2006 MERCURY MARINER HYBRID SETS "SALE" AT HEAL THE BAY AUCTION
- Nation’s first public sale of 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid to sell at auction
- Sale supports the work of environmental group Heal the Bay
SANTA MONICA, Calif., (May 26, 2005) – The 2006 Mariner Hybrid, the first gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle from Mercury, will embark at a most appropriate seaside venue: Heal the Bay’s annual charity auction.
Mercury has donated a 2006 Mariner Hybrid SUV to Heal the Bay, the Santa Monica-based environmental group dedicated to improving water quality along California’s coastline.
The Mariner Hybrid will be the premier auction item at the group’s annual "Bring Back the Beach" dinner June 2. The dinner takes place adjacent to the sand at Santa Monica Beach.
The Heal the Bay auction will mark the first public sale of a Mercury Mariner Hybrid.
Since 1995, Ford Motor Company has underwritten Heal the Bay’s "Beach Report Card," an annual survey of water quality at California’s beaches. The Beach Report Card assigns a letter grade (A-F) based on bacterial levels at beaches from Humboldt County to the Mexican border.
"We appreciate Ford’s enthusiastic support of Heal the Bay. Through Bill Ford’s leadership, Ford Motor Company has demonstrated a commitment to the environment that ranges from green building to coastal protection," said Dr. Mark Gold, executive director of Heal the Bay. "We’re thankful for their support, and salute Ford and Mercury for recognizing the need for hybrid SUVs like the Mariner Hybrid."
The Mercury Mariner Hybrid is the second hybrid SUV produced by Ford, following the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid. Like the Escape Hybrid, the Mariner Hybrid can run on its gasoline engine, electric battery power, or both together.
Initially planned as a 2007 model, Mercury Mariner Hybrid production was pulled ahead one year in response to growing customer interest in hybrid vehicles. Mariner Hybrid is one of four additional gasoline-electric hybrids Ford Motor Company will introduce in three calendar years. When it arrives in showrooms this fall, Mariner Hybrid will be one of the most fuel-efficient and cleanest sport-utility vehicles on the road. It shares the same advanced technology that earned Escape Hybrid the 2005 North American Truck of the Year Award.
"With its tremendous gas mileage and emissions, plus its clean design and roomy interior, the Mariner Hybrid is sure to be a hit with consumers," says Al Giombetti, president, Lincoln Mercury. "People are excited about the Mariner Hybrid and its environmental benefits. We're pleased to see that excitement help an outstanding organization like Heal the Bay."
The Mariner Hybrid powertrain blends the best features of a gasoline engine and an electric motor to achieve nearly 50 percent higher driving efficiency and lower emissions with no loss of the conventional Mariner's functionality or performance. This feat is achieved by six powertrain components that work in perfect unison. Ford Motor Company has received more than 40 patents, with another 70 patents pending, on these technologies shared with the Escape Hybrid.
Mariner Hybrid delivers impressive fuel economy, with estimated ratings of 33 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. Unlike conventional vehicles, Mariner Hybrid gets greater fuel economy in the city, where its electric motor can propel the vehicle up to 25 mph without assistance from the gasoline engine. In addition, Mariner Hybrid takes advantage of frequent stops for regenerative braking. The stop and go of the urban commute is where Mariner Hybrid shines. Certified to California (CARB) emissions standards, Mariner Hybrid is expected to meet the rigorous Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) emissions standard in California, and other states that have adopted California's emissions standards.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company(NYSE: F), a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With nearly 325,000 employees and 110 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Motor Credit Company and Hertz. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com . Additional information can be found on the company's Web site at www.ford.com.
About Heal the Bay
Heal the Bay, founded in 1985, is dedicated to making Santa Monica Bay and Southern California coastal waters safe and healthy again for people and marine life. It is one of the largest nonprofit environmental organizations in Los Angeles County, with more than 10,000 members. The organization focuses on education, outreach, research and advocacy through programs like Coastal Cleanup Day and its Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. Beach Report Card weekly and annual updates are available at www.healthebay.org