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Revision as of 02:25, 20 March 2013
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[[Image:2001_Mercury_Cougar.jpg]]
[[Image:2001_Mercury_Cougar.jpg]]
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'''Mercury Cougar. 1999–2002 (prod. unknown). 3-door coupé. F/F, 1998 cm³ (4 cyl. DOHC), 2544 cm³ (V6 DOHC).''' CDW27 [[Ford Mondeo|Mondeo]]-based Cougar, fighting the imports ([[Mitsubishi Eclipse]], [[Honda Prelude]]) in the North American market. A fine idea, providing Mercury with a car that didn’t look like a glorified [[Ford]], and giving Ford of Europe (as the Ford Cougar) a successor to the US-made [[Ford Probe]] and, it was hoped, the [[Ford Capri]]. Did not take off in either market, nor did it succeed in Australia, to where it was also exported as a Ford. New Edge styling neat, but less grunty and softer than styling suggested. Coarse by comparison with Mondeo, especially 2·0. Three-litre Cougar S never materialized. Good as a long-distance cruiser but too long (1 in longer than [[Mercury Mystique]]) and too soft to be a true sports car. Updates (‘Cougar 2’) in 2001 with new lights, facia and interior trim. Thirty-fifth anniversary (of Cougar nameplate) limited edition in US in 2002. Financial difficulties at Ford forced end of production after 2002 model year. Last cars sold in Europe 2003.
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'''Mercury Cougar
(SW164)
. 1999–2002 (prod. unknown). 3-door coupé. F/F, 1998 cm³ (4 cyl. DOHC), 2544 cm³ (V6 DOHC).''' CDW27 [[Ford Mondeo|Mondeo]]-based Cougar, fighting the imports ([[Mitsubishi Eclipse]], [[Honda Prelude]]) in the North American market. A fine idea, providing Mercury with a car that didn’t look like a glorified [[Ford]], and giving Ford of Europe (as the Ford Cougar) a successor to the US-made [[Ford Probe]] and, it was hoped, the [[Ford Capri]]. Did not take off in either market, nor did it succeed in Australia, to where it was also exported as a Ford. New Edge styling neat, but less grunty and softer than styling suggested. Coarse by comparison with Mondeo, especially 2·0. Three-litre Cougar S never materialized. Good as a long-distance cruiser but too long (1 in longer than [[Mercury Mystique]]) and too soft to be a true sports car. Updates (‘Cougar 2’) in 2001 with new lights, facia and interior trim. Thirty-fifth anniversary (of Cougar nameplate) limited edition in US in 2002. Financial difficulties at Ford forced end of production after 2002 model year. Last cars sold in Europe 2003.