Kate Walsh
How do you top the smoky voice and unsubtle dialogue? The question is: when you turn on that famous Cadillac CTS ad, does it return the favor?

Brooke Shields
Renowned cougar Brooke Shields is, along with a talking Beetle, the voice of Volkswagen in America. She reminds women you can be sexy and still drive a Volkswagen minivan... if you look like Brooke Shields.

i-Miev Mom
Even the Japanese have gotten into the act, as evidenced by this commercial for the electric Mitsubishi i-Miev. Though maybe it's better to call her a spokesmilf?

Heidi Klum
Volkswagen has gone crazy for the German model-cum-host, using her in a variety of print and television ads, including some with her famously well-built husband Seal. Why does VW love the spokescougar so much?

Kim Cattrall
We're getting a bit sick of Kim Cattrall. Part of the fun of the spokescougar is the tease, but Cattrel pushes it too far. The proof? Her Nissan Tilda ad was pulled from New Zealand television for being too sexy.
Photo Credit: SHAUN CURRY/AFP/Getty Images

Jill Wagner "The Mercury Girl"
Everyone's favorite spokeswoman Jill Wagner was, for a while, more famous than the Mercury brand itself. Having just turned 30 she's a bit young to be a true cougar, but she gets special consideration for being the spokesperson for the brand who invented the Cougars.

Susan Lucci
When Susan Lucci first stepped out to hawk the unsexy Ford Windstar she became one of the earliest modern spokescougars.
Photo Credit: Brad Barket/Getty Images

Bonus Spokescougars
Brooke Shields and Susan Lucci together? MIND EXPLOSION!
Photo Credit: Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images

It's funny, we're pretty excited about the new Fusion, but these two cars offer much the same package and yet we're apt to give them both a "meh" (look it up in the Collins English Dictionary, it's a real word now). Where the Fusion provides a perfect example of an American car done right, the Milan and the MKZ are perfect examples of one luxury car that could be great but is split in two to satisfy the dealers.

2010 Mercury Milan

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 19, 2008 – The Mercury Milan builds on a strong foundation of quality and reliability, adding to the mix for the 2010 model year an all-new hybrid model, more fuel-efficient gasoline powertrain options, class-exclusive technologies and a more refined, sophisticated design.

“The Milan has been a strong part of the Mercury lineup since its initial launch and has helped attract more consumers to dealer showrooms,” said John Felice, general manager, Ford, Lincoln Mercury Marketing. “For sophisticated consumers looking for a stylish hybrid, the Milan now offers them the most fuel-efficient hybrid sedan in its class.”

Chief designer Darrell Behmer and his team had the advantage of working from a vehicle that’s been lauded by consumers and consumer groups. “Our approach was to build upon the Milan’s strengths – to improve rather than reinvent,” Behmer said. “From a design standpoint, we wanted to clarify the design, making it cleaner and more modern.”

The changes to the exterior design were focused on the grille,and front and rear fascias. The chin was pulled forward and the fascia was pulled down to give the 2010 Mercury Milan a wider, sportier look. Those changes as well as substantial underbody work made for a cleaner, more aerodynamic car.

The two-tone look on the interior continues as a Milan signature, with satin-aluminum accents and a wood finish around the center stack. The Milan features Dark Charcoal Black, Medium Light Stone and Camel as interior choices through the Premier Series, which includes embossed leather.

An improved seat design with a new perforation pattern has been added as well. The seat contour itself was revised, with more side support to help create a softer seat overall.

Door sill plates mirror the satin-aluminum look as well. Drivers also are greeted with contrasting stitching on the steering wheel. Ice Blue lighting now illuminates the cluster and instrument panel display.

More powertrain options, more horsepower, better fuel economy
Both the inline four-cylinder and V-6 engines are upgraded, with the four-cylinder engine increased to 2.5 liters and the 3-liter V-6 increasing its horsepower rating from 221 to 240. Each engine improves fuel economy as well, up to 4 or 5 mpg depending on the model.

The 2.5-liter I-4 engine, which improved its 0-60 mph time by more than 1 second to achieve best-in-class performance, is available with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, up from five speeds.

“The gear ratios and the overall span of the transmissions allow us to have a more-efficient shift schedule,” said Matt Hettenhouse, powertrain team leader for the Milan. The first gear can be made a little deeper, which provides smoother acceleration. At the top end, a higher gear allows the engine to run slower in highway conditions, which also aids fuel economy.

The innovative Easy Fuel™ capless fuel filler system also is standard. This industry-exclusive feature helps to reduce evaporative emissions that create smog and global warming. When fueling is completed, and the fuel pump nozzle is removed, the system automatically seals shut.

Better handling in a quieter, more-comfortable ride
Bringing a premium driving experience to the Mercury Milan was one of the goals for the team. For the 2010 model, strides were made in steering and handling, turning circle (better by about 1 foot) and an improved brake pedal feel. Upgraded 17-inch painted aluminum wheels are another performance and appearance enhancement standard on the Premier.

The 2010 Mercury Milan team also took a look at how to improve the comfort of the car. “We made a major improvement on interior quietness,” said Chief Engineer J.D. Shanahan. 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.

