The Grand Marquis,Mercury?s flagship model for nearly 30 years,will go out of production after this model year along with the entire Mercury lineup. The Grand Marquis shared a platform with the Ford Crown Victoria?indeed they were almost the same car?and is a close cousin to the Lincoln Town Car: a little plainer,and considerably less expensive. The Grand Marquis straddles the line between a prestige car and a large family hauler,combining practical and luxury features. Through its several generations,it has been known for its rather formal,old-fashioned exterior design. The 2011 model is virtually unchanged from the previous year.

The 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis comes in a single trim. Its bench seating front and rear will accommodate 6 occupants. Standard are 17-inch wheels,leather upholstery,automatic headlights,fog lights,rear air suspension,automatic climate control,cruise control,keyless entry,and a full menu of power accessories. Power-adjustable brakes are standard equipment,as is a leather-covered steering wheel and a basic sound system. Upgraded wheels,front seats,and sound system are optional.

The 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis features rear-wheel drive. Its standard power plant is a 224-horsepower,4.6-liter V-8 engine that produces 275 lb.-ft. of torque and delivers 16 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. It teams with a 4-speed automatic transmission.

Standard safety features on the 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis include anti-lock disc brakes,traction control,adjustable front head restraints,and front side air bags. In government crash tests,the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Grand Marquis 5 (out of 5) stars in frontal- and side-impact tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Grand Marquis a highest-possible ?Good? rating in its frontal-offset test and ?Marginal? for side protection.

Starting MSRP for the 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis is $29,935.