American muscle car - 2003 Mercury Marauder sedan
American Iron. Large, wide, unresponsive land yacht -- until now. Mercury fires the opening salvo in what will become a brand revival over the next five years with the debut of the Marauder sedan. While the large rear-drive Mercury is based on the same platform as the sedate Grand Marquis, comparisons stop right there.
Building on a legacy of performance with the early Marauders of the 1960's and 70's, Mercury has brought back power-by-the-pound, revised for today's realities and demanding consumer tastes. The new Marauder began life as a concept, introduced in Las Vegas in 1998. Favorable consumer reaction got the ball rolling.
One of the realities Mercury engineers faced in bringing the powerful modern sedan to life was the need for a balance between performance and utility. Gone are the days of performance for performance sake. Creature comforts, driveability and utility for the daily dispatch are now what customers demand.
Built at the automaker's St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, assembly plant, the Marauder is equipped with Ford's sophisticated 4.6L aluminum V-8 engine and is bolted to a heavy-duty four-speed automatic with overdrive. For good off-the-line performance, the engineers went to their drag racing playbooks and added a reinforced 11 1/4-inch high-stall speed torque converter with a heavy-duty one-inch, one-way clutch.
To minimize backpressure while making a bold visual and auditory statement, the Marauder uses two-inch diameter high-flow stainless steel exhaust pipes through the hot end and 2.25 inch dual tailpipes out of the muffler with 3.5-inch stainless steel Megs tips.
The high stall speed allows engine revolutions to rise into the peak power band before torque is transmitted to the rear wheels. A 3.55:1 rear axle with an 8.8-inch ring gear and limited slip differential also enhances launch performance and acceleration. The large Mercury benefits from improvements and enhancements made to the full-perimeter frame that the rear-drive body-on-frame sedan rides on.
Strong, lightweight hydroformed steel is used for the front rails for good performance in frontal and offset impacts. The number two cross member, which serves as the mounting surface for the steering rack, engine mounts and suspension control arms is now cast aluminum for precise mounting and better alignment tolerances. A more robust steel cross member ties the frame together behind the A-pillar to improve the frame's resistance to torsion and bending forces.
The result -- the frame's torsional rigidity is up by 24 percent. Resistance to vertical bending is improved by 20 percent. This allows the suspension hardware to operate more efficiently while reducing noise, vibration and harshness into the body structure.
With all that, the real question is -- how does it perform? At speed, the Marauder is responsive, nimble and easy to drive. Push it hard and it wants to be driven harder. The robust frame and suspension hardware work together to keep the big Mercury on task and under control at all times.
Inside the cabin, Mercury lavished attention on driver and passengers alike. A modern, technical-looking dot matrix grey trim accents the instrument panel. Gauges are white-faced with Auto Meter brand high-performance oil-pressure and voltmeter gauges located just in front of the center-console mounted shifter.
The steering wheel features controls for the audio and climate control systems. Power adjustable accelerator and brake pedals are standard to help accommodate taller and shorter drivers. Driver and front passenger are coddled in eight-way power reclining bucket leather seats. Extra padding is built-in for better thigh, lumbar and shoulder support.
As one might expect, the large Mercury has a cavernous rear seat that three adults would find comfortable for long trips. The large trunk has a cargo capacity of 21.6 cubic feet.
Ratings & Specifications
Engine performance numbers are 302 hp at 5,750 rpm and 310 lbs-ft of torque at 4,300 rpm. Estimated fuel economy figures are 17 city/23 highway using premium unleaded gasoline.
Standard safety/security features include limited slip rear axle, four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock, remote keyless entry system, Securilock anti-theft system, fog lights, remote garage door opener, dual front airbags, dual front seat mounted side-impact airbags and traction control.
The base Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2003 Mercury Marauder sedan is $33,790 with destination charges $705 additional. Mercury only plans to build 18,000 Marauders over the next 12 months -- so the early bird catches the worm! And finally, Mercury Marauder comes in any color as long as it is black!
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