Detroit Autop Show: Messenger: Expressing Future Mercury Design DNA

    DETROIT, Jan. 6, 2003; In ancient Roman mythology, Mercury was the god of speed and agility and the messenger of the heavens.
    At the North American International Auto Show, Mercury is a brand sending
a message that modern design will lead its rejuvenation, beginning with its
new Messenger concept coupe.
    Mercury is returning to its roots as a design leader introducing the
Messenger concept, a distinctive and energetic high-performance two-seat
sports coupe.
    The Messenger concept car represents the first expression of Mercury's new
design DNA with a clean, technical appearance that begins to establish the
look of Mercury products still to come.  Mercury will introduce four new
products over the next four years including a minivan, a small sport utility
and two cars.
    "The body surface reflects the car's power and grace, with flowing body
lines that are accented with purposeful air intakes and outlets," says Gerry
McGovern, design director, Lincoln Mercury.  "The dynamic fluidity of the
Messenger's lean and taut form is expressed at rest as much as it is in
movement."

    Exterior Design
    The Messenger's proportions are the direct result of the dramatic vehicle
architecture -- clean and sculpted with a tautness and agility that transcends
the vehicle's design and handling characteristics.
    It is a vehicle designed to be uncompromised in capability and
performance.  The long hood houses a powerful 4.6-liter modular V-8 engine.
The energetic stance and supple appearance of the Messenger are enhanced by
20-inch wheels with 305mm wide tires on the rear and 19-inch wheels with 275mm
wide tires on the front -- a tire/wheel combination that allows the car to
firmly put down onto the pavement all the power the V-8 can generate.
    The spoke wheels have a turbine theme, with vanes that reflect the
appearance of the Mercury "flying M" logo.  The functional vanes help direct
airflow over the vented brake disc and high performance brake calipers,
further communicating the car's high performance capabilities.
    One aspect of Mercury's future design DNA is embodied by the stacked
element theme at the front of the vehicle with distinctive front lights and
vertical grill elements.  The rear lights convey the DNA message with
sequential taillights that repeat the theme.
    Large, beautifully sculpted front air scoops and outlets at the front and
rear of the vehicle provide a purposeful and powerful look.

    Interior Design
    The compact and efficient exterior package provides a cockpit-like driving
environment inside, with the cockpit placed directly between the wheels to
further emphasize the car's proportions.
    The Messenger interior is designed to be taut, innovative and functional
-- technologically advanced, yet intuitive to use, providing innovative
stowage and space within a compact package.  The interior is the embodiment of
Mercury's new DNA direction.
    The design of the door panels echoes the shape of the exterior body side
feature, with the interior armrest resting upon the shape of the exterior air
vent sheet metal on the doors.  The design of the doors emphasizes the
perception of a protective environment.
    All displays in the cockpit emit minimum levels of information to
facilitate quick and concise driver response.  The instrument panel is
designed with primary focus zones that have intuitive interfaces to keep the
driver constantly informed.  Switchgear is minimized to reduce distraction.
    "This vehicle is driver-focused, from the commanding seating position to
the way the vehicle interfaces with the person behind the wheel," says
McGovern.  "Use of the controls inside the cockpit is intuitive."
    The seats in the Messenger are mounted laterally to the tunnel and rocker
panel to further strengthen the lightweight aluminum hydro-formed monocoque,
while forming part of the integral occupant safety cell.
    The central console incorporates a centrally mounted chronograph.  The
clock, like all key elements, is in close proximity to the driver to allow
split-second comprehension and reaction during high-performance driving.

    A Look Back - A Look Ahead
    Design inspiration for the Mercury Messenger goes back to Mercury's roots
and gives a message of where Mercury is going in the future.
    In Roman mythology, Mercury was not only the messenger of the gods.  This
son of Zeus was also god of commerce and travel.  He was accurate, reliable
and swift.  Edsel Ford's vision at Mercury's start in 1938 was to produce
vehicles that were refined with an emphasis on design.  Reliability and
swiftness were admirable attributes for a new automotive brand.  Similarly,
Mercury's modern mission is to capture the American driving experience through
innovation and design.

    McGovern on Messenger and Mercury Design
    "Messenger is about taut, dynamic surfaces.  It's charismatic and modern,"
says McGovern.  "It's about intelligence, connectivity and it's about
distinction.  All of these themes will be developed further in Mercury cars
and trucks of the near future.
    "The Mercury Messenger may be the ultimate dream car -- but what it
represents is the essence of what Mercury is becoming.
    "Mercury is to be a design-driven brand -- the Mercury DNA is delivering
vehicles that are energetic, distinctive, intelligent and charismatic," says
McGovern.  "On the outside, its vehicles will feature proportion and package
efficiency with optimized surface language that is clean and simple, lean and
taut, with drama of attitude, produced with a product design approach.
    "The next-generation Mercury products will feature a distinct new front-
end appearance with vertically stacked elements combined with a horizontal
grille theme.  They'll have a family resemblance, but be distinct in their own
automotive genre.  Interiors will provide a contemporary environment that is
technically advanced, with innovative seating, comfort with simplicity, using
high-tech materials.  Functions that interface with the driver and passengers
will be logical and storage opportunities will be creative," says McGovern.

                  Mercury Messenger Technical Specifications

    General
    The Mercury Messenger is a high performance, two-seat sports car powered
by a V-8 classically driving the rear wheels.

    Engine/Drive train
    Front engine, rear wheel drive
    All-aluminum 4.6-liter DOHC V-8
    6-speed automatic sequential gearbox

    Body and Chassis
    Unique monocoque construction using a composite/aluminum hybrid "tub"
chassis with super-formed aluminum panels bonded to it.  The result is a body
with high torsional rigidity providing excellent ride and handling properties.
Occupant protection is enhanced and noise/vibration/harshness (NVH) is reduced
by this method of construction.

    Wheels/Brakes/Suspension
    Rear 18 spoke 20 x 10J cast alloy wheels with Goodyear 305/40R20 tires
    Front 18 spoke 19 x 9J cast alloy wheels with Goodyear 275/40/R19 tires
    High performance Brembo power assisted brakes, anti-lock brake system
using Electronic Brake Force Distribution
    Front - 355mm vented discs with 4 piston calipers
    Rear - 355mm vented discs with 4 piston calipers
    Computer active suspension adjusts ride height and dynamics to suit
driving style, speed and road conditions with "intelligent" traction control
    Electronically actuated parking brake

    Steering
    Power assisted variable ratio rack and pinion

    Dimensions
    Length          4533mm / 178.5"
    Width           1938mm / 76.3"
    Height          1304mm / 51.3"
    Wheelbase       2825mm / 111.2"
    Front track     1662mm / 65.4"
    Rear track      1650mm / 65"
    Trunk volume    340 liters
    Legroom         1084mm / 42.6"
    Headroom        943mm / 38"

    Safety and Security
    Integral safety cell structure
    Personal Safety System
    Global vehicle theft location system
    Self-leveling high-intensity "projector" headlamps
    LED technology brake lights with faster response for additional safety
    Automatically monitored and adjusted tire pressure sensing system

    Comfort and Convenience
    Independent climate control for driver and passenger with pollen
filtration
    THX certified digital CD/Radio Hi-fi system.  Automatic volume control
linked to vehicle speed
    Hands free telephone capability
    Rain sensing windshield wipers
    Automatically dimming interior rear view mirror
    Powered and heated exterior rear view mirrors
    Height and reach adjustable steering column
    Low-E glass to reduce UV and heat build up
    Stowage space behind seats with integral child seat fittings