The Mercury Meta One is a concept car that was created by Mercury . A four-door crossover sport-utility vehicle, the Meta One made its debut at the 2005 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. The Meta One is notable for being the first concept vehicle designed with a PZEV diesel-hybrid powertrain .
31-645: Loosely based upon the body of the production Ford Freestyle , the Mercury Meta One was a luxury crossover SUV with four seats. Serving as a testbed for in-vehicle technology, the Meta One featured an always-on Wi-Fi connection; along with the ability to connect handheld devices and the built in Sirius Satellite Radio , it also allowed the on-board navigation system to deliver real-time updates for traffic and route conditions. Instead of
62-594: A 365 hp twin-turbocharged V6. Although sharing the architecture of the Ford Freestyle, the Meta One was not released as a production vehicle. In late 2006, during the development of the Ford Taurus X, prototype development mules were spotted using front bodywork of Meta One prototypes, leading to speculation that the Mercury division would be given a production form of the Meta One, possibly named either
93-422: A power front driver's seat, a woodgrain interior trim piece, and either Gray Metallic or Arizona Beige Metallic lower body trim. The Limited was the top-of-the-line trim level from 2005 until 2009. It added the following options to the mid-level SEL trim level: dual front heated power seats, leather-trimmed first and second-row seating surfaces (the third-row bench seat was vinyl-trimmed), an A/M-F/M stereo with
124-523: A revision of the Ford and Mercury model ranges, saying that the shift towards Ford nameplates starting with the letter "F" was forgettable in the eyes of consumers. A key part of the decision was the reinstatement of the Ford Taurus nameplate, which would take the place of the Ford Five Hundred as a mid-cycle update for the 2008 model year. As the Ford Taurus would be produced exclusively as a sedan,
155-651: A sedan and a small SUV, the Freestyle featured what Ford marketed as Command Seating, featuring a higher H-point , to increase driver visibility and ease of entry and exit. The Freestyle was nominated for the North American Truck of the Year award for 2005 (placing second behind the Ford Escape Hybrid ). In 2007, shortly after becoming CEO of Ford Motor Company, Alan Mulally called for
186-473: A six-disc, in-dash CD/MP3 changer (later with an auxiliary audio input jack and Ford SYNC) and a premium "Audiophile" seven-speaker audio system with rear-mounted subwoofer and external amplifier, satellite radio, color-keyed exterior door handles and side mirrors, and color-keyed lower body trim. The Eddie Bauer Edition , only offered on the Taurus X between 2008 and 2009, was the "luxury" trim level, and added
217-479: A traditional instrument panel, the vehicle featured multiple computer displays that were reconfigurable to fit driver needs. A special design for the smart key allowed it to double as a PDA , allowing it to also store emergency contacts. In collaboration with Volvo, the Mercury Meta One was designed with a number of safety technologies unseen on a production Ford Motor Company vehicle. These included lane departure control and collision mitigation by pre-charging
248-568: A wagon into a pickup truck or sedan, but this feature never made it onto the production version. The vehicle was originally going to be called the Ford CrossTrainer , but had been renamed the Freestyle by the time the concept was released, due to Ford adopting an ill-fated naming scheme in which all Ford-branded passenger cars except the Mustang and Thunderbird would have a name start with the letter "F". Although its body and chassis
279-686: Is a crossover utility vehicle that was sold by Ford from 2005 to 2009. Largely marketed as the successor to the Ford Taurus station wagon, the Freestyle was the CUV counterpart of the Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego four-door sedans. Sharing the Ford D3 platform with the Five Hundred and Montego, the Freestyle was produced with both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations and six- or seven-passenger seating. Following
310-735: Is located at E. 130th Street and Torrence Avenue in the Hegewisch neighborhood of Chicago , Illinois , US. As of 2023 , Chicago Assembly Plant manufactures the sixth-generation Ford Explorer , the second-generation Lincoln Aviator , and the Police Interceptor Utility . Production started on March 3, 1924, as an alternative site to the River Rouge Plant for Model T production. It switched to Model A production in 1928, and built M8 Greyhound and M20 Armored Utility Car armored cars during World War II . It
