Mercury Cougar
LOS ANGELES--Mercury introduced automotive journalists to two new Cougar concepts today at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Both are designed to show the ultimate performance parameters of the Cougar, but take different approaches in how to get there.
The Cougar Eliminator is a showcase for what the determined (and wealthy) do-it-yourselfer could achieve with a Mercury Cougar V6 and high-performance parts readily available to the public. The result is a visually arresting powerhouse featuring Goodyear Eagle FS-1 tires mounted on 18-inch Enkei alloy wheels, an Inform Designs body kit, PPG Harlequin Chrom-O-Flair paint, and Recaro sport seats.
Designed to be as much go as it is show, the performance enhancements include a Vortech supercharger, Borla exhaust, K&N air filter, and Eibach front and rear springs. Formal performance figures were not given, but the modifications are expected to provide a 100-plus horsepower jump over the stock Duratec V6.
The second Cougar concept vehicle is a design study that illustrates the direction that Mercury may be taking the compact 2+2 in the years ahead. Called the Cougar S, this show car featured many visual design changes that could inform the casual viewer that this car is, in fact, something special.
Changes to the Cougar S's front and rear fascias, flanks and wheeldesign are immediately noticeable. The Cougar S takes Mercury's New Edge styling to new heights. Stout wheel arches give the S Cat more muscular flanks than the current model, and a unique front end gives it a decidedly more aggressive snarl. The car's crowning design achievement can be seen at the rear end, however, which features mesh apron inserts and integrated tail pipes.
The Cougar S's performance hasn't been forgotten. J Mayes, Ford's Vice President of Design, points out that Mercury's engineers have bored out the Cougar's 2.5-liter Duratec engine to 3.0-liters and have gained 45 horsepower for their trouble. Mercury has also fitted the all-wheel drive system found on the European-market Mondeo to the Cougar S, giving it better traction in wet and dry weather.
Jim Rodgers, Ford's Vice President of Marketing, told Edmund's that despite similarities in projected performance numbers, Ford does not expect to lose Mustang sales to the Cougar S if the car is approved for manufacture. Rodgers stated that sport-coupe shoppers differfrom pony-car shoppers and that previous experience with the now-defunct Probe indicates that there is little overlap in the markets.
Neither Rodgers or Mays would say whether or not Mercury planned to put the Cougar S into production, but did indicate that they were interested in reviving Mercury's image of a maker of fast cars, and that this would be one way to do it.
LOS ANGELES--Mercury introduced automotive journalists to two new Cougar concepts today at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Both are designed to show the ultimate performance parameters of the Cougar, but take different approaches in how to get there.
The Cougar Eliminator is a showcase for what the determined (and wealthy) do-it-yourselfer could achieve with a Mercury Cougar V6 and high-performance parts readily available to the public. The result is a visually arresting powerhouse featuring Goodyear Eagle FS-1 tires mounted on 18-inch Enkei alloy wheels, an Inform Designs body kit, PPG Harlequin Chrom-O-Flair paint, and Recaro sport seats.
Designed to be as much go as it is show, the performance enhancements include a Vortech supercharger, Borla exhaust, K&N air filter, and Eibach front and rear springs. Formal performance figures were not given, but the modifications are expected to provide a 100-plus horsepower jump over the stock Duratec V6.
The second Cougar concept vehicle is a design study that illustrates the direction that Mercury may be taking the compact 2+2 in the years ahead. Called the Cougar S, this show car featured many visual design changes that could inform the casual viewer that this car is, in fact, something special.
Changes to the Cougar S's front and rear fascias, flanks and wheeldesign are immediately noticeable. The Cougar S takes Mercury's New Edge styling to new heights. Stout wheel arches give the S Cat more muscular flanks than the current model, and a unique front end gives it a decidedly more aggressive snarl. The car's crowning design achievement can be seen at the rear end, however, which features mesh apron inserts and integrated tail pipes.
The Cougar S's performance hasn't been forgotten. J Mayes, Ford's Vice President of Design, points out that Mercury's engineers have bored out the Cougar's 2.5-liter Duratec engine to 3.0-liters and have gained 45 horsepower for their trouble. Mercury has also fitted the all-wheel drive system found on the European-market Mondeo to the Cougar S, giving it better traction in wet and dry weather.
Jim Rodgers, Ford's Vice President of Marketing, told Edmund's that despite similarities in projected performance numbers, Ford does not expect to lose Mustang sales to the Cougar S if the car is approved for manufacture. Rodgers stated that sport-coupe shoppers differfrom pony-car shoppers and that previous experience with the now-defunct Probe indicates that there is little overlap in the markets.
Neither Rodgers or Mays would say whether or not Mercury planned to put the Cougar S into production, but did indicate that they were interested in reviving Mercury's image of a maker of fast cars, and that this would be one way to do it.
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