Mercury Sable

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Mercury Sable
Manufacturer	Ford Motor Company
Production	1986–2005 2008-
Assembly	Atlanta, Georgia Chicago, Illinois
Predecessor	Mercury Marquis Mercury Montego
Successor	Mercury Montego (2005)
Class	Mid-size (1986-2005) Full-size (2008-)
Related	Ford Taurus Lincoln Continental Ford Windstar[1][2]
Designer	Jack Telnack

The Mercury Sable is a midsize car created by the Ford Motor Company and sold under the semi-luxury Mercury brand. It is the mechanical twin of the Ford Taurus.

The Sable was a milestone design for both Mercury and the entire American automotive industry, as well as a very influential vehicle in the marketplace, with Mercury selling nearly 2 million examples during its 20 years of production.^[3]The Sable's design was so futuristic, that it was called by the press "The car that came from the moon".^[4] An important feature of the Sable's design was its front "lightbar", a low-wattage lamp between the front headlamps. This later became mainstream for Mercury's line-up, and was copied by many automakers in the early nineties.^[5][6][7]

The Sable was refreshed in 1992 and received its first complete redesign in 1996. The 1996 model remained the basis for the vehicle up through the 2005 model year. A major sheet metal and interior redesign occurred in 2000, softening some of the controversial design vestiges of the 1996 model which the Taurus also endured. Minor styling change in 2004 further refined the car.

The Sable station wagon ended production in 2004 and the sedan ended on April 29, 2005.^[8] The Ford Taurus was allowed to remain in production until October 27, 2006, primarily for service as a fleet vehicle.^[9]

At the Chicago Auto Show on February 7, 2007, Ford CEO Alan Mulally unveiled a refreshed version of the Mercury Montego sedan and announced that the new name of the car would be "Sable," due to customer recognition and dealer demand.

Contents 1 First generation (1986–1991) 1.1 Awards 1.2 Models 2 Second generation (1992–1995) 2.1 Models 3 Third generation (1996–1999) 3.1 Models 4 Fourth generation (2000–2005) 4.1 Models 5 Fifth generation (2008-) 5.1 Models 6 Special editions 7 Popular culture 8 References 9 Notes 10 External links

[edit] First generation (1986–1991)

First generation
Production	1986-1991
Body style	4-door sedan 4-door station wagon
Layout	FF layout
Platform	Ford D186 platform
Engine	2.5 L HSC I4 3.0 L Vulcan V6 3.8 L Essex V6
Transmission	3-speed ATX automatic 4-speed AXOD automatic 4-speed AXOD-E automatic
Wheelbase	106.0 in.
Length	192.2 in. (sedan) 193.2 in. (station wagon)
Width	70.8 in.
Height	54.3 in. (sedan) 55.1 in. (station wagon)
Similar	Buick Century Chrysler New Yorker Nissan Maxima

The Sable was a very important sedan for both Mercury and the American auto industry.

Ford had lagged behind General Motors in introducing mid-size front wheel drive cars to compete against the Citation and best-selling Celebrity, and Chrysler's well-received K cars, and Mercury suffered even worse from this.^[4] In 1984, Ford launched the redesigned Mercury Cougar to start a reinvigoration of the Mercury brand with new aerodynamic designs, and started development of the Sable.^[10] Because of this design, the Sable was a resounding success and launched Mercury into a new design era, as well as influencing the other American automakers to follow suit and create aero designed cars, thus ending the "boxy" cars of the 1970s and 1980s.^[4]

The Taurus and Sable siblings used flush aerodynamic composite headlights. Ford was the first to produce and sell vehicles with such headlights in the U.S., when it introduced the Lincoln Mark VII in 1984. To do so, Ford (among other automakers) had to lobby the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to have them approved.^[4] The Taurus and Sable were the first domestically-produced, mainstream sedans to use the new lights. They also went beyond the Audi 5000, with which they were often compared, to adopt a grille-less "bottom breather" nose, first pioneered by the Citroën DS in the 1950s, and also used briefly on the Mustang.^[4]

