We ruled out any vehicles where the gap between market price and MSRP was less than 15%–a natural breaking point in the data that left a list of about 40 overpriced models (with trim variations making it 150 total vehicles) to pare down.
That reaction was far more visceral than in the Track edition of the 350Z I drove last summer, probably because that vehicle was a hand-built preproduction model with several trim details not quite up to spec, while this one had all its bits properly finished.
Speaking of comforts, the cockpit of the Type-S is a fair bit nattier than the 2001/2002 models, with titanium trim on the doors and center console, perforated leather door inserts and seats (the latter are also a bit firmer and more comfortable during hard driving), metallic-faced analog gauges and a six-disc, in-dash CD-based audio system from Bose.
The coupled pitch and surge motion of a high-speed craft with trim tabs/interceptors was modelled by using full scale sea trial data.
Personalisation is a big thing for this model, with a thousand variations in trim and colour to allow full expression of your, erm, personality.
The interior is quite an upgrade from the old model, with richer upholstery and better trim, although the plastic on the dashboard looks rather, well, plasticky.
The new base 3.5 liter V6 Explorer produces 290 horsepower (and 255 ft. lb. of torque) and will sell for $28,190 (about $40 less than a comparable 2010 model) with the high-zoot XLT trim model starting at $31,190 and the snazziest Limited version hitting the showrooms at $37,190.
For most of its 60 years Mercurys have been little more than copycats of Ford brands — "rebadged" models with slightly different trim.
Also, Nissan will introduce in the Japanese market a lower price entry-level model with less equipment, called the S trim.
This model shows that polymers synthesized with EGDMA have higher water sorption capacities than those synthesized with TRIM due to the higher hydrophobicity of the latter.
