Mercury Sable
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The Mercury Sable was released in December 1985 for the 1986 model year as the upscale version of the Ford Taurus. Replacing the Mercury Marquis, the Sable was available as a 4-door sedan or a station wagon. The Sable was intented to compete with the new GM H platform-based cars (e.g. Buick LeSabre, Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight). The Sable featured a unique front fascia characterized by a full-width headlamp, or "lightbar". Mercury would later adopt this design feature for its other vehicles, including the Mercury Villager, Mercury Topaz, and the Mercury Tracer. The feature would later be dropped in the mid-1990s, even though other car companies like Subaru, Pontiac, and Honda would adopt this feature. The current Honda Civic hatchback continues this "lightbar" design. The Sable became the first Mercury car to use the "Waterfall" logo.
The Sable was refreshed in 1992 and received its first major overhaul in 1996. The 1996 model is the basis for the 2005 model, although some small styling changes in 2000 and 2004 further refined the car and softened some of the controversial design vestiges of the 1996 model.
The Sable station wagon ended production in 2004 and the sedan ended on April 29, 2005. The Ford Taurus will remain in production until August 2006.
First generation (1986–1991)
The Mercury Sable was introduced in December 1985 as a 1986 model along with the Ford Taurus. The Sable differed considerably from the Taurus, since the Sable was two inches longer than the Taurus, and the Sable shared no sheet metal with the Taurus. The only relation to the Taurus was under the hood, as it shared the same underpinnings; while it had an extra two inches added to the end of the chassis to give it more trunk space. The Sable, along with its Taurus cousin, flew off of showroom floors, with first year sales over 300,000 units. The Sable was generally marketed higher than the Taurus, offering features that the Taurus lacked. The Sable's aerodynamic shape was revolutionary at the time. For the first year on the market, Sable buyers had the choice of a 90 hp 4-cylinder engine, or a 140 hp V6, with the latter having larger sales. 4-cylinder sales were so poor that the engine was dropped for 1987, while it remained an option for the Taurus until 1991. A 3-speed automatic transmission was also an option, but it also sold so poorly that it was also dropped after 1986, with the 4-cylinder engine and 3-speed automatic drivetrain becoming very collectible today. Small touchups were made over the years for the generation, although the basic design stayed the same. Sales dropped to just over 100,000 units in 1991, and Ford launched another generation of Sable.
Year-to-year changes
- 1987: Due to the Taurus and Sable's sales successes, there were no major changes, except for the 4-cylinder engine and 3-speed ATX automatic transmission being dropped. The Taurus continued to offer this drivetrain until 1990.
- 1988: The stronger 3.8 L Essex V6 became available and the Sable GS received numerous standard equipment upgrades such as air conditioning, split front seats, and intermittent wipers.
- 1989: Even though the Taurus lineup received a big upgrade with the addition of the SHO, the Sable carried on with just an upgraded lightbar, now fully illuminated.
- 1990: The Sable got a new steering wheel with space for an airbag, received a new dashboard that featured cupholders, and a CD player became available.
- 1991: The Sable wagon got a new transmission and the V6 got a better fuel injection system, while anti-lock brakes became an option for the wagon. Other than that, the Sable was unchanged.
Awards
The Sable was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list on its release in 1986 and again in 1990 and 1991.Models
| Model | Year | Engine | Power | Torque | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS | 1986 | 2.5 L SFI HSC I4 | 90 hp (67 kW) | 130 ft·lbf (176 N·m) | 3-speed ATX automatic |
| GS | 1986-1991 | 3.0 L SFI Vulcan V6 | 140 hp (104 kW) | 160 ft·lbf (217 N·m) | 4-speed AXOD automatic |
| LS | |||||
| GS | 1988–1991 | 3.8 L SFI Essex V6 | 140 hp (104 kW) | 215 ft·lbf (291 N·m) | |
| LS |
Second generation (1992–1995)
For 1992, the Sable was redesigned. Although every body panel except for the roof was changed, the shape was basically the same, with the shape mostly squashed down and aerodynamically reengineered. The Sable also got what Ford called a "smarter appointed interior", which included a more organized dashboard, with slide-out cupholders and a coin tray. The Sable also got dual airbags, a first in its class, with the passenger's side airbag being optional for 1992. For 1993, the Sable got dual airbags as standard, and buyers got the option to get bucket seats and a console instead of the front bench seat. For 1995, an upscale LTS model was introduced, which had extra features like a leather-wrapped steering wheel, shift knob, and leather seats, among many other luxury amenities. For every year of this generation, the Taurus, sister car of the Sable, was the best-selling car in America. [link]
Year-to-year changes
- 1992: The Sable and Taurus got a facelift for 1992. Even though the shape was virtually unchanged, each body panel was replaced with a new one giving a more modern look. The front lightbar was made smaller, the whole body was squashed down, and the interior was changed except for the steering wheel and seats. The dashboard was replaced with a more organized one, and the interior was more organized overall. New wheels became available, and the Taurus/Sable offered dual front airbags, a first in their class.
- 1993: The Sable is virtually the same, except for the fact that the optional passenger airbag became standard, and bucket seats with a center console could be ordered to take the place of the front bench seat.
- 1994: A new steering wheel was added for 1994, and some Vulcan models began to receive the new AX4N 4-speed automatic.
- 1995: An LTS "Luxury Touring Sedan" model was added, which had standard leather with bucket seats, leather wrapped interior parts, upgraded electronics, keyless entry, and special Taurus LX-style wheels.