In addition, improved body and door sealing defends and improves upon Milan’s best-in-class standing in wind noise. Reductions in wind noise and road noise gives Mercury Milan drivers the level of quiet luxury they demand.

With design refinements to the exterior creating a sportier look as well as upgraded technology and materials inside, the 2010 Mercury Milan expands on the value package that makes it a leader in the mid-size car segment.

Staying connected
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. It uses two multiple beam radar modules, which are packaged in the rear quarter panels. The radar detects moving objects within a 65-foot range from either side of the vehicle. The radar identifies when a vehicle enters the defined blind spot zone and illuminates an indicator light on the corresponding side-view mirror providing a warning that a vehicle is approaching. An audible alert is sounded as well.
• SYNC: The voice-activated hands-free in-car communication and entertainment system developed by Ford and Microsoft. The system fully integrates most Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and digital media players, providing customers hands-free cell phone and music selection capabilities – plus new 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report provided with no monthly fees.
o 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. The key advantage of SYNC 911 Assist is speed, as calls are placed directly to local 911 operators.
o 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. That data packet is sent to Ford via an 800-number automatically dialed using the customer’s paired and operable mobile phone.
• 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. The navigation system’s text-to-speech function calls out street names while in route to a destination and reads incoming text messages when the system is linked to SYNC. The integrated DVD player is capable of reading CD-Audio, MP3 CDs, DVD, DVD-Audio and DVD-ROM (for digital map updates). A music jukebox function stores more than 150 hours of music. The screen even can be customized with personal photos.
• SIRIUS Travel Link™, 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. Travel Link also offers sports scores and schedules and a listing of more than 4,500 movie theaters with movie times, theater addresses, movie synopses and more.
• Reverse Camera System, which mounts a small camera on the decklid that is activated when Milan is shifted into reverse, giving the driver a clear view behind the vehicle. 
The video image is displayed in the optional navigation screen on Milans equipped with that option or in the self-dimming rearview mirror vehicles without navigation.

All Mercury Milan models will be built alongside the Ford Fusion at Ford’s Hermosillo (Mexico) Stamping and Assembly Plant and will be in dealers in spring 2009.

[Source: Ford]

First, it won't come as a shock that the cost of converting Fords into Mercurys isn't exactly astronomical. However, Ford has already indicated that Lincoln is planned to be the stronger of the two brands so why keep around a weak brand? Well, a big reason is that admitting Mercury is soon to be extinct will likely cause an ever greater loss in sales and an increase in lawsuits from dealers. They're not even getting a Flex derivative, so pity Jill Wagner. [DetNews]

Yes, not as much Jill Wagner as we'd like, but hell, we'll take as much of her as FoMoCo will give us. In this episode of Blade commercialism from the not-Ford brand, our fair heroine is explaining how she can single-handedly re-badge a Ford product as a Mercury by placing the badge in the middle of thin air, and then watching as a Ford Escape Mercury Mariner is born. We kid FoMoCo, actually the ad's all about...well, hell, the press release is right after the jump. – Ray Wert

2008 MERCURY MARINER BUILDS ON MOMENTUM WITH NEW HIGH-TECH COMPUTER GENERATED ADS

* New 2008 Mercury Mariner, boasting a new design, lower suggested MSRP and greater fuel efficiency, aims to build upon one of the strongest vehicle conquest rates within Ford Motor Company.
* Cutting-edge 3D animation technology drives captivating new ads that showcase the 2008 Mercury Mariner's sophisticated design and styling.
* Hitting network airwaves now, the ads will appear in lifestyle media that tap into the Mariner customer's passions for cooking, health and fitness, and home design.

DEARBORN, Mich., March 26, 2007 - The 2008 Mercury Mariner - the nameplate that has helped put Mercury back on consumers' consideration list - is arriving in dealerships this month supported by an ad campaign designed to build on its momentum of attracting new, younger, and more diverse customers to the Mercury brand.

The ad campaign, created by Y&R Team Detroit, employs the latest 3D computer-generated animation technology to create visually captivating images of the 2008 Mercury Mariner that focus on the vehicle's design features and its available hybrid powertrain.

"We've put a lot of creative power behind these ads because we want to underscore the design sophistication of the 2008 Mercury Mariner," said Mike Richards, Lincoln Mercury General Marketing Manager. "The Mariner is a very important vehicle to our line-up as it has proven to be very effective in attracting new customers to the Mercury brand. The latest sales data shows more than a 48 percent conquest rate for the Mercury Mariner* and that it has been well-received among a diverse range of consumers."

Cutting-edge advertising opens new dimensions

More than 50 percent of Mercury Mariner customers are female, compared with 40 percent female customers for the overall Mercury brand.* In addition, the average Mercury Mariner customer is younger than the average Mercury customer: age 47 v. age 55.*

To appeal to these consumers, Mercury created an ad campaign that employs sophisticated photography techniques and draws the eye to the Mariner's contemporary design. The first TV spot for the 2008 Mercury Mariner, titled "Sound Waves," opens with Mercury spokesperson Jill Wagner posing the question, "What happens when an idea strikes just the right note?" Wagner taps the Mercury logo and sound waves reverberate and take shape in the form of the Mercury Mariner. The image then comes into focus to highlight the new design features of the vehicle, both inside and out.