The Sable was unveiled along with the Taurus in a resounding fashion. For its aerodynamic shape, the launch was held in MGM Studios Soundstage 85, where Gone with the Wind was filmed. Ford workers came into the room, which was decorated in space-age decor, holding cups shaped like flying saucers and the Taurus and Sable were sitting behind a curtain, their outlines silhouetting. Then, with the flashing of strobe lights and a drum-roll, the curtain was pulled back and the two cars were revealed to the public.^[4]

The bodyshell was smooth and aerodynamic. The Sable twin had a wraparound "lightbar" with two headlights and a low-wattage stretch in between. Aircraft-style doors were used to reduce wind noise, and the handles were recessed. The Sable also had large glass areas with slim pillars, and were flush with the body. The rear glass wrapped fully around, and the B-pillars were painted black to give the illusion that the front and rear glass were connected. The interior was available with bucket seats — very rare for most U.S. midsize sedans — and the dashboard wrapped around the driver and fed into the door panels to create more of a "cockpit" feel.^[11]

The Sable was first introduced as a 1986 model in December 1985, to strong sales and fanfare. It came in two models, base GS and high-end LS. Initial Sable sales were strong, and the Sable sold around 300,000 units its first year.^[4]

For the first year on the market, Sable buyers had the choice of a 90 hp HSC 4-cylinder mated to a three-speed automatic transaxle or a 140 hp Vulcan V6 with a four-speed automatic, with the latter having much higher sales. 4-cylinder Sable sales were so poor that the engine was dropped in 1987 (it remained an option for the Taurus until 1991). Ford's 3.8 L Essex V6 was added to the line-up in 1988. Although the power output was rated at the same 140 hp (104 kW) as the 3.0 L engine, this large V6 produced 215 ft·lbf (291 N·m) of torque, a welcome addition, especially in the heavier wagons. However, the 3.8 suffered from premature head gasket failure, which was primarily a fault with Ford's supplier of gaskets, not with the engine itself. Some also attribute this to reduced under-hood cooling.^[11]

The Sable had just received small changes over the years, mostly in terms of equipment and cosmetics. In 1991, sales dipped to just over 100,000 units, so a new generation of Sable was launched.^[11]

[edit] Awards

The Sable was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list on its release in 1986 and again in 1990 and 1991.^[11]

[edit] Models

Model	Year	Engine	Power	Torque	Transmission
GS	1986	2.5 L CFI HSC I4	90 hp (67 kW)	130 ft·lbf (176 N·m)	3-speed ATX automatic
GS	1986–1991	3.0 L SFI Vulcan V6	140 hp (104 kW)	160 ft·lbf (217 N·m)	4-speed AXOD automatic
LS
GS	1988–1991	3.8 L SFI Essex V6	140 hp (104 kW)	215 ft·lbf (291 N·m)
LS

[edit] Second generation (1992–1995)

Second generation
Production	1992–1995
Body style	4-door sedan 4-door station wagon
Layout	FF layout
Platform	Ford D186 platform
Engine	3.0 L Vulcan V6 3.8 L Essex V6
Transmission	4-speed AXOD-E automatic 4-speed AX4S automatic 4-speed AX4N automatic
Wheelbase	106.0 in.
Length	192.2 in. (sedan) 193.0 in. (station wagon)
Width	70.9 in.
Height	54.1 in. (sedan) 55.5 in. (station wagon)
Similar	Buick Regal Chrysler Concorde Nissan Maxima

The Sable received its first significant cosmetic update in 1992, which modernized the interior and the front and rear fascias.^[11] The operation cost Ford $650 million at the time. With the older model facing slumping sales, this new model brought sales back up again, with 410,000 examples sold during 1992, a number unheard of even today.^[12] While the design was basically the same, every body panel except for the roof was changed.^[13] The interior was also redesigned, and included a optional side airbag, a first in its class.^[13] The Taurus, sister car of the Sable, was the best-selling car in the United States for every year of this cosmetic update.^[11]

