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Verado Arrives
Mercury Launches Revolutionary Four Stroke
A Mercury Marine
Press Release
2.12.2004
Page 1 2
FOND DU LAC,
WI. – Mercury Marine officially introduced VeradoTM, its heralded family of
new FourStroke outboard engines, Feb. 12 at the Miami International Boat
Show.
The launch is the pinnacle of a five-year, $100 million effort to produce
the most sophisticated marine propulsion system in history, which is certain
to elevate industry standards and performance expectations.
Verado – formerly known as Mercury’s Project X – offers acceleration, speed
and durability never before seen from a four-stroke engine, yet it is nearly
silent. Even at high speeds, noise of the engine rarely equals the ambient
wind or the slapping of water against the hull. Additionally, Verado isn’t
simply an outboard – it’s a completely integrated propulsion system with
steering and control systems. Also, it offers long-term emission-compliance
with a three-star California Air Resources Board (CARB) rating.
“The introduction of Verado is a landmark for Mercury Marine, and the
dawning of a new era for the outboard industry,” said Patrick Mackey,
president of Mercury. “It’s impossible to fully convey the passion,
dedication and effort – not to mention the thousand upon thousands of hours
– that have been poured into researching, designing, testing and producing
this amazing integrated outboard system. It embodies the very essence of
Mercury Marine: power, reliability and state-of-the-art technology. And it
will forever change the way boat-owners regard outboard engines.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the way this organization has worked
hand-in-hand to turn this vision into reality. I’m certain our customers
will be absolutely delighted.”
During the past two
years, selected guests and members of the media have viewed Project X
engines at various evolutionary stages through exclusive sneak previews.
Little specific information about the engine was released, but the response
was always the same – “Unbelievable!”
Assembled on a unique and efficient state-of-the-art, multi-million-dollar
production line, the Verado family of FourStroke engines delivers a number
of firsts for Mercury and for the marine industry.
For example, Verado is the world’s first production outboard to feature a
supercharger. Its remarkable torque and acceleration are results of an
exclusive supercharged induction system with charge-air cooling and
electronic boost pressure control.
Verado’s
supercharger, co-developed by Mercury and highly regarded IHI Turbo America,
significantly boosts power by forcing a higher air volume into the
combustion chamber than that delivered by a naturally aspirated system.
Supercharging provides Mercury the best possible combination of packaging,
throttle response and thermodynamics management.
The supercharger system enables Verado to create outstanding horsepower with
a smaller-displacement block. Traditionally, a minimum of 3.0 liters has
been required to mass produce a 250 hp outboard engine. Verado’s
smaller-displacement/higher-horsepower strategy allows it, in many cases, to
outperform two-stroke engines of equal horsepower. That clearly
differentiates Verado from standard, V-block four-stroke marine engines.
“This purpose-built engine was designed from the ground up with powerful
software, such as Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computational Fluid Dynamics
(CFD), Conjugate Heat Transfer (CHT) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to
ensure maximum reliability and durability in any marine environment,” said
Steve Miller, marketing product manager for Verado.
The assembly processes and procedures used to manufacture the Verado family
of engines represent a new standard in outboard manufacturing, as components
are continually measured and tested throughout the assembly line.
Mercury Marine employs Six Sigma fundamentals in its manufacturing
processes, and is the first marine-engine company to be fully ISO certified.
Straight Six
With Smaller Displacement...
This in-line six-cylinder power plant has a displacement of 2.6 liters, or
158.5 cubic inches. The general configuration will be used for the 200, 225,
250 and 275 horsepower models. Mercury will begin volume production of all
four models in April to assure that our partners will receive adequate
supplies for 2005 model-year commencement. The remainder of the Verado
family will be available within the 2005 model year.
Verado’s valve train features four valves for each of its six cylinders with
a double-overhead cam (DOHC) design. The engine blocks, cylinder head and
crankcases are cast in Mercury’s Pressurized Lost Foam Foundry in Fond du
Lac, Wisconsin.
Supplying fuel to this state-of-the-art engine is a computer-controlled,
sequential, multi-port fuel-injection system. Precise fuel-delivery and
metering provides Verado maximum fuel efficiency, no-smoke operation and
outstanding acceleration. The injector system also eliminates the need for a
primer bulb, a first for the marine industry.
