Remember Mercury? It's sort of like the Buick of Ford. Expect for all the new product. 

It's been slowly swirling the drain for some time now, yet various Ford officials keep meekly voicing support for the brand. This despite the fact that the last new Mercury product shown at an auto show was the refreshed Milan — in 2008.

Just yesterday AutoObserver Senior Editor, Bill Visnic, was at the Washington D.C. auto show yesterday where he observed the following:

CEO Alan Mulally was asked if the company's Mercury brand has a future. It is a question that comes up a lot lately.

Mulally seemingly backed Mercury full-go, but was careful to remember his support. Not once, but twice.

'The plan right now is (to develop) Ford, Lincoln and Mercury,' Mulally answered. He said Ford is working to more effectively position Mercury with smaller vehicles that occupy the void between the mainstream Ford brand and Lincoln, which directly targets the luxury-premium market. "That's our plan – to continuously improve the Mercury and Lincoln brands," Mulally said.

But after a little more discussion, Mulally felt compelled to reiterate: 'That's the plan right now.'

No, Mulally didn't draw imaginary quotation marks in the air when he said 'right now,' but his careful enduringness in emphasizing the qualifier palpably left room for Ford – and Mulally – to change course anytime about Mercury, which more than a few analysts and skeptics continue to insist should be done. - Bill Visnic, senior editor, Edmunds AutoObserver