Is This a Future Mercury?

In an auto show filled to the brim with more concepts and new model releases than ever before, the Messenger almost faded into Fords white display stand background. If it was red, lime green or yellow, or some alternatively dramatic hue, maybe it would have stood out more. But then again it wouldnt have looked nearly as pretty.

And look at it, Mercurys Messenger is gorgeous. But thats how impressive last Januarys North American International Auto Show was. Even a car this impressive got lost in the mix.

Immediately upon seeing it I fell head over heals. I walked around it over and over, only one of a scant number of journalists that seemed minutely interested, snapping shots and contemplating its clean,

Immediately upon seeing the gorgeous Mercury Messenger at the North American International Auto Show in January I fell head over heals. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

While

From almost every angle the Messenger expresses the general shape of the 60s Corvette coupe. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

Although styling cues from the Corvette Stingray can be seen, the DNA of the Messenger is all Mercury. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

While there will no doubt be a few Corvette aficionados who wished the Messenger was a concept showing the direction the bowtie group might be taking the next generation Corvette, its not to be. The new concept is all Mercury, and supposedly speaks volumes about that brands future DNA.

In case youre wondering why I chose to use the shortened form for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) when describing

The Messenger conveys Mercurys heritage with sequential taillights. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

To both show Mercurys commitment to follow this concepts styling trend into future products Ill quote directly from the brands press material; "The Messenger concept car represents the first expression of Mercurys new design DNA with a clean, technical appearance that begins to establish the look of Mercury products still to come. Mercury will

Powered by basically the same V8 engine as the Mustang GT, the Messenger concept not only looks fast but also has the acceleration to back it up. (Photo: Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

Heres Mercury explaining a few styling points, "One aspect of Mercurys future design DNA is embodied by the stacked element theme at the front of the vehicle with distinctive front lights and vertical grill elements. The rear lights convey the DNA message with sequential taillights that repeat the theme."

OK, enough about DNA. At least the genetic term kind of makes sense in that last sentence. The Messenger sports sequential taillights, similar to those that caused many an auto enthusiasts heart to go aflutter in 1967 when seeing the tail

The Messenger is equipped with stunningly beautiful 18-spoke polished alloy wheels - 19-inches up front and 20-inches at the rear. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

Relatd Vehicle Listings