Models
| Model | Year | Transmission | Engine | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS LS | 1992–1995 | 4-speed AXOD-E automatic | 3.0 L SFI Vulcan V6 | 140 hp (104 kW) | 160 ft·lbf (217 N·m) |
| LTS | 1995 | ||||
| 3.8 L Essex V6 | 140 hp (104 kW) | 215 ft·lbf (291 N·m) |
Third generation (1996–1999)
For 1996, the Sable was completely redesigned. The only element carried over from the second generation was the steering wheel. While the designers of the new Sable were hoping to repeat the original Sable's success with a new radical design, it instead turned out to work against it, as its new rounded shape received generally negative reviews, and was not received well by the general public. The awkward shape also robbed the car of its practicality, as the sloping roof took away from headroom, and the sloping trunk took away luggage space. Sales severely slumped, and the Taurus and Sable lost their best-seller status to the Toyota Camry in 1997. The interior was also redesigned with a new "integrated" control panel, which put the climate and stereo controls into one panel, something that would later appear on many other cars. The Sable also got a new front bench seat with a "flip fold" center console, that could be a seat, then fold out into a console although buckets with a console was still optional. With this generation, the Sable tried to move into markets higher than its original market, causing prices to rise. This was another reason for slumping sales. In 1998, in order for Ford to regain sales ground lost by this new design, the Sable got a price cut up to US$2,000, along with new bumpers and minor touchups to give it a more conventional look. This still failed to improve sales over a wider margin, so Ford stepped up the ante with the new 2000 model.
Year-to-year changes
- 1996: For 1996, the Sable was all-new, everything from the previous model was scrapped, and nothing was carried over, except for the steering wheel. The Sable offered the same bench seat, although the center part could fold out as a console. This was among the many new changes offered in the new Sable. The LTS model was also dropped. The high-torque Essex V6 was dropped in favor of the much smaller Duratec, which had more power but less torque.
- 1997: Nothing changed, except for map pockets added to the doors.
- 1998: For 1998, the Sable got a slightly restyled front fascia. Otherwise, it carries on the same.
- 1999: The Sable got a price cut up to US$2,000, and also received a revised instrument cluster.
Models
| Model | Year | Engine | Power | Torque | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1996–1998 | 3.0 L SFI Vulcan V6 | 145 hp (108 kW) | 180 ft·lbf (244 N·m) | 4-speed AX4S automatic 4-speed AX4N automatic |
| 3.0 L DOHC Duratec 30 V6 | 200 hp (149 kW) | 195 ft·lbf (264 N·m) | |||
| LS | 1996–1999 | ||||
| GS | 1996–1999 | 3.0 L SFI Vulcan V6 | 145 hp (108 kW) | 180 ft·lbf (244 N·m) | |
| 3.0 L DOHC Duratec 30 V6 | 200 hp (149 kW) | 195 ft·lbf (264 N·m) |
Fourth generation (2000–2005)
For 2000, Ford redesigned the Taurus and Sable using their original shape, but touching them up so that they were more practical, reliable, and cheaper. The Sable got a new rear fascia, with a taller trunk to improve luggage room, new wheels, a new dash and door panels, front bumper, grille, hood, headlights, and taillights. The flip fold center console survived into this generation, but it was redesigned with new cubbyholes, and it now rested against the floor, and not up against the dashboard. The integrated control panel also survived into this generation, but it was made bigger so that the controls were more organized. In 2004, the Sable got a facelift including new bumpers, wheels, headlights, and grille. By 2004, Sable and Taurus sales fell sharply, and Ford decided to cut the Taurus and Sable. Production was scaled back, and heavy incentives were added to the Taurus and Sable to clear them off of dealer lots. The Ford Five Hundred was launched as the replacement for the Taurus, and the Mercury Montego as the replacement for the Sable. The Sable was cut in 2005, along with the Taurus wagon; the Taurus sedan is still in production, but only for the fleet market. After a short run of 2007 models, the Taurus will be discontinued because Ford is closing the Atlanta plant where it is built.
Year-to-year changes
- 2000: The Sable received a facelift that retooled the radical design with a more contemporary, practical design. The Sable also got new wheels, hood, bumpers, headlights, taillights, dashboard, and steering wheel.
- 2001: The Sable got lower child anchors, a bigger fuel tank, and a CD player rejoined the options list after being dropped for 1996. However, the Sable became Mercury's entry-level model since the demise of the Mercury Mystique in 2000, and the Mercury Tracer in 1999.
- 2002: Anti-lock brakes became a no-cost option.
- 2003: The Sable got better sound dampening and new cupholders. Other changes included minor changes to the interior, and new colors.
- 2004: The Sable received a new grille, bumpers and taillights. Besides that, it carried on the same.
- 2005: The station wagon was dropped, and the Sable got new rear badges and wheel options. The Sable was then quietly dropped from Mercury's lineup. The last Sable left the Atlanta plant on April 29. The Taurus remained in production for the fleet market.
Models
| Model | Year | Engine | Power | Torque | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS | 2000–2005 | 3.0 L SFI Vulcan V6 | 155 hp (116 kW) | 185 ft·lbf (251 N·m) | 4-speed AX4N automatic |
| 3.0 L DOHC Duratec 30 V6 | 200 hp (149 kW) | 195 ft·lbf (264 N·m) | |||
| LS |
References
External links
- [Mercury Sable official page]
- FAQ Farm's [Mercury Sable FAQ]: wiki question and answer forum
- [Taurus Car Club of America]
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