Ford today announced the 2008 Mercury Mariner, which will go on sale in early 2007. The crossover features a revised exterior and an all-new interior. Ford says it has also improved handling, added a slew of new safety features (curtain air bags and AdvanceTrac with RSC), and made the ride quieter Chassis upgrades and new Electric Power Steering (EPS) are designed to give the Mariner car-like ride and handling.

"The 2008 Mariner is the first product to truly deliver 100 percent of the design DNA for Mercury as a brand" says Kim Irwin, Mercury brand manager. "It looks good and drives well, it has sophisticated style, and it's not like anything else out there."

The standard engine is a 2.3-liter, 16-valve Duratec 23 four-cylinder that produces 153 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 152 lb.-ft of torque at 4,250 rpm. An optional 3.0-liter, 24-valve V6 Duratec 30 engine produces 200 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 193 lb.-ft of torque at 4,850 rpm. Both engines come with a standard four-speed-automatic transaxle.