FIRST SALE OF 2006 MERCURY MARINER HYBRID GENERATES $47,500 AT HEAL THE BAY AUCTION
- Nation's first public sale of 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid nets $47,500 at star-studded auction for environmental group Heal the Bay
- Winner owns architecture company; bid on employee's behalf
SANTA MONICA, Calif., (June 7, 2005) - In a tent filled with celebrities, the 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid showed some star power of its own, raising $47,500 in a live auction at the Heal the Bay "Bring Back the Beach" dinner.
Mercury 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 was the premier auction item at the group's annual "Bring Back the Beach" dinner June 2, held adjacent to the sand at Santa Monica Beach.
The winning bidder was Ardie Tavangarian, owner of ARYA, an architecture, construction, and project management firm in West Los Angeles. He purchased the Mariner Hybrid for his Senior Project Manager, Dean VanRossen to use as a company car.
"Dean does the most driving in our office, so it makes sense for him to have a car that gets good gas mileage," said Tavangarian. "The Mariner Hybrid is sharp looking, and has a lot of room, so it's a smart buy. I'm very happy to support Heal the Bay and Kelly Meyer (who was honored by Heal the Bay for her work on its behalf)."
The dinner was filled with celebrities from the world of entertainment, including: Julia Louis-Dreyfus of 'Seinfeld' fame (and a Heal the Bay board member); director Garry Marshall, who emceed the festivities; actor/comedian Martin Short; supermodel Cindy Crawford; actor Tobey Maguire (Spider-Man, Seabiscuit); actress Wendie Malick (Just Shoot Me, Jake in Progress); Grammy Award winner Kenny G; actress Amy Smart (Butterfly Effect, Road Trip) and actor/comedian Hal Sparks (Queer As Folk, Talk Soup), who showed off the Mariner Hybrid and encouraged the bidding throughout the auction. The evening also featured performances by musical acts Hootie & the Blowfish, The Bangles, and Bonnie McKee.
The Heal the Bay auction marked the first public sale of a Mercury Mariner Hybrid. Last year, one of the first Ford Escape Hybrids was also sold at the Heal the Bay dinner. Klaus and Jami Heidegger, longtime Heal the Bay supporters, bid $40,000 to win the "green" SUV.
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 support of Heal the Bay and the work we do. Under 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 hope to continue our relationship with Ford for years to come."
The Mercury Mariner Hybrid is the second in a series of hybrid vehicles being engineered and brought to market by Ford Motor Company. Like the first, the 2005 Ford 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.
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.
Mariner Hybrid delivers impressive fuel economy, with estimated ratings of 33 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. 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