The Mercury Sable is a range of automobiles that was sold by Mercury from the 1986 to 2009 model years. The namesake of a East Russian weasel valued for its fur, the Sable served as the divisional counterpart of the Ford Taurus for its entire production. Slotted below the Grand Marquis in size, the model line was the largest front-wheel drive sold by the brand.
For its first four generations, the Sable was a mid-size car, offered as both a four-door sedan and five-door station wagon. After the 2005 model year, the model line was discontinued as Mercury replaced the Sable with the full-size Montego and mid-size Milan sedans. For 2008, a fifth generation of the Sable was introduced, as the nameplate was revived to replace the Montego (as Ford also reintroduced the Taurus). Coinciding with poor sales and the ultimate retirement of the Mercury brand, the Sable was discontinued after the 2009 model year.
Through its entire production as a mid-size car, Ford assembled the Sable alongside the Taurus at its Atlanta Assembly (Hapeville, Georgia) and Chicago Assembly (Chicago, Illinois) facilities; the latter facility produced the model line as a full-size car. On May 21, 2009, the final Sable was produced; in total, over 2.1 million Mercury Sables were built, making it the third-most produced Mercury model line (behind the Grand Marquis and Cougar).
Background In early 1980, the Mercury Sable began development alongside the Ford Taurus. The largest project ever undertaken by Ford at the time, the new model line was intended to replace both of the rear-wheel drive Panther and Fox platforms with a single front-wheel drive chassis architecture. During 1981, the objective was revised as the stabilization of gasoline prices justified the further use of the Panther chassis. In response, Ford continued on with the project serving as the successor to the midsize Fox architecture, marketed in a segment rapidly transitioning to front-wheel drive.
While designed entirely in North America, the Taurus/Sable was designed under a similar approach as the Ford Escort, using an interdisciplinary team approach to design each element of the vehicle concurrently (including manufacturing and assembly). Along with researching input from potential buyers (in notable contrast to the Edsel), Ford designers researched design to reduce repair costs and difficulty, using reverse engineering of competitive vehicles to improve both design and production.
After the 1981 introduction of the Dodge Aries/Plymouth Reliant, General Motors redesigned its A-body line for 1982, releasing the quartet of the Buick Century/Chevrolet Celebrity/Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera/Pontiac 6000, both downsizing it and transitioning it to front-wheel drive. For 1983, Chrysler introduced the Dodge 600 and Chrysler New Yorker, extending the K-car footprint into the midsize class.
For 1983, Ford underwent a major revision of its midsize and fullsize product ranges. For Mercury, the Cougar reverted to its traditional role as a two-door personal coupe (as a divisional counterpart of the Ford Thunderbird). As part of an extensive model change, the exterior of the Cougar/Thunderbird (while retaining the Fox chassis) was completely redesigned; the two model lines were the inaugural models of aerodynamically-enhanced body styling, which was a central objective of the Taurus/Sable design. The redesign was well-received in the marketplace, with the 1983 Cougar outselling the Thunderbird. Coinciding with the redesign of the Cougar XR7, the Cougar sedan/wagon (the Mercury counterpart of the Ford Granada) underwent a slight restyling, taking on the Mercury Marquis name (in a split from the larger Grand Marquis; Ford replaced the Granada with the LTD).
Along with reinforcing sales of two struggling model lines, the move of the LTD/Marquis nameplates to the Fox platform effectively downsized the model line a second time for minimal cost. It also set the final trajectory for the project, with the Ford Taurus replacing the Ford LTD and the Mercury Sable replacing the Mercury Marquis. After 1983, the inaugural Ford Fairmont/Mercury Zephyr were discontinued as Ford replaced them with the 1984 Ford Tempo and Mercury Topaz, which expanded the use of aerodynamic body styling to sedans.
Coinciding with the launch of the Taurus/Sable, GM downsized its full-size Buick, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac full-size lines, moving its C-body cars to front-wheel drive, and replacing nearly all its B-body cars with the H-body chassis. Sized only slightly larger than the Sable, the aerodynamic design of the model lines adopted far more conservative styling than the Mercury.
Release In mid-1985, Ford unveiled the Mercury Sable alongside the Ford Taurus as a 1986 model. In place of a traditional auto show unveiling, Ford held a singular event for the model launch, located on an MGM Studios soundstage (where Gone with the Wind was filmed). Ford workers came into the room, which was decorated in space-age decor, holding cups shaped like flying saucers and the Taurus and Sable were sitting behind a curtain. With the flashing of strobe lights and a drum-roll, the curtain was pulled back and the two cars were revealed to the public.
Ford planned a sensual marketing campaign for the Sable featuring singer and entertainer Bette Midler. However, Midler turned down Ford's offer and refused to appear in the ads, so Ford utilized an impersonator of Midler as a substitute. Midler sued in response, leading to the memorable case Midler v. Ford Motor Co. which clarified whether impersonations could be considered an appropriation of identity.
First generation (1986–1991)
Launched in December 1985 as a 1986 model, the Mercury Sable replaced the Mercury Marquis as the mid-size Mercury line, slotted between the Topaz and Grand Marquis/Colony Park. For 1986, the Sable was marketed alongside its Marquis predecessor. Along with both model lines being under production concurrently (briefly), Ford had sought to protect its investment in its multibillion-dollar project. As Ford did not market the Mercury brand in Mexico, Ford of Mexico sold the Sable badged as a Ford Taurus. In South Korea, Kia sold the Sable under its own brand alongside the Kia Potentia (Mazda Luce/929).
