“According to Car and Driver, the Flex will bow first — allowing it to build market share — with the Lincoln model following about a year after.”

Since Ford insists on putting these things out, why not the Lincoln first?

“We won’t walk away from Mercury,’ Fields said, but ‘we have higher aspirations for Lincoln.’”

Talk is cheap, and actions show something else on Ford’s mind.

Scarface03: I say we bet on when the announcement will come that Mercury is getting shut down. I’m picking May 12, 2009.

rsg: “The Ford version could have easily had an upscale market all to itself with a completely unique vehicle with various trim levels into the 40s, I would think. Now they completely devalue it with a Lincoln version, so it’s perceived as the ‘cheap version,’ while the Lincoln is considered a ‘gussied-up Ford.’”
Yep, and that’s why this becomes even more of a loser.

RSPINAJR: “Bring the european Fords in as Mercurys and bring in more exclusive, upscale products like the MKS to Lincoln and you will have a VERY interesting lineup in Lincoln-Mercury showrooms. “

That makes too much sense. I think if ford took a bunch of guys from this board, and put them on ITS board, the company would soon be on solid ground.

CA36GTP: “So Ford wants to build up Lincoln, but they are going about it the same way that killed Mercury: reading every Ford car and calling it a day.” If at first you don’t succeed, just do the same thing over and over until you do.

Arbiter: “Ever seen a Tahoe and an Escalade together?” Not a fan of the Escalade, but at least it’s a truck, and not a reading of the Cobalt as a ’Lac.

Veda: “The Flex is a very safe car that’s still a better alternative than the regular SUV’s. With the addition of luxury and revised styling, it may be a strong contender to the Enclave.” Possibly, but the Flex is ugly, and Buick doesn’t have another 7-seat crossover. Or another crossover at all.

global_lightning: “I’m gonna open the world’s first (and only) Plymouth-Oldsmobile-Mercury Dealer.”
Good one. Don’t forget the Eagles, though.

Veda: as loathe as I am to give any weight to safety scores, they do sell a lot of vehicles.

I agree with other people on this topic; hasn’t this news already been announced and circulated? Everyone already knew that Lincoln would be receiving an “MK-Flex”.

I agree CA36GTP. It’s like they never learn.

I think it’s interesting how people keep hinting at Mercury getting the axe. I talked to a guy at a L/M dealer and while I’m sure there’s spin on his side too, they say that Mercs are still flying out of their doors.

I don’t entirely believe that, but it makes me wonder just how skewed the news can be.

That can’t be it. I guess it’s that feeling when you see someone have a heart attack or something and you just know they can’t be saved. But I actually like FORD – in principle, but not so much anymore in practice.

If you put a GMC Yukon Denali, Cadillac Escalade, and Chevy Tahoe all next to eachother they all have different front ends, and while the back ends are still very similiar there are enough difference to make them stand apart from eachother. As long as they don’t look Identical like in the past GM has done something better.

Also I saw a white Ford Flex parked at a grocery store and I don’t know if I’d call it an Cross over SUV because it looked like a tall wagon to me.

And I am not sold on the Ford version yet, Lincoln version does not seem like a good idea. What is it supposed to be? A luxury wagon/minivan? I can’t even call it a crossover

The first gen Escalade was a GMC with bling badges and an extra $5000.000 tacked on!

WHOOOOOPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

We should start a poll…. I say there will be four more stories about Mercury not getting this or that, or Mercury not developing this or that, before the press release that Mercury will be shut down. And whenever the article drops, it’ll be written like it was a surprise to Ford–”Despite award-winning styling and innovative technology, Ford has decided to end Mercury production by….”