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The new 1967 Cougar joint style and performance, and you may Mercury claims it made an effort to make that happen exact same equilibrium whenever making it current age group model that have top-controls drive.

Design Lineup

A couple engines arrive. The base motor is the Zetec, a two.0-liter twice over-chat, 16-valve inline-cuatro rated within 125 horsepower and you can 130 ft-weight regarding torque. Elective was a two.5-liter dohc, 24-valve Duratec V6 ranked at 170 hp and 165 foot-pounds away from torque.

You could give and this motor the car provides because of the looking at brand new rims and rims: Six-talked sixteen-inches wheels feature the V6 design, five-talked 15-inches wheels come with new 4-tube design. A straight back spoiler comes standard with the new V6, but may getting deleted getting an excellent $235 borrowing from the bank; it’s an effective $235 alternative towards the 4-tube.

Legs Cougar has cooling, 15-inches aluminium rims, strength windows, energy home locks, fuel height-varying seat and Was/FM/cassette stereo. The activity V6 solution is sold with the spoiler, 16-inches wheels, disk brake system, fog lighting fixtures, sport seats, high-height slender, and you can a leather-based-wrapped steering wheel and change knob. A convenience group adds cruise handle, buttocks washing machine as well as the advanced music. An automatic alert can be found only towards V6 design. Choice are side airbags, Stomach and grip control, an excellent sunroof, and you may an out in-dash Video game player.

Walkaround

Featuring its catlike headlamps and you will capturing lines, the fresh new Cougar looks like hardly anything else while on the move. So it coupe has actually smooth, cut counters discussed by clean folds and sharp intersections. Elements of that it vehicle turns out it had been toned having a clear knife, due to the fact butt fender try game, and you can reminiscent of the newest Lexus Sc. Which automobile also offers some nice external details: Brief triangles tell you the location on the jacking affairs. Top markers try to be change signals so you can alert motorists across the street.

Cougar appears able to possess high increase and you can wandering roads. The main reason behind this can be the apparently much time wheelbase which have Eu-style brief overhangs.

Interior Keeps

The fresh new exterior’s The fresh Edge college or university out-of build are transmitted into the that have a capturing arc one surrounds the newest driver’s domain. It’s an incredibly practical ecosystem which is funny into the vision. Stylish instruments feature white amounts to the a dark-gray records. Switchgear appears higher-tech that is very practical. Sturdy bullet heavens vents element personal provided towards/out of switches.

Leading container seating is actually corporation and supporting. Getting in back is straightforward additionally the butt buckets are contrary to popular belief comfy. Scooped away seat soles provide a great headroom, if you’re room in front chairs will bring down legroom. Nevertheless, this is certainly no sedan. No one will want to experience for an extended period of time straight back here.

Driving Thoughts

Cougar also provides contrary to popular belief a beneficial addressing and you will good balance in the speed due to the fact I discovered within Street Atlanta, a beneficial gutsy highest-rates street-race circuit for the north Georgia. Nowhere is so it a whole lot more obvious than simply on entrances to turn 2, a somewhat sluggish tech place regarding chassis character. The fresh new change-in point for this right-hand part is at the top of a mountain and is quickly preceded by the a fast kept. I crested the brand new slope topped call at 3rd knowledge. Just like the car is actually cresting brand new hill, the suspension system is unloaded as there are nothing pounds with the tires – a difficult location for smooth stopping. But fairly hard stopping is needed to sluggish the automobile and you can it’s not hard to brake too late and you will capture after dark change-for the part. Stopping and you will turning at the same time is definitely an issue and it’s really extremely challenging for the suspension unloaded. It’s easy to twist the automobile in this situation.

But the Cougar believed dependable on turn-in the area, allowing us to open up the latest V6, diving along the mountain and take the second band of high-speed curves flat out. By comparison, an earlier-age group Mitsubishi Eclipse GS felt unsure in turn dos, and therefore reduced get off speed throughout the area. A good Saturn SC2 sensed downright harsh, though it addressed fairly well. From the highest-rate transforms, new Cougar is this new Rock from Gibraltar. Their steering offered ideal become as compared to almost every other a couple trucks and brand new suspension considering more control.

Cougar’s program is dependent on this new Ford Profile and Mercury Mystique, but trips towards the a bigger tune – the length involving the right and you may kept tires – and you will spends a significantly stronger suspension so you’re able to delight lover vehicle operators. A strict framework, solid anti-move pubs, and you may high-rates springs are designed to promote approaching. Particularly customized system supports developed to reduce noise. Weight delivery is . Leading suspension system spends MacPherson struts which have coil springs minimizing A-palms. The rear is actually a great Quadralink program with strut-sorts of coil spring season/dampers and you can passive buttocks steering.

New racetrack get it done is accompanied by a long blast through the mountains north regarding Atlanta the spot where the Cougar clung towards path instance a cat holding to a forest. The fresh Cougar sensed home on the mountains and appeared appropriately called here. Its balance considering trust while you are its sharp handling and quick throttle effect advised competitive riding. The brake system, which use rotors lent regarding the highest-efficiency SVT Ford Contour, did instead fade in spite regarding constant tough explore.

My thoughts was basically bolstered seven days later, the spot where the Cougar’s specific direction and you may well-tuned suspension assisted they slice cleanly courtesy a rigorous autocross way near Baltimore. By comparison, an SC2 seemed to collect pylons, as well as the power steering pump into an enthusiastic Eclipse GS could not maintain steering inputs from the slalom.

The beds base Cougar are a highly in a position to auto one to prompts saturated riding. Ford’s 4-cylinder Zetec system provides a good effect during the path performance. This motor weighs in at below brand new V6, and this enhances the equilibrium of one’s vehicles.

Nonetheless, it seems a pity buying a great Cougar with no smart Duratec V6. Easy and higher level whenever you are cruising, they gives off a satisfying growl when riled. While it doesn’t provide the Cougar the new punch out-of a keen Acura Integra GS-R or Honda Prelude SH, it may keep up with those two recreation coupes with the north Georgia’s mountainous courses. Just do not get spoke to your a drag race having red slips as you might lose. Low-price and reputation-start acceleration is useful, however, passing energy is great. Most useful price are projected during the 137 miles per hour, however, i haven’t tried that.

Brand new easy-progressing 5-speed guidelines gearbox is actually suited really toward V6, that have percentages you to complement the fresh torque of your own system. We suggest it. The newest four-speed automated was designed to provide effortless moving forward and eliminate looking for things when take a trip along a lot of time levels.

Summary

Driving lovers looking for an activity coupe would be to get a closer look in the Cougar V6. Individuals who require an attractive, important coupe need not be worried to your 4-cylinder design. Both are priced aggressively so you can contend with respective patterns off The japanese.