The TV spots are produced by Tight Films and directed by The Brothers Strause, an award-winning team whose latest credits include VFX Supervision on the movies, "300," the "X-Men: The Last Stand," and the Academy-Award winning "Titanic." Hydraulx, a special effects company owned by The Brothers Strause, researched particle and fluid movement and created their own computer code to generate the sound wave effect in the first Mariner spot. Two additional TV spots, also directed by The Brothers Strause, are planned to begin airing in April. A similar creative approach will be carried through to the online ad campaign, which also is slated to begin in April.

The print campaign carries forward the emphasis on the vehicle's design and consists of several ads, including two that will be seen in May magazines on stands next month. The first, titled "One dynamic form," focuses on the design enhancements and patented improvements to the vehicle. The second, "Now, more stop means more go," highlights the regenerative braking function of the Mariner Hybrid's powertrain.

Connecting with consumers' passions

To reach the Mariner's target customers, Mercury will leverage their passion for cooking, home design and a healthy lifestyle, choosing to advertise the compact SUV on cable networks, such as HGTV, the Food Network, and DIY. Sponsorships will be tied to specific programs, such as "The Next Food Network Star" and "Basics-Urban Gardening," and will include online advertising, product integration and other marketing elements. Focus on these passion points carries over to other media as well, including print ads planned for Yoga Journal, Everyday with Rachel Ray and Outside, among others.

New 2008 Mercury Mariner Enhancements

The 2008 Mercury Mariner is completely redesigned inside and out and exemplifies the sophisticated and stylish design expected of a modern Mercury. In addition to fresh sheet metal and a new interior, Mariner is updated with a comprehensive standard safety package, a quieter ride and more refined driving dynamics. What has not changed is the overall package: Mariner retains the fuel-efficiency, maneuverability and the fun-to-drive nature that are core characteristics of the compact SUV package.

The 2008 Mariner enters the market at a time when customers are looking for smaller SUVs that still deliver on the attributes demanded of a traditional SUV, such as four-wheel drive, a commanding seating position, towing capability and good cargo capacity. The new Mariner continues to balance all these demands, wrapping it all in a sophisticated and stylish package that can be found only on a Mercury.

For more information about the 2008 Mercury Mariner, please go to www.media.ford.com or www.mercuryvehicles.com.

*According to J.D. Power Information Network.

About Mercury

Mercury is a brand of the Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., that manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With more than 280,000 employees and 100 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo, Aston Martin and Mazda.. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com.

This newspaper ad for a Queens auto dealership could be the world's most obvious attempt at linking sex with buying a car. Still, considering it's an ad for the Hyundai Elantra and the Sonata — that may not be the worst idea to move some product. Hell, maybe they should try that shit out with the Dodge Magnum or anything from Mercury. Oh wait, isn't that what Jill Wagner's for? – Ray Wert

[From Friday's New York Post via copyranter]

Related:
Wagging Over Jill Wagner's Shoes: Mercury Spokesmodel's Pumps Hotter Than The Cars She's Pushing; Heating Up The Mercury: Brand Spokeswoman Jill Wagner Looking Hot And Bothered On the Small Screen In 'Blade' [internal]

Oops, was that a slip of the tongue made by the main-man at FoMoCo during the introduction of the new Ford Five Hundred yesterday Sunday? Was it signaling a serious shift in strategy for the automaker? Or — maybe he's just telling the truth. All we've got to ask is — What Would Jill Wagner Do? – Ray Wert

Related:
Avast Ye! Mercury Reveals 2008 Mariner [internal]

Not only can't you find the shoes at Neiman, apparently you can't even find them on eBay or Froogle — folks have even taken to calling into the ad agency producing the spot, Wunderman Detroit. We couldn't even find a picture of the shoes — the screen capture from above is really from Wagner's first ad airing last year. With the hot-like-fire Wagner now in a hit tv show, we bet it's only time before Neiman pushes Alaia Paris to pop more of those kicks out of Malaysian sweat shops. Faster, children, faster!

Seeking hot shoes for their sole mate [Freep]

Related:
Heating Up The Mercury: Brand Spokeswoman Jill Wagner Looking Hot And Bothered On the Small Screen In 'Blade' [internal]

Download Blade TV Pilot Free [ComicBookMovie.com]

Related:
Mercury's Spokesmodel Outed: Jill Wagner in the Blogosphere

Those who've been pining for Mercury's new spokesmodel now have a name to Google for scantily clad lad-mag shots. According to the blog, Population Statistic and other 'net denizens, she is none other than Jill Wagner, late of "Punk'd" and (guest spots on) "Dr. Vegas" (do we remember that show?). We hope she'll remember that we were there for her blogosphere star-turn.

Jill Wagner the Mercury Girl [Population Statistic]

Related:
Mercury to Promote Milan with Random Acts of Surprise [internal]