2008 Mercury Milan

Mercury Milan challenges the perceptions of what an exceptional mid-size car should be by combining distinctive, sophisticated styling, an expressive, modern interior and segment-leading quality, all at an unexpected value.  For 2008, Milan gives tech savvy customers even more to love with the Mercury Sync™ communications and entertainment system featuring industry-exclusive, voice-activated, hands-free, in-car connectivity.

 

Mercury’s mid-size sedan is available in Milan and Milan Premier arrays. All Milan models are built in Hermosillo, Mexico.

Distinctive Style
Milan is designed with Mercury’s metropolitan identity in mind. It presents sleek exterior styling with cues like standard LED taillamps and satin aluminum grille and exterior accents.

The interior is urbane with available interior two-tone leather seating surfaces and standard Satin Aluminum or available Wales Mahogany interior finish accents providing a dramatic flair. Milan features several signature external design touches, including:

• The trademark Mercury waterfall grille, seen in satin aluminum on the Milan.
• Satin aluminum finish is also found on the Mercury badges and lower front fascia trim, creating visual jewelry that draws attention to its clean design.
• Milan possesses a long wheelbase and dynamic stance, highlighted by the bright chrome belt line.
• Clean, chiseled body sides flow upward from unique aluminum wheels, together establishing a strong visual profile.

Form follows Function Milan is more than just a pretty face. The elegant exterior design was created specifically to provide function as well as form. Milan customers want a car that has the flexibility to accommodate all of their needs.

Highlights of Milan’s functionality include:

• Mercury Sync – an industry-exclusive, voice-activated, hands-free, in-car communications and entertainment system. Developed in collaboration with Microsoft, the system fully integrates mobile phones and media players into the vehicle using Bluetooth technology and USB connectivity (late availability).
• A newly available ambient lighting system (late availability) offers the option of illuminating the front and rear footwells and front cupholders with any one of seven colors. The driver or front passenger can choose from red, orange, blue, indigo, violet, green and yellow.
• Reverse Sensing System is added to Milan’s options list for 2008 as well.
• The large rear door, extended back to the C-pillar, allows easier access for all rear-seat passengers.
• A roomy 15.8-cubic-foot trunk with flat-load floor and low liftover height is one of several easy-to-use storage spaces in the vehicle.
• Class-exclusive standard 60/40 rear fold-flat split-seats with spring assist allow for easy packing for long items and best-in-class storage space for the Milan.
• The standard fold-flat front passenger seat capability, accommodating extra-long items is hassle-free, as well.
• A standard audio input jack and available Audiophile in-dash six-disc CD player provide premium entertainment and connectivity.

Powertrain and Chassis
Milan was one of Consumer Guide’s recommended buys in the mid-size category for 2007, based in no small part on strength in driving performance. Milan presents a refined driving experience with available first-in-class all-wheel drive (AWD) technology for more responsive handling.

Performance and handling are ensured by technologies that include:

• Milan’s standard 2.3-liter I-4 engine comes equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission or available 5-speed automatic.
• The 4-cylinder engine delivers up to 160 horsepower and, when equipped with an automatic transmission, meets California’s stringent Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) standards.
• For a power boost, customers may select the optional 221-horsepower, 3.0-liter V-6, which is paired with an advanced 6-speed automatic transmission that helps deliver strong fuel economy.
• A sophisticated short- and long-arm front suspension that features double ball-joint lower control arms and coil-over shocks provides Milan with increased ride comfort.
• Ride comfort is further increased through the use of a multi-link rear suspension that performs like a double-wishbone setup.

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Safety and Security
On Milan, safety is a priority, as evidenced by receiving the highest individual ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for frontal and side impact crash test performance. In addition, Milan achieved a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) five-star rating for driver side-impact crash safety. For 2008, Milan maintains this strong stance on safety, adding a standard Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) to the already outstanding set of features.

