Discover Automobile
The fresh 1967 Cougar mutual concept and performance, and Mercury says it tried to make that happen same equilibrium when designing which latest age group model that have front side-wheel drive.
Design Roster
Two motors are available. The base motor ’s the Zetec, a two.0-liter twice over-cam, 16-valve inline-4 ranked in the 125 horsepower and you may 130 legs-pounds out-of torque. Optional is actually a 2.5-liter dohc, 24-device Duratec V6 rated from the 170 horsepower and 165 ft-pounds from torque.
You could tell and therefore motor the automobile has of the considering the fresh new rims and wheels: Six-spoke sixteen-inches wheels have the newest V6 design, five-spoke fifteen-inches wheels include the new cuatro-cylinder design. A straight back spoiler features this new V6, but could be deleted having a beneficial $235 borrowing from the bank; it’s a $235 choice with the 4-tube.
Feet Cougar has cooling, 15-inches aluminium rims, power window, strength home tresses, power height-changeable seat and you may Was/FM/cassette music. The activity V6 choice has the new spoiler, 16-inch rims, disk brake system, fog lights, sport seating, high-top slim, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and move cock. A comfort classification adds sail manage, rear washer together with advanced music. An automated transmission is available only for the V6 model. Choices are front airbags, Abs and you can traction manage, a good sunroof, and an in-dash Cd player.
Walkaround
With its catlike headlamps and you can capturing traces, the brand new Cougar works out hardly anything else on the go. This coupe has actually effortless, toned surfaces outlined of the clean retracts and you may clear intersections. Elements of this automobile looks like it absolutely was toned that have an effective sharp blade, as bottom fender was rounded, and similar to the fresh new Lexus Sc. Which vehicles also provides particular sweet outside details: Brief triangles show the region into the jerking items. Front side markers play the role of turn signals to alert vehicle operators next door.
Cougar seems ready for large rate and you may wandering courses. Part of the reason behind it is the seemingly long wheelbase with Western european-concept quick overhangs.
Interior Features
This new exterior’s Brand new Edge college from build is sent to the having a sweeping arch you to border the new driver’s domain. It’s an extremely functional environment that is humorous on the eye. Stylish devices element white wide variety on a dark gray records. Switchgear appears higher-technical which is extremely practical. Tough bullet heavens outlet element personal included into the/regarding changes.
Leading container seats is actually firm and you can supporting. Getting into back is easy plus the butt buckets is truth be told comfy. Scooped out chair bottoms provide good headroom, if you are room beneath the front seats brings in check legroom. Still, it is no sedan. No body should trip for a long period of energy back truth be told there.
Operating Impressions
Cougar also provides truth be told a beneficial dealing with and you can strong balances from the price just like the I found at Street Atlanta, an effective gutsy high-rates highway-rushing routine within the northern Georgia. No place try that it a whole lot more obvious than at the entrance to make 2, a somewhat sluggish technical put with respect to chassis figure. The fresh turn-inside section for this correct-hands part was at the top a mountain that’s instantly preceded because of the a simple kept. I crested the fresh new hill topped in third apparatus. Given that vehicle is cresting the hill, the fresh new suspension is unloaded and there’s nothing pounds towards the wheels – a difficult location for smooth stopping. However, rather hard stopping is needed to sluggish the automobile and it’s not hard to braking system too-late and you can capture through the change-inside the part. Stopping and turning at the same time is always problematic and it is really tricky for the suspension unloaded. It’s easy to twist the car in this situation.
However the Cougar noticed dependable on turn-into the area, making it possible for us to open new V6, diving down the hill and take next gang of large-price curves flat-out. In contrast, an earlier-age bracket Mitsubishi Eclipse GS noticed undecided subsequently dos, and this reduced log off rates on spot. An effective Saturn SC2 considered downright crude, though it managed fairly well. From higher-rates transforms, the fresh new Cougar is the newest Stone of Gibraltar. Their direction provided better be compared to the almost every other several vehicles and you will brand new suspension system provided more control.
Cougar’s program is dependant on the Ford Profile and you can Mercury Mystique, but adventures on the a bigger track – the exact distance between the correct and you may remaining wheels – and you may spends a much tighter suspension system so you can delight fan vehicle operators. A rigorous chassis, sturdy anti-roll taverns, and higher-price springs are made to augment addressing. Specifically customized system mounts are intended to reduce noises. Weight distribution was . The front suspension spends MacPherson struts having coil springs minimizing A-palms. The rear is actually an excellent Quadralink program that have strut-types of coil spring season/dampers and couch potato butt direction.
The racetrack get it done try followed by an extended great time through the slopes north from Atlanta the spot where the Cougar clung towards road such as for instance a pet clinging to a forest. The latest Cougar sensed at home regarding the slopes and you will looked aptly titled indeed there. Its balance provided believe while the clean addressing and you may brisk throttle impulse encouraged competing driving. Brand new brakes, which use rotors lent from the higher-overall performance SVT Ford Figure, performed rather than fade-in spite of repeated difficult fool around with.
My impressions were strengthened a week later, the spot where the Cougar’s specific steering and you can well-tuned suspension aided it cut cleanly by way of a tight autocross direction near Baltimore. In comparison, an enthusiastic SC2 appeared to gather pylons, and the stamina direction push into the a keen Eclipse GS cannot match steering enters from slalom.
The bottom Cougar was an extremely able to vehicles you to encourages competing driving. Ford’s 4-cylinder Zetec engine brings an excellent response in the highway performance. It system weighs in at less than the V6, and that boosts the equilibrium of your car.
Nevertheless, it appears to be a shame to shop for good Cougar without any brilliant Duratec V6. Simple and you will excellent if you are touring, they produces an enjoyable growl when Numer telefonu outpersonals riled. Even though it doesn’t provide the Cougar the brand new punch out of an Acura Integra GS-R otherwise Honda Prelude SH, it may match these sport coupes into the north Georgia’s mountainous tracks. Only do not get spoke to the a pull battle to own red glides because you might remove. Low-rates and status-start speed is useful, however, passage power is very good. Best speed try estimated during the 137 mph, however, i haven’t experimented with you to.
The effortless-progressing 5-rate guide gearbox are ideal really towards the V6, with rates you to definitely complement the newest torque of motor. I recommend they. The newest five-rate automatic is made to offer simple moving on and also to remove hunting for things whenever travelling up-and-down enough time grades.
Bottom line
Riding lovers searching for a sport coupe is always to bring a closer look at the Cougar V6. Individuals who require a stylish, standard coupe can’t go wrong towards the 4-cylinder design. Both are cost aggressively to help you compete with particular models of Japan.