341-657: The CVT (FWD versions used an Aisin F21++ six-speed automatic). 55% of buyers selected the Haldex Traction -equipped all-wheel drive model rather than the expected 40%. Introduced as a 2005 model largely in place of the Ford Taurus station wagon, the Freestyle was marketed as a crossover utility vehicle, a new market segment at the time. As with the Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego, the Freestyle
SECTION 10
#1732791663788372-547: The Ford Chicago Manufacturing Campus developed by CenterPoint Properties . Ford's Chicago plant is a center for flexible just-in-time production. As of 2023 the Ford Web site stated that it employed about 5,800 workers, mostly paid per hour. As of 2022 there were concerns that Ford's phasing out of internal combustion-engined vehicles in favour of electric vehicles could throw into question
403-762: The Freestyle nameplate has been used as an off-road styling trim for the EcoSport and the Ka in Latin America, the latter also sold as the Ford Freestyle in India and as the Ford Figo Freestyle in South Africa. Chicago Assembly Chicago Assembly Plant (sometimes referred to as Torrence Avenue Assembly ) is Ford Motor Company 's oldest continuously operated automobile manufacturing plant. It
434-566: The Freestyle, on non-limited trims, the lower body and wheel well trim were painted in a contrasting color (as with all Ford SUVs). Matching the Ford Explorer, the Taurus X introduced an outdoors-themed Eddie Bauer trim level. As with its sedan counterpart, the Taurus X featured major powertrain updates over its predecessor. The 203hp 3.0L V6 was replaced by an all-new 3.5L Duratec 35 V6 engine, raising output to 263hp. The ZF-Batavia CVT
465-471: The Mercury Monticello or Mercury Magellan. As with its Ford Freestyle predecessor, the Ford Taurus X reached production without a Mercury (or Lincoln) counterpart. The Meta One's current location, or if it still exists, is unknown. http://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/2005/1899380/mercury_meta_one.html Dimensions and powertrain information Ford Taurus X The Ford Freestyle
496-472: The all-new Ford Taurus X nameplate was introduced to take the place of the Freestyle. The nameplate change was announced shortly after its unveiling at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show as a 2008 production model. To bring it in line with the styling of other Ford light-truck lines, the Taurus X was given a flush-mounted three-bar horizontal chrome grille (similar to the Ford Edge , as are the headlights). As with
527-709: The brakes if an on-board camera and radar sensor senses the likelihood of an accident. The Meta One was powered by a 248 hp twin- turbocharged diesel V6 ; the 2.7L engine was sourced from the Australian Ford Territory (sized similar to the Freestyle) and the Land Rover Discovery product lines. Coupled with the continuously variable transmission (as used in the Freestyle) was an electric motor, providing start-stop technology to increase fuel economy. The combined torque output of
558-531: The first American Ford vehicles to use a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Freestyle, Five Hundred and Montego used a chain-type CVT, while the Escape Hybrid used a CVT transaxle that utilized a planetary gearset controlled by the electric generator, similar to the Toyota Prius. All Freestyles were equipped with the CVT, but only all-wheel drive (AWD) Five Hundred and Montego models used
589-526: The following features as standard equipment: a 3.0L "DuraTec" V6 engine, a CVT transmission (Freestyle only) or a 6 speed automatic transmission (Taurus X only), seventeen-inch alloy wheels and tires, an A/M-F/M stereo with a single-disc CD player and a four-speaker audio system, manual front and rear air conditioning with front controls, cloth seating surfaces, power windows, power door locks, keyless entry, an aluminum interior trim piece, black door handles and side mirrors, and matte gray lower body trim. The SEL
620-418: The following options to the base SEL trim level: an A/M-F/M stereo with a single-disc CD/MP3 player and an auxiliary audio input jack with Ford SYNC, satellite radio, two-tone leather-trimmed first and second-row seating surfaces (the third-row bench seat was vinyl-trimmed), dual heated power front seats, color-keyed door handles, and Arizona Beige Metallic or Ingot Silver Metallic lower body trim. Since 2005,