In 1993, unpopular optional features such as the "InstaClear" heated windshield were eliminated.^[13] For both 3.0 L and 3.8 L V6 engines, the drive belt system became a single-belt setup for 1993 (previously, the alternator had used a separate belt).^[13] A passenger-side airbag became standard for 1993, and a redesigned drivers side airbag and steering wheel came in 1994.

The wagon version was available with mostly the same options as the sedan versions.^[13] Wagons had a maximum of 81.1 cubic feet of cargo area with the 60/40 split rear seat folded down.^[14] They featured a 2-way liftgate (raise the entire liftgate or just the window), a roof rack with crossbar and tie-downs, an optional rear-facing third seat, a lockable under-floor compartment, and an optional fold-out picnic table. With both rear split seats in the upright position, standard cargo capacity was 45.7 cubic feet.^[13] Wagons that were equipped with the front bench seat and rear folding seat could seat eight people.

The last year of this updated Sable generation was 1995. For the 1995 model year, the rare LTS trim level was added. It featured leather bucket seats, Taurus LX-style alloy wheels, special cladding, and many leather wrapped interior trim parts.^[13] The LTS trim had either the standard 3.0 L Vulcan V6 or the optional 3.8 L Essex V6.

[edit] Models

Model	Year	Transmission	Engine	Power	Torque
GS LS	1992–1995	4-speed AXOD-E automatic	3.0 L SFI Vulcan V6	140 hp (104 kW)	160 ft·lbf (217 N·m)
LTS	1995
			3.8 L Essex V6	140 hp (104 kW)	215 ft·lbf (291 N·m)

[edit] Third generation (1996–1999)

Third generation
Production	1996–1999
Body style	4-door sedan 4-door station wagon
Layout	FF layout
Platform	Ford D186 platform
Engine	3.0 L Vulcan V6 3.0 L Duratec V6
Transmission	4-speed AX4N automatic
Wheelbase	108.5 in.
Length	199.7 in. (sedan) 199.1 in. (station wagon)
Width	73.0 in.
Height	55.4 in. (sedan) 57.6 in. (station wagon)
Similar	Buick Regal Chrysler Concorde Nissan Maxima

The 1996 model year saw the first complete redesign for the Sable. Ford hoped the radical redesign would lead to the same success it had had with the 1986 Sable. The controversial oval theme was not well received by the press and the public, and is ultimately blamed as the reason for a substantial dip in sales.^[15] For this generation, the Sable tried to move slightly upmarket, and as a result, prices rose considerably, also driving away potential buyers.^[11] The 1996 Sable was the first sable to share sheetmetal with the Taurus. Differences from the Taurus included different front and rear fascias, and the elimination of the rear quarter window.^[16] Although the Sable used a less oval based styling, sales still fell.^[15]

The 1996 model could be equipped with the powerful 200 hp (149 kW) 3.0 L DOHC Duratec 30 V6 as an option.^[17] Trim lines stayed the same, with GS as the entry level model and LS as the most luxurious model. The LTS was eliminated.^[17] Although all 1998 models had the option of the DOHC Duratec engine, it was only available on the LS for 1999. That same year front bucket seats became optional on the GS.^[16] Mercury claimed that the 1999 Duratec had less power than the 2000 Duratec in hopes to increase sales of the 2000 Sable.^[18]

In an effort to reverse the declining sales of the Sable, Mercury did major cost cutting for the 1997 model.^[16] They carried this further for 1998, by giving it a front end facelift, and cutting the price up to $2,000 in 1999.^[17] Mercury also continued to cut costs, eliminating some options for 1999.^[16]

[edit] Models

Model	Year	Engine	Power	Torque	Transmission
G	1996–1998	3.0 L SFI Vulcan V6	145 hp (108 kW)	180 ft·lbf (244 N·m)	4-speed AX4S automatic 4-speed AX4N automatic
		3.0 L DOHC Duratec 30 V6	200 hp (149 kW)	195 ft·lbf (264 N·m)
LS	1996–1999
GS	1996–1999	3.0 L SFI Vulcan V6	145 hp (108 kW)	180 ft·lbf (244 N·m)
		3.0 L DOHC Duratec 30 V6	200 hp (149 kW)	195 ft·lbf (264 N·m)

[edit] Fourth generation (2000–2005)

Fourth generation
Production	2000–2005
Body style	4-door sedan 4-door station wagon
Layout	FF layout
Platform	Ford D186 platform
Engine	3.0 L Vulcan V6 3.0 L Duratec V6
Transmission	4-speed AX4N automatic
Wheelbase	108.5 in.
Length	197.8 in. (station wagon) 199.8 in. (sedan)
Width	73.0 in.
Height	57.8 in. (station wagon) 55.5 in (sedan)
Similar	Buick Century Chrysler Sebring Nissan Altima

The Taurus received another redesign in 2000, which minimized some of the oval design elements from the 1996 model, replacing them with more conventional styling.^[19] The redesign also featured a taller roof over the rear-passenger space, to increase passenger headroom that had been sacrificed by the tapered 1996 design.^[19] The taller and roomier trunk also served to make the vehicle more functional.^[11] The interior was completely changed for a much more conservative design.^[19] Certain elements of the interior were retained from the 1996 model, such as the integrated control console, which combined the sound system and climate controls into one panel. The suspension was also softened to appeal to a broader, non-sporting audience.^[19] To reduce the price and increase profitability, many features such as four-wheel disc brakes were eliminated.^[19]

The 2005 Mercury Montego and 2006 Milan were launched as replacements for the Sable.^[19] Shortly after the Montego's introduction the Sable was discontinued, along with the Taurus wagon; the Taurus sedan continued to be produced, but primarily for the fleet market. The last Sable left the Atlanta plant on April 29, 2005.^[12]

The 2002 Taurus included extra equipment on every trim level, including a CD player and power driver's seat on the GS, and a power moonroof or leather interior on the LS.^[11] Side airbags and traction control were added as options on all models.^[11] For 2004, the Sable received minor cosmetic changes to the front and rear fascias, most noticeably the grille was made fully chrome. Inside were a new instrument cluster and steering wheel.^[19]

Due to the Mercury brand's discontinuation in Canada, the fourth generation Sable was never available in the Canadian market. Thus it was unique to the US and Mexico.

[edit] Models

Model	Year	Engine	Power	Torque	Transmission
GS	2000–2005	3.0 L SFI Vulcan V6	155 hp (116 kW)	185 ft·lbf (251 N·m)	4-speed AX4N automatic
		3.0 L DOHC Duratec 30 V6	200 hp (149 kW)	195 ft·lbf (264 N·m)
LS

[edit] Fifth generation (2008-)

This article contains information about a scheduled or anticipated future automobile. It may contain preliminary or speculative information, and may not reflect the final version of the vehicle.

Fifth generation
Production	2008-
Predecessor	Mercury Montego
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	FF layout/All wheel drive
Platform	Ford D3 platform
Engine	3.5 L Cyclone V6
Transmission	6-speed 6F automatic
Wheelbase	112.9 in
Length	200.4 in
Width	74.5 in
Height	61.5
Curb weight	3643 lb (FWD) 3814 lb (AWD)
Related	Lincoln MKS Volvo S80 Volvo XC90 Ford Taurus Ford Taurus X Ford Flex (2009)
Similar	Buick Lucerne Hyundai Azera Toyota Avalon

