Ford Motor Company's Mercury brand opened sales today for the all-new 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid, a compact SUV with fuel economy and smart and sophisticated Mercury styling. Beginning today, orders may be placed for the Mercury Mariner Hybrid online at marinerhybrid.com as well as at certified dealerships.

Photo: http://media.ford.com/press_files/image_files/Mariner_Hybrid_Screen1.jpg
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True to its distinctive nature, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid will go to market very differently than other Lincoln and Mercury vehicles. For starters, the majority of sales inquiries for the Mercury Mariner Hybrid are expected to be taken online with the assistance of “Personal Sales Consultants” who will serve as the primary liaison between customers and dealerships. First come/first served real-time consumer demand will determine which dealers and customers receive the vehicles.

Moreover, marketing for the Mercury Mariner Hybrid will be very targeted and aimed at environmentally conscious consumers who are also looking for a smart, sophisticated and stylish vehicle. Initial advertising will be online with web banners on specific sections of Yahoo and Google as well as home page “takeovers” of Edmunds.com and CBSNews.com. In addition, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid will have a presence on the websites of key environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club and National Geographic.

In fact, the Sierra Club will be working with Mercury to get the news about the Mariner Hybrid out to its members and other environmentally conscious Americans. The Sierra Club will introduce the vehicle to its members through its “Insider” newsletter and will work with Mercury to educate consumers about how to get the best mileage from their hybrids.

The sales process will begin with customers logging onto marinerhybrid.com and choosing a certified Mercury hybrid dealer in their area. The Personal Sales Consultant will obtain a price quote from the dealer and provide the quote to the customer, all the while being available to answer questions about the vehicle’s features, key benefits, pricing, etc. The consultant will then stay in touch with the customer throughout the sales process, from the time the quote is requested until the vehicle is delivered.

The Mercury Mariner Hybrid is the second of five hybrids announced by Ford Motor Company. The first, the Ford Escape Hybrid, went on sale last fall as a 2005 model year vehicle and was named the North American Truck of the Year.

The Mercury Mariner Hybrid is a compact SUV that blends the best features of a gasoline engine and an electric motor to achieve nearly 50 percent higher city driving efficiency and lower emissions with no loss of functionality or performance. With outstanding fuel economy estimated at 33 mpg/city and 29 mpg highway, it will meet the cleanest emission achievable by a fossil-fuel vehicle: California’s Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Standard. In addition, it has extended range well over 400 miles per tank and V-6-like acceleration performance.

Configured as a full hybrid, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid’s powertrain system is able to propel the vehicle to 25 miles per hour solely with clean electric power. When not required during coasting, at stoplights or crawling at low speeds through traffic, the gasoline engine automatically shuts down to conserve fuel and curb emissions.

Two thousand Mercury Mariner Hybrids will be built at the Kansas City Assembly Plant for the 2006 model year. Eventually, Mercury Mariner Hybrid volume will grow to 4,000 annually.

Pricing for the 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid will start at a manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) of $29,840, which includes a number of premium standard features. The Mercury Mariner Hybrid will be available in five colors: Mercury's signature Satellite Silver as well as Black, Charcoal Beige, Vivid Red, and Silver Metallic. Standard features on the Mercury Mariner Hybrid are:

   * 2.3L I-4 Atkinson Cycle Engine
   * Intelligent 4WD System
   * Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS)
   * Power 4-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock braking system and Quick Brake Assist
   * Power Group: power windows, locks, mirrors, keyless entry, driver side keyless entry keypad, auto dimming (electrochromic) rearview mirror
   * Hybrid-unique 16" aluminum wheels
   * P235/70R16 A/S BSW tires
   * AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD player with 4 speakers
   * Front fog lamps
   * Privacy glass
   * Power 6-way driver seat
   * Leather-wrapped steering wheel with speed control
   * Air bags, dual stage driver & single stage front passenger with Front Passenger Sensing System
   * Securilock™, passive anti-theft system.
   * Roof rack

Available options include:

   * Hybrid Energy Audio & Navigation system
   * Premium Package: Hybrid Energy Audio & Navigation System; front row heated leather seating surfaces; heated exterior side mirrors; Reverse Sensing System; cargo shade; Safety Package including Safety Canopy ™ side air curtains and front side impact air bags.
   * Stand alone Safety Package also available
   * Power Moonroof with sunshade
   * MACH audio system with 6-disc in-dash CD player, 7-Speakers