|
The top-selling sport utility vehicle, Ford's Explorer, has gained a sibling also of promising popularity. The Mercury Mountaineer bears the same body-on-frame construction, versatile interior, and smart styling that made the Explorer a hit. The V8 Mountaineer clearly is quicker than its six-cylinder Ford counterpart, but don't expect Grand Cherokee-like acceleration. The Mountaineer feels heavy and deliberate. The new 4WD system adds 235 pounds to what is by design a weighty vehicle. Mercury says it will strive for a brand image emphasizing "comfort and confidence" to its baby boom-age buyers. Indeed, it fosters both. At this writing, the company estimates a price range of $28,000 to $34,000. Indy-car racer Lyn St. James accompanied me in a cruise around Aspen, and critiqued my driving. My one-hand-on-the-wheel nonchalance is common, she said, and dangerous in the mountains. If an oncoming car crossed the center lane, I'd be hard pressed to avoid it. She praised my near-compulsive habit of checking the view fore and aft. The Mountaineer features the same greenhouse-like visiblity as its Ford sibling. Standard features include dual air bags, a roof rack, and a real tailgate. Explorers and Mountaineers are built at two Ford plants, in St. Louis and Louisville. The company says it can produce as many new units as the market will bear. Perhaps 25,000 Mountaineers will be born in the first year, Ford says, in addition to the usual 300,000-plus Explorers. That's good news for the car-buying public--increased supply of a high-demand vehicle. And it's great news for Lincoln-Mercury dealers. 1997 Mercury Mountaineer
|