Mercury Cougar

Introduction

Mercury Cougar is the renowned name applied to a vast series of automobiles over eight distinct generations straddling from the year 1967 to 2002. As was much common with the Mercury vehicles, the model cougar shared its basic platforms with the Ford models. Originally, it was the Mustang, and then it was the Thunderbird and the latest version of the Mondeo/contour. Mercury’s re-embodied cougar coupe, especially with 2.5 liter and 170 hp 24-valves V6 and 5-speed manual of MTX-75 has emerged to be the renowned car model in the market of youths.

Ford Motor company designed it in Europe, amazing front-drive car cougar model arrived previous year amidst much awaited and deserved acclaim for its idiosyncratic latest edge styling, brake muscle and powertrain, suspension refinement, chassis solidity, and also reasonable price. Indeed there is a fascinating latest wrinkle into this Mercury’s cat tale. This is a concept car which is also popular as the Cougar S.

Ford special vehicle engineering and advanced design team joined proficient forces to make the model particularly for Ford’s marketing department. Passionately aware of a rising wave of today’s young enthusiast drivers for all-wheel-drive and front wheel drive small import performance cars; essentially the Mercury division found also thinking extremely regarding providing astronger cougar version as the import alternative.

Under the hood

The 3.0 liter version cougar utilizes a specific type of the Duratec DOHC V6 along with altered exhaust and intake systems for much enhanced flow rates. Makers grafted on a stylish hood scoop as well as lower-restriction type consumed plumbing. The resultant is the vital jump of 45-horsepower in the output. However, rather than the feed all about 215 ponies via simply the wheels at front with some traction and torque steer issues, an exclusive viscous-drive, and differential limited-slip also have been included and installed for accommodating the all-wheel-drive type system. Apart from just allowing engine power efficiently to be divided and forwarded appropriately to all 4 patches at tire contact for more stable and faster acceleration, furthermore the all-wheel drive offers a smooth traction benefit during the roads are either icy or wet.

The intension of the designers was to offer a smooth driving experience. The model is well-designed and it drives smoothly on both dry and wet road conditions.

Another significant modification for added stability was vitally the lessening in the vehicles ride height. It was successfully accomplished simply by reducing the suspension utilizing shorter spring and by fitting P235/40ZR18 of Goodyear type Eagle GS tires in its every corner. These are idyllically installed on striking 3 piece 18-inch of alloy wheels. Furthermore, adding to its enhancement of the stability was the expansion of three-inch of the rear side of the track by the way of the offset of its wheel.

With all the essential changes for fastening the Mercury cougar’s stride, it also became obvious changes would be needed at braking system. Front rotors enhanced varying from the 10.9 inches to an amazing 13.1 inches. Similarly, the rear rotors of the model were jerked from 9.9 inches to around 11.0 inches. This modification with ensured highly powerful calipers well-controlled and short stops.

Exterior and interior

Proving once again there is more than a single way to coat a cat, the series of moderately subtle exterior modifications certainly ensures that the newest update of the Mercury cougar will be quite easy to find out by fervent drivers. Apart from the hood scoop, low quality rubber, wider rear track, this latest model sports an exclusive front fascia along a fleecy lower aluminum grille and integrated fog lamps as well. Additionally, its body sides consist of rocker extensions which enhance the feature type low-rider of this vehicle while even offering a slight aerodynamic enhancement. Another vital tweak with exterior is the inclusion of lips type anti-splash to this Cougar models wheel wells. The feature provides an improved airflow movement and aid to accommodate even the vehicle’s widened stance. Also, the good news is that the fairly creasy clumsy running low through the panel of stock door cougar model have been detached as well. At the cars back, the aero treatment comprises dual-spoilers along neatly integrated and arranged tips at exhaust-pipe.

There is even the classy interior icing along with the elegant exterior treatment. The significant performance cabin luxuries include light alloy pedals, body-hugging racing Recaro buckets and even the satin-aluminum type graphics treatment on its instrument panel.

Models and features

The convenience group is now made standard for the Mercury’s front-drive sporty coupe. Two novice limited-production and special edition models namely the C2 and XR have gone on sale and both of these models packed with unique forms of equipment. The C2 coupe by the Mercury boasts a bigger rear spoiler type than the normal, a blue interior theme and even machined aluminum alloy wheels. A high performance cougar S announced for sale in early 2001, literally failed to emerge out and it was not offered in the model year 2002.

Fuel economy

Mercury cougar is available with engine variants such as 125-hp with 2.0 liter capacity I-4 and 170-hp with 2.5 liter V-6. The transmissions options include 5-speed manual w/OD and even 4-speed automatic w/OD. MPG varies in the range of 20-23 in city whereas in highway it ranges from 29-34 MPG. The fuel economy offered by the model is fairly good.

Conclusion

Factually, this smartly designed car does not appear to be right-prices vehicle to the Japanese front drivers which have been successfully dominating the entire youth segment, in almost all parts of the world. With its sophisticated V-6, husky brakes, and all-wheel-drive type powertrain the designers are intending to create a new version of the model. From the first to eighth generation, the manufacturers have improved the models from one to another. However, Ford’s effort to breathe a new life in its Mercury brand literally met with failure. The cougar though well-reviewed by most of the people however it was very slow seller. By 2002, Mercury cougar was dropped from the lineup of Mercury and it is believed that within few years, Ford will factually begin the procedure of shutting down the Mercury itself.