Under the cowl, an idle exhaust-relief system with a low-pass acoustic
system produces a best-in-class idle sound level. In fact, at idle the
engine can’t be heard by most passengers. At wide-open throttle, the loudest
sound detected by operators is typically the wind or the waves. A patented
supercharger air-induction system, with a highly tuned intake resonator,
reduces intake noise by up to 14 dBA in the midrange to full-throttle
levels, without sacrificing engine performance. Additionally,
high-performance acoustic foam lining is used extensively in the top cowl,
with closed-cell acoustic foam lining the chaps and essentially absorbing
high-frequency, mechanical engine and driveshaft noise.
Verado’s world-class noise-vibration-harshness (NVH) level is achieved
through a number of unique design features, including cowling, exhaust and a
high-performance Advanced Midsection (AMS) progressive-rate mounting system.
The AMS mount cradle is strategically placed around the engine’s center of
gravity, and the engine mounts isolate and reduce vibration transmitted to
the boat by 50 percent, while improving overall handling at high speeds.
A Very Smart Engine . . .
With its fully integrated system, Verado takes boating into the 21st
century. Automobiles have evolved according to consumer needs, but the
outboard engine has changed little since its creation more than 100 years
ago. Verado rectifies that.
Verado’s integrated system provides unmatched engine information and
vessel-systems integration, which means boaters are freed of hassles such as
steering torque, unreliable mechanical cables and doubts regarding the
engine’s performance. SmartCraft, Mercury’s digital engine-management
system, monitors all vital functions of the outboard, conveniently and
constantly providing essential information to the helm.
Every Verado features Mercury’s exclusive SmartCraft Digital Throttle and
Shift (DTS), introduced into the OptiMax product line in model year 2002.
Tested to 45,000-plus hours of reliability, DTS eliminates traditional
mechanical cables to connect throttle controls to transom-mounted engines.
DTS is easy to install and calibrate, yet provides unmatched throttle
response and smooth, unrestricted shifting.
SmartCraft also arms Verado with programmable two-speed trim and tilt,
allowing boat operators to program the trim and tilt range to maximize
performance and convenience.
Verado further enhances the driving experience through its exclusive
Electro-Hydraulic Power Steering system with an integral hydraulic cylinder.
With a small pump mounted inside the vessel, this system eliminates
undesirable steering torque without sacrificing engine “feel” – crucial for
boat control, especially at high speeds.
Verado’s all-new gear case is the product of Mercury’s unequalled
hydrodynamics expertise. Its diameter and length are slightly greater than
Mercury’s 3.0L gear case in order to package larger, stronger gears with
virtually no loss of top speed. Its gears are 50 percent more durable than
traditional gears, with stiffer propshafts, stronger spline connections and
a stronger gear housing.
The internal water passages are electrodeposition painted (EDP) for added
corrosion resistance.
The gear case is more wear-resistant than traditional gear cases, and its
seals can withstand higher temperatures than previous seals. The gear case
also features dual water pickups to ensure proper cooling under all running
conditions. The Verado gear case features a gear ratio of 1.85:1.
Looks Like Nothing Before It!
Verado’s “swept-forward” design features a two-piece cowling that offers
good looks and functionality. Because many of the key maintenance points are
located front and center on the powerhead, the upper section of the cowling
is easily removed via a single, spring-loaded latch for simple access – in
the driveway or on the water.
Raised bold-letter decals give Verado a sophisticated look, especially when
combined with its silver Advanced Midsection. “The Verado’s look will
be unique in the marketplace – it will not be mistaken for any other
outboard, even from a distance,” said Miller.
Verado is designed to be a perfect fit for all applications, from single,
dual or triple offshore fishing rigs to bass boats. All models will be
available in 20-inch (L) and 25-inch (XL) shaft lengths. Also, 30-inch (XXL)
configurations are available in 225, 250 and 275 horsepower models. The
25-inch and 30-inch models will be available in both right- and left-hand
propeller rotations.
Verado is backed by a three-year limited warranty and the industry’s only
three-year limited corrosion-failure warranty.
Verado is here. And it’s here to stay.
Mercury Marine is a division of Brunswick Corporation, which is based in
Lake Forest, Ill.. Mercury Marine’s home page can be found at
www.mercurymarine.com.
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