651-541: The opposite effect, leading to a major decrease in sales. During its production, the Taurus X was partially affected by the automotive industry crisis of 2008–10 . Although more fuel-efficient than SUVs such as the V8-engined Ford Expedition and Ford Explorer, full-size crossovers such as the Taurus X were avoided in favor of smaller crossovers and sedans. In 2009, the Ford Flex was introduced as
SECTION 20
#1732791663788682-479: The platform, making the final vehicles significantly different. Design-wise, the car itself bore several visual resemblances to the Australian market Ford Territory , especially in the rear third of the car. Power came from a 3.0 L (181 cu in) Duratec V6, with an output of 203 hp (151 kW) at 5750 rpm. The Freestyle, along with the Five Hundred, Mercury Montego, and the Ford Escape Hybrid , were
713-600: The powertrain was 431 lb⋅ft (584 N⋅m) ; it was 97% cleaner than the Tier I emissions standard for NOx . While the technology has not been applied to diesel engines, the Ford EcoBoost family of gasoline engines has utilized turbocharging in the same manner in the effort to lower emissions while increasing power. In place of a traditional V8 engine, the Ford Taurus SHO and Lincoln MKS utilize
744-521: The replacement for the discontinued Ford Freestar/Mercury Monterey . The Taurus X was discontinued for the 2009 model year, with the Flex unofficially serving as its replacement. The 2005-2007 Ford Freestyle, and the 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, were offered in several different trim levels: The base SE trim level, only offered on the Freestyle between 2005 and 2006, was the "base" trim level, and offered
775-588: The return of the Ford Taurus for the 2008 model year, the Freestyle underwent a mid-cycle revision and was renamed the Ford Taurus X , marketed in the United States and Canada , as well as South Korea and the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico , U.S. Virgin Islands , and Guam . Following the 2009 model year, the Taurus X was withdrawn. From the 2009 model year, the larger Ford Flex has served as
806-546: The three-row Ford CUV/wagon. From 2005 to 2009, the Freestyle/Taurus X was assembled at Chicago Assembly ( Chicago, Illinois ); the final vehicle was produced on February 27, 2009. The Freestyle was previewed at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show with the Freestyle FX Concept before entering production for the 2005 model year. The FX concept featured a unique rear end design that could be converted from
837-422: Was available with front-wheel drive as standard with all-wheel drive as an option; the CVT of the all-wheel drive Five Hundred was the sole transmission on the Freestyle. The 203hp 3.0L Duratec V6 was the standard engine. In contrast to a Taurus station wagon, the Freestyle featured forward-facing third-row seating (similar to the Ford Explorer and Ford Expedition). Although designed with ground clearance between
868-407: Was replaced by an all-new Ford/GM 6-speed automatic transmission , while all-wheel drive remained an option. To increase its functionality, the Taurus X featured new power options, including a power-operated rear liftgate and power-folding second-row seats. Although the renaming of the Taurus sedan would improve its sales over the Five Hundred, the renaming of the Freestyle to the Taurus X would have
899-489: Was the mid-level trim level between 2005 and 2006, and the base trim level from 2007 until 2009. It added the following options to the base SE trim level: a 3.5L "DuraTec" V6 engine (2008 and 2009 Taurus X only), a six-speed automatic transmission (2008 and 2009 Taurus X only), sport-styled seventeen-inch alloy wheels, a security system, an A/M-F/M stereo with a single-disc CD/MP3 player and an auxiliary audio input jack, dual-zone automatic air conditioning with rear controls,
930-420: Was the site of pickup truck production for 40 years before that operation stopped in 1964. In 1985, it was selected as the site of production for the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable midsize sedans. Ford spent US$ 400,000,000 in 2004 to modernize the plant. It switched to production of D3-platform vehicles for 2005, and to CD6-platform vehicles for 2020. Nine automotive suppliers have built factories nearby at
961-651: Was used to produce the Mercury Meta One concept vehicle, no Lincoln-Mercury version of the Freestyle ever reached production. For the Freestyle/Taurus X, Ford used its Volvo-derived D3 platform architecture. Sharing a common platform with the Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego , all four vehicles were derived from the Volvo P2 platform used for the first-generation Volvo S80 and Volvo XC90 . To accommodate production costs for Ford and durability concerns for North American roads, many revisions were made to