In addition to TPMS, other standard safety features on Milan include:

• Ford’s Personal Safety System ®. This suite of standard safety features includes dual-stage driver and front passenger air bags, thorax side air bags for front seat occupants, safety belt pretensioners, seat weight sensing system for the passenger seat and crash severity sensing. Side air curtains are also standard on all Milan models.
• Safety with family in mind. Milan has the safety of its youngest passengers in mind with child safety locks on rear doors and the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) child restraint safety system.
• Belt-Minder® for driver and front passenger. Milan also comes equipped with standard side impact air bags for driver and front passenger, side impact air curtains for both first and second rows and anti-lock brakes.

Major Features and Options
Standard features include: 160-horespower Duratec 23 I-4 engine with 5-speed manual transmission; Four-wheel disc anti-lock brakes; Satin-aluminum grille; Quad halogen headlamps; LED taillamps; Integrated key fob transmitter; Keyless entry pad; Heated power exterior mirrors; 16-inch steel wheels with deluxe seven-spoke wheel covers and P205/60R 16 tires; Quasi-dual exhaust with chrome tips (V-6 models); Speed-sensitive windshield wipers; Air conditioning; Rear-seat armrest with dual cup holders; Six-speaker AM/FM audio system with MP3-capable, single-disc CD player; Auxiliary audio input jack; Center and overhead consoles; Analog clock; Dash-top storage compartment; Solar-tinted glass; Dual 12-volt power points; Six-way power driver seat with manual lumbar; Four-way manual front-passenger seat; Fold-flat front passenger seat; Rear 60/40-split, Spring-assisted, fold-down bench seat; Variable-assist power steering; Tilt and telescopic steering wheel with speed control and secondary audio controls; Dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors; Security approach lamps; Power locks; Power windows with one-touch-down driver’s side window; Side impact front air bags; Side air curtains; Belt-Minder®; Rear-door child safety locks; Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system; Emergency trunk release; Illuminated entry; SecuriLock® passive anti-theft system; Occupant classification system; Personal Safety System®; and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Milan Premier adds: Mercury Sync (late availability); Fog lamps; Automatic headlamps; Electronic automatic climate control; Auto-dimming mirror with compass; Leather-wrapped steering wheel with speed control and secondary audio controls; 17-inch, 14-spoke aluminum wheels with P225/50R 17 tires; Premium six-speaker audio system with in-dash, six-disc CD player; and Leather seating surfaces.

Options include: Mercury Sync (late availability); Reverse Sensing System; Voice-activated DVD-based navigation system; Ambient lighting (late availability); AWD; 5-speed automatic transmission for Duratec 23 I-4 models; Premium six-speaker sound system with in-dash, six-CD player; Audiophile eight-speaker sound system; SIRIUS® Satellite Radio; Heated front seats; Power moonroof; Universal garage door opener; Rear spoiler and Front license plate bracket.

I-4 Auto Package includes: 5-speed automatic transmission and 16-inch aluminum wheels.

Amenities Package (late availability) includes: Universal garage door opener; Ambient lighting and Reverse Sensing System.

Appearance Package includes: Rear spoiler; Fog lamps; 17-inch machined-aluminum wheels with painted pockets; Leather-wrapped steering wheel with Ice Blue stitching; Ice Blue Alcantara? seat and door trim inserts; Ice Blue contrast stitching on seats and console.

Moon & Tune Package includes: Power moonroof; Premium AM/FM in-dash six-CD/MP3 player with six speakers and SIRIUS? Satellite Radio.

Moon & Tune Elite Package includes: Power moonroof; Audiophile AM/FM In-Dash six-CD/MP3 player with eight speakers and SIRIUS? Satellite Radio.

Wales Mahogany Wood Appearance Package includes: Wales mahogany appearance instrument panel appliqué spears and center finish panel.

 

Milestones

2005	Milan goes on sale as a 2006 model
2006	Milan becomes first vehicle in its class to offer AWD
2006	Milan receives a 2006 Vehicle Satisfaction Award from AutoPacific, Inc., as the top performing vehicle among mid-size cars
2007	Parents Magazine named Milan one of the “Best Family Cars” in April 2007 issue Milan is highest ranked Mid-size Car in 2007 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS)