Mercury Meta One
The Mercury Meta One was a concept car created by the Ford Motor Company brand, Mercury, first introduced at the 2005 North American International Auto Show. The Meta One was the first PZEV diesel-hybrid concept vehicle. [1]
Loosely based upon the Ford Freestyle, the Meta One was a four-seat luxury crossover. Like other concept cars, the Meta One featured numerous futuristic gadgets. For instance, the vehicle's key doubled as a PDA; it was designed to also store emergency contacts. The Meta One also featured built-in Sirius Satellite Radio and a roaming always-on Wi-Fi connection to deliver to the driver updated traffic conditions and real-time reports.[1]
It featured a twin-turbocharged V6 diesel engine that had an electric motor in the modular hybrid transmission. The torque of the Meta One achieved up to 431 lb·ft (584 N·m) and was 97% cleaner than the Tier I emissions standard for NOx .[1]
In the development of the Ford Taurus X in late 2006, prototype development mules were spotted using front bodywork of Meta One prototypes, leading to speculation that the division would be given a production form of the Meta One, named either the Monticello or Magellan.[2] However, the Meta One was never released as production vehicle.[3]
While the technology has not been applied to diesel engines, the Ford EcoBoost family of engines has utilized turbocharging in an effort to lower emissions while increasing power; the 365hp Ford Taurus SHO and Lincoln MKS utilize a similar twin-turbocharged V6.
See also
- Cadillac SRX - a possible precursor
References
External links
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