically dialed using the customer's paired andrnoperable mobile phone.
- Voice-Activated Navigation,rnwhich integrates several functions including voice recognitionrndestination entry, climate control and SIRIUS satellite radio into onerneasy-to-use system, displaying them on an 8-inch touch-screen display.rnThe navigation system's text-to-speech function calls out street namesrnwhile in route to a destination and reads incoming text messages whenrnthe system is linked to SYNC. The integrated DVD player is capable ofrnreading CD-Audio, MP3 CDs, DVD, DVD-Audio and DVD-ROM (for digital maprnupdates). A music jukebox function stores more than 150 hours of music.rnThe screen even can be customized with personal photos.
- SIRIUSrnTravel Link™, an industry-leading technology that, when combined withrnthe voice-activated navigation system will provide users with real-timerntraffic data with accident and incident information, coast-to-coastrnweather data including current conditions and five-day forecasts, andrnfuel price information for over 120,000 gas stations. Travel Link alsornoffers sports scores and schedules and a listing of more than 4,500rnmovie theaters with movie times, theater addresses, movie synopses andrnmore.
- Reverse Camera System, which mounts a small camera on thernspoiler that is activated when Mercury Milan is shifted into reverse,rngiving the driver a clear view behind the vehicle.
- The videornimage is displayed in the optional navigation screen on Milans equippedrnwith that option or in the self-dimming rearview mirror vehiclesrnwithout navigation.
