A hybrid for Mercury has finally arrived, and so
far it has gotten rave reviews. The 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid is likely to
be competitive with other hybrid sedans such as the Toyota Camry Hybrid and
Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid. The regenerative brake system recovers nearly 94
percent energy, followed by friction brakes during city driving making the Milan
Hybrid one of the most fuel efficient sedans on the market. A simulator
brake actuate ion system dictates brake actuation and delivers improved brake
pedal feel compared to the previous generation braking system. A smart climate
control system only runs the gas engine as needed to heat the cabin, while the
A/C is run off an electric compressor. The driver's interaction with the hybrid
system has been updated with Ford's new SmartGauge with EcoGuide. Two high
resolution full color liquid crystal displays (LCD) on both sides of the
speedometer can be configured to show different levels of information. You can
take a look at the fuel and battery levels or view the average mpg and instant
mpg.
Mercury Technology
The Milan Hybrid is loaded with technology, which
aids in areas such as safety. New technology features available on the 2010
Milan include Blind Spot Information System (BLISTM) with Cross Traffic Alert,
which can help provide extra confidence to drivers in parking lots by alerting
drivers sooner of nearby traffic while backing out. Also new is Voice-Activated Navigation which integrates several functions including voice recognition destination
entry, climate control and SIRIUS satellite radio into one easy-to-use system,
displaying them on an 8-inch touch-screen display. Included as well is 911 Assist. When a phone is
properly paired, turned on and connected to SYNC, the system is ready to assist
in placing a call directly to a local 911 emergency operator in the event of an
air bag-deploying accident. SIRIUS Travel Link is an industry-leading technology
that, when combined with the voice-activated navigation system, will provide
users with real-time traffic data with accident and incident information,
coast-to-coast weather data including current conditions and five-day forecasts,
and fuel price information for over 120,000 gas stations. Vehicle Health Report
(VHR): SYNC gathers relevant information from the major vehicle control modules
and packages diagnostic data into a usable format in a matter of minutes; and a
Reverse Camera System.
Exterior Design
The 2010 Milan Hybrid joins an updated version of
the gas-only midsize sedan and features similar styling. The Milan Hybrid has a
few exterior cues that will tip onlookers off that they aren't looking at a
regular Milan. The hybrid has badges on the front doors and trunklid, plus
special 17-inch wheels. It has a waterfall grille as well as a restyled
hood, headlights and front bumper. Despite the numerous changes to the Milan's
exterior, the relatively conservative design remains rather plain and bland
among the midsize sedan segment. Ford also added in their capless fuel filler
system. Just remove the pump nozzle and the system automatically seals shut.
The Milan Hybrid Cabin
The general appearance of the Milan Hybrid's cabin
is similar to the regular models. The seat fabric in the Milan Hybrid is
made from recycled materials. Hood insulators, inner and outer dash absorbers,
new carpet, revised ceiling baffles, additional sound deadening in the trunk,
new interior material and new headliner material are among the improvements made
to the sound insulation. Ford also worked on the body and door sealing to cut
down on wind noise. Metallic finishes were applied to the instrument
panel, center console, doors and steering wheel. A soft upper and lower skin was
applied to the instrument panel to give it a softer look. A leather wrapped
steering wheel has form fitting palm swells. A new shifter and wrapped and padded
armrests have been added. The hybrid has a unique gauge cluster called SmartGauge with EcoGuide that's designed to help drivers save fuel. It features
two LCD screens separated by a traditional speedometer. The screens can be
configured to show the driver a limited set of information about the hybrid
system or increasingly detailed data. One of the more interesting graphical
features of the LCD is an animated vine that grows more leaves as the car is
driven more efficiently.
Powertrain
The 2010 Milan Hybrid is powered by a 2.5-liter
four-cylinder engine and an electric motor. A continuously variable automatic
transmission sends power to the wheels. The engine is a new 2.5-liter
4-cylinder engine running the Atkinson cycle mated to an
electronically-controlled continuously variable transmission (e-CVT). It can
produce 155 hp/136 lb.-ft. of torque. The electric motor is powered by a
smaller, lighter nickel metal hydride battery pack. The battery, despite being
smaller, is producing 20 percent more power while running at higher
temperatures. It is cooled by using cabin air.
Driving the 2010 Milan Hybrid
The Milan Hybrid's system differs from current
competitors in a key way: while many hybrids are limited to electric-only
operation to speeds around 25 mph, Mercury says the Milan Hybrid can travel on
electric power alone up to 47 mph. Mercury says the Milan Hybrid will have a
city fuel economy rating that's at least 6 mpg higher than the Camry Hybrid's
rating, which would make it at least 39 mpg. That's quite an improvement over an
efficient competitor. The claimed range for the Milan Hybrid in city driving
around 70 miles is equally impressive. Ford has also upgraded the
transition between the electric and gas modes, making it more seamless than
before. The transition is governed by the Intake Variable Cam Timing (iVCT) The
spark and cam timing are varied according to the engine load to optimize
efficiency and emissions.
Conclusions 2010 Milan Hybrid
The Mercury Milan Hybrid is an exciting and fresh
approach to the growing hybrid market. With safety technologies, a longer travel
time on the electric motor, and an improvement in gas mileage, the Milan hybrid
is sure to make a mark in this segment. The Milan Hybrid even offers more with
its unique gauge cluster which features two LCD screens showing data the driver
selects; all in the name of helping the vehicle get the best mileage it can.