Ford CEO Alan Mulally said that Ford's scheme to make all its cars names start with the letter F was a bad move, as it made Ford's new cars easily forgettable.^[20] Mulally wants to revive some known and respected Ford nameplates for its new model line, the Sable being one of them. When the facelifted Mercury Montego is launched in late 2007, it will be renamed the Sable.^[21] Alan Mulally believes that with this new name, more customers will recognize the car, thus raising sales.^[20]

Changes to the new Sable from the existing Montego include a new front end and the addition of the 3.5 L Cyclone engine from the Ford Edge, as well as replacing the continuously variable transmission (CVT) with a conventional one to counter criticism of the Montego being underpowered.^[22] On Wednesday February 7, Ford confirmed the changes.^[20][23]

[edit] Models

Model	Year	Engine	Power	Torque	Transmission
Base Premeir	2008-present	3.5 L Cyclone V6	260 hp	245 ft·lbf	6-speed 6F automatic

[edit] Special editions

A few rare special editions of the Sable were made, all consisting of first generation models.

In 1987, Mercury created a special edition of the Sable called the "LS Monochrome Edition", which as an option would color the bumpers, side trim, and wheels white.^[24] It was only offered in 1987, and a unknown number was made and it is unknown how many still exist.^[24]

In 1989, Mercury created a "50th Anniversary" edition of the Sable, to celebrate Mercury's 50th Anniversary. Keeping with the name, only 50 were sold, combined between GS and LS models. This Sable was actually a test bed for creating a Luxury sports version of the Sable called the LTS, similar to that of the Ford Taurus SHO. It was meant to use the SHO's chassis, interior, and suspension, but not the engine.^[25] After the launch of the SHO, and all the publicity and praise it got, Ford shelved the Sable LTS to focus on the SHO, and because they were afraid it would take sales away from the SHO. The Sable LTS remained in a "development hell" until mid-1994 when it was introduced as a high end version of the Sable, but by then, it was just a highly optioned LS. An unknown number of these Sables still exist, but a pristine condition GS in this trim was recently sold on eBay.^[25]

A special one-of-a-kind Sable convertible was created in 1988 for the Detroit SAE auto show. It was built off a sedan chassis, and featured a completely custom made two door body with a custom designed folding top. It was later shelved, and not made into a production vehicle. The only one sat in a warehouse for years until it was given a VIN, titled, and driven. It was sold on eBay in 2006.^[26]

[edit] Popular culture

In the movie Coneheads, the main character, Beldar, drives a 1992 Sable GS. The car is equipped with a removable sunroof to accommodate his "cone." At the end of the movie, the car is taken to planet Remulak, and the owner's guide given as a gift to the Conehead Highmaster. The car is described as "a personal conveyance named after its inventor, an assassinated ruler, a character from Greco-Roman myth and a small furry mammal." (Henry Ford, Abraham Lincoln, Mercury, and Sable, respectively)

[edit] References

• Taurus Car Club of America. Retrieved on May 16, 2006.
• Beadle, Tony (August 1996). The American Automobile. Smithmark Publishers. ISBN 0-8317-6267-5. 
• Gunnell, John (July 2002). Standard Catalog of Ford 1903-2003, 3rd edition, Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87349-452-0. 

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• Mercury Sable official preview page
• FAQ Farm's Mercury Sable FAQ: wiki question and answer forum
• Taurus Car Club of America
• TCCA: Taurus/Sable Encyclopedia

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Mercury road vehicle timeline, 1980s-present  v • d • e
Type	1980s										1990s										2000s
	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Subcompact	Bobcat	Lynx							Tracer
Compact	Zephyr				Topaz											Mystique
Mid-size	Cougar			Marquis				Sable																			Milan
Full-size	Marquis			Grand Marquis
	Colony Park																							Marauder		Montego			Sable
Sports car	Cougar																			Cougar
Crossover SUV																										Mariner
SUV																		Mountaineer
Minivan														Villager											Monterey