Mercury Sable in new sedan/wagon style gets more safety gear
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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CULPEPER, Va. -- Driving the new designs for Sable, mid-size staples by Mercury in sedan and wagon variations, we're struck by the feeling of substance that these cars convey in the way they master contours of the curvy roadbeds in northern Virginia.
They seem strong and solid, holding a firm line through the bends and hunkering in a stable stance on the straights.
Spend time inside, like we did in different editions during two days of driving through the heart of Virginia, and you'd think these Sables amount to more than their mid-size dimensions imply. They feel big and behave with the weighty mass of a full-size car, yet a platform wheelbase of 108.5 inches keeps the turning circle to a relatively short span of about 40 feet so they're easier to maneuver than a larger car.
They're also quite comfortable, thanks to a revamped passenger compartment that eliminates the quirky elliptical design motif found on the previous Sable series in favor of more conservative and practical styling lines.
There's more space inside the cabin now, particularly in headroom for backseat riders. Headroom increases because of the raised height of Sable's new roofline. A taller roof position also builds height into the window glass wrapping around the cabin, which increases outward visibility for passengers and seems to open up the interior as well.
Other structural elements were modified in the new design to improve various functions. For instance, the front hood was reset in a higher position to accommodate larger air intake ports in front to increase efficiency of engine cooling, and the taller tail -- with about four more inches of height over the previous design -- expands the trunk volume of the sedan to 16 cubic feet.
The exterior design also tones down styling for a quiet and understated approach. Sleek windswept lines flow up the face from nose to roof, then taper to the tail. From the frontal view, bold multi-lens headlamps anchor the front corners on either side of a broad but narrow grille.
Side panels still carry the same curvy flank waves of the previous Sable, but at the rear the new high decklid has a spoiler lip and oversized back lamps at the corners.
Behind the skin, Sable conceals a rigid structural system extended from the previous design, which earned the highest federal rating of five stars by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for shielding driver and passenger during frontal collision tests.
The new Sable enhances the structural integrity by adding new hardware to improve safety for riders, including an array of sophisticated devices in place for front seat occupants under the label of Personal Safety System.
Heart of this equipment is a micro-computer that gathers data about the type and intensity of a frontal impact from sensors placed in forward sections of the car, then analyzes the collected information in milliseconds and reacts to it by deploying the various safety equipment as needed to maximize protection of front-seat passengers.
On-board sensors could reflect the severity of a frontal crash by measuring the crush rate of the front bumper, for instance, as well as the position of the driver's seat in relation to the steering wheel and whether the driver is wearing a seat belt at the time of the impact. The computer can instantly process data gathered from these sensors, then activate safety controls, such as pretensioners on seat belts to hold the occupant in place and -- if the crash intensity is strong -- frontal air bags.
These air bags are rigged with two stages of force and the computer determines the level of energy to use, selecting a lower inflation rate during a lesser crash but maximizing the force for an intense incident.
Twin air bags in outboard seat bolsters, designed to protect both head and chest of front-seat riders and reduce the risk of injury in a side collision, are offered optionally for all trim levels of the new Sable.
Front seats were redesigned to house the optional side air bags.
Actually, Sable offers choices for front seat style -- either a bench or buckets, based on the trim.
The three-person front bench seat for Sable GS editions contains a flip-down center back section that becomes a console when folded forward to a position flush with the floor. This arrangement with console extended ends up functioning like two bucket seats separated by a console.
Two front bucket seats in the new design for Sable LS are split by a new console that has an open bin in front and a closed compartment in back.
A new dashboard design orients around a center panel that groups control toggles for audio and climate systems, with the new instrument cluster adding analog gauges including a speedometer and tachometer.
Another optional control for Sable also relates to safe operation: Power adjustable brake and accelerator pedals.
An electric motor sets the pedals closer to or further from the driver's seat, with pedal movement controlled from an illuminated switch on the instrument panel.
As standard safety equipment in the trunk, the handle of an emergency trunk release mechanism glows in the dark. Anyone trapped inside can pull the handle to unlock the trunk lid quickly and escape.
Mechanical equipment on this Sable also slants toward safe operation, such as the quick-to-respond rack and pinion steering system with power assistance, and brakes with front discs and rear drums plus an available anti-lock device tied to an all-speed traction controller.
The independent suspension system puts MacPherson struts in front and a quadralink in back with coil springs and gas-pressurized shocks. Changes to the rear strut valving and re-tuning of stabilizer bars produce a ride quality that's smoother than the previous Sable.
Designers recycled two 3.0-liter V6 engines for Sable, but the new editions deliver more horsepower and better fuel economy figures following refinements. A two-valve Vulcan V6 for Sable GS boosts output to 155 hp, as the four-valve Duratec V6 of Sable's LS Premium edition packs dual overhead cams and hits 200 hp.
Both engines use a four-speed automatic transaxle.
Pricing for Sable 2000 starts at $18,940 plus $575 for delivery of the GS sedan, with standard equipment like air conditioning, power windows and mirrors, plus cruise control and a stereo system. The LS Premium sedan totals to $21,340 with the stronger engine and such extra gear as an automatic climate system and theft alarm, while the LS Premium wagon caps the series at $22,440.
Options like the adjustable foot pedals add $120, and the side air bags run $390 more.
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| 2000 MERCURY SABLE VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS |
| Description: |
Mid-size sedan, wagon
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| Model Options: |
Mid-size sedan, wagon
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| Wheelbase: |
108.5 inches
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| Overall Length: |
Sedan: 200.5 inches
Wagon: 197.7 inches
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| Engine Size: |
SOHC 3.0-L V6
DOHC 3.0-L V6
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| Transmission: |
Auto/4
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| Drive: |
Front
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| Braking: |
Sedan: Power disc/drum/
opt. ABS
Wagon: Power disc/drum/
std. ABS
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| Airbags: |
2 (front) + opt. 2 (side)
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| Gas Mileage: |
19/27 mpg
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| MSRP Price: |
$ 19,000 to $ 24,000 |
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