Though the Sable was outsold by the Taurus by a wide margin, it would prove successful on its own. For its first generation, the Sable competed with the Grand Marquis to serve as the highest-selling Mercury model line (with a different Mercury not doing so until 2008).
The Sable was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list on its release in 1986 and again in 1990 and 1991.
Chassis specification The first-generation Sable used the front-wheel drive Ford DN5 platform, sharing its wheelbase with the Ford Taurus. As with its Marquis predecessor, the Sable used unibody construction. The Sable was equipped with a four-wheel independent suspension. The front axle was fitted with MacPherson struts and a stabilizer bar; the rear axle on sedans was a coil-spring 4-link layout (also with MacPherson struts), while the rear suspension on station wagons was a coil-spring double-wishbone design (short/long arm), along with a stabilizer bar. As with the Marquis, the Sable was equipped with front disc brakes and rear drum brakes; station wagons were fitted with larger rear brakes.
Powertrain For 1986, the Sable was offered was with two engines: a 90 hp HSC I4 (mated to a three-speed automatic) and a 140 hp Vulcan V6 (paired to a four-speed automatic). Following poor sales of the four-cylinder engine in the Sable, the engine was dropped from the line (along with the 3-speed automatic) for 1987; the powertrain combination would remain standard for the Taurus through 1991. For 1988, a 3.8 L Essex V6 was introduced as an optional engine. Though rated with the same 140 hp output as the 3.0 L Vulcan V6, the 3.8 L V6 was rated with nearly 35% more torque output (popular in the heavier station wagons).
In contrast to the Taurus, the first-generation Sable (nor any of its successors) was not offered with a manual transmission. Model Engine Year Power Torque Transmission GS 2.5 L CFI HSC I4 1986 3-speed ATX automatic GS 3.0 L SFI Vulcan V6 1986–1991 4-speed AXOD automatic (1986–1990)4-speed AXOD-E automatic (1991) LS GS 3.8 L SFI Essex V6 1988–1991 LS
Body design The first-generation Sable was offered in two body styles: a four-door sedan and a five-door station wagon. While its 1983–1986 Marquis predecessor shared nearly its entire body with its Ford LTD counterpart, the Sable sedan shared only its doors and roof stamping with the Taurus. In what would become a tradition for four model generations, the station wagon body for both model lines was derived from the Sable; the Taurus wagon was styled with its own front fascia.
The Sable was also styled with a 6-window roofline, but borrowed design elements from the European Ford Scorpio liftback sedan, using blacked-out B, C, and D-pillars for a "floating roof" effect. Though two inches longer than the Taurus, the rear wheel openings were cut off at bumper height (though not skirted) to visually add additional length. In what would be associated with the styling identity of Mercury for nearly a decade, the Sable introduced a low-wattage lightbar between its headlamps, later adopted by the Mercury Topaz, Tracer, and Villager (skipping the Cougar and Grand Marquis). The lightbar feature largely emphasized the lack of a conventional grille (while primarily a "bottom-breather" design, the Sable used vestigial air intake slots in the bumper below the lightbar). The Sable and the Taurus followed the configuration pioneered by the 1950s Citroën DS; the Ford Mustang SVO and Ford Sierra also lacked a conventional grille.
As with its Marquis predecessor, the Sable station wagon was designed with a rear liftback, but introduced a new configuration for the rear hatch, allowing the rear window glass to be opened separately from the rest of the rear hatch.
Alongside the Taurus, the Sable was the first American-produced sedan to use aerodynamic composite headlights with replaceable halogen bulbs; to begin their use, Ford (and other auto manufacturers) lobbied the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to have them approved, with the 1984 Continental Mark VII becoming the first American car to use them.
While the Sable shared largely the same interior features as the Taurus, in a departure from tradition, the Sable was designed with a model-specific dashboard (partly integrated into the door panels). Sable sedans were equipped with a 50/50 split bench seat as standard equipment (joining the Grand Marquis as a six-passenger Mercury sedan); as an option, front bucket seats were offered (reducing capacity to five). The Sable wagon was offered with an optional rear-facing third-row seat, bringing seating to seven or eight; for the first time since the 1977 Cougar wagon, Mercury offered the design in its midsize station wagon.
During its production, the first-generation Sable underwent few changes. For 1989, the exterior underwent a mid-cycle revision; the amber parking lamp lenses were replaced by clear units and sedans saw revisions to taillamp lenses. For 1990, the Sable underwent a redesign of the dashboard to accommodate the addition of a driver-side airbag; a CD player was added as an option.
Trim The first-generation Mercury Sable was sold in two trim levels (opposed to the four of the Taurus). In line with other Mercury models, a base-trim GS (comparable to the GL-trim Taurus) and top-trim LS (slightly above the Taurus LX) was offered. The station wagon shared both trim levels with the sedans, but was not available with exterior woodgrain trim (ending the Mercury use of the Brougham name).
As Mercury never offered the first-generation Sable with a manual transmission, no Mercury Sable equivalent to the Taurus MT-5 nor the Taurus SHO was ever introduced.