Ford Unveils The 2011 Mercury Cougar

Dearborn, MI -- April 1, 2010

Lincoln-Mercury has unveiled plans for a new vehicle for Fall 2011.  A new vehicle with name recognition among consumers and a performance and luxury heritage - The Mercury Cougar.

Ford Motor Company, not to be outdone by the popularity of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro plans to ramp up the Pony Car wars once again and assume full dominance on the segment by releasing the all-new Mercury Cougar. The Cougar chassis is based on the S197 Ford Mustang D2C platform that began with the 2005 model. The car will be manufactured at the AutoAlliance International plant in Flat Rock, Michigan alongside the Ford Mustang.

2011 Mercury Cougar XR7

Originally, the Mercury Cougar was introduced ton consumers in 1967 as an upscale Ford Mustang. The Cougar shared the same platform as the Mustang from 1967 to 1973 when the Cougar was shifted over to the Ford Torino platform in 1974.  In 1977, the Cougar and Thunderbird were redesigned and shared the same platforms from 1977 to 1997.  Finally, in 1999, the Cougar was redesigned again and downsized to the CDW27 platform and which ran until 2002.

The all-new 2011 Mercury Cougar will come with three engine choices and two powertrain choices currently offered. The base engine for the Cougar is Ford's new Duratec 3.7-liter dual-overhead cam V6 engine that will deliver around 305 horsepower and supposed to get 19 and 30 mpg on city and the highway respectively.

Consumers looking for the more power from Mercury while still saving money at the pump will opt for the 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged and direct-injected EcoBoost V-6 with 365 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. This is the same engine that Ford is putting into the new 2011 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor. Both engines send power to a six-speed automatic transmission, though from there the EcoBoost sends power to all four wheels while the base engine powers only the front wheels.
 
Finally, the Cougar will be fitted with the new 5.0 liter V-8 that is also going into the 2011 Ford Mustang. The 5.0 puts out 412hp of power, 390 ft.-lb. of torque and a projected highway fuel economy of 25 mpg. The new engine gets a 32-Valve, Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) system that works as a critical part and makes it possible for the engine to return those power and efficiency figures.

“This all-new 5.0-liter engine is the next chapter in the development of the world-class Mustang powertrain portfolio,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development. “It’s a thoroughly modern engine for the times, delivering the performance and fun-to-drive factor that enthusiasts want, while improving fuel economy.”

Behind the 5.0 liter V-8 the six-speed automatic transmission the 2011 Mercury Cougar XR7 will deliver up to an estimated 25 mpg highway and 17 in the city.  The Six-speed manual transmission Cougar XR7 models for 2011 are projected to deliver 24 mpg highway and 16 city. As a comparison the manual transmission will deliver significantly more horsepower and performance feel.

Just like in 1967, the 2011 Cougar steals technology from its cousin, the Ford Mustang.  The Cougar XR7 features an enhanced rear lower control arm to add stiffness, improve powertrain NVH control and sharpen handling. A stiffened rear stabilizer bar for better on-center steering is also included. Stabilizer bar diameters, spring rates and dampers all have been tuned for improved dynamics.

A Brembo brake package upgrade will be available for serious enthusiasts. This package includes 14-inch vented front discs from the GT500 Mustang, unique 19-inch alloy wheels and summer performance tires.

As with the 2011 Mustang, Ford is continuing to use new technology on the Cougar.  The Cougar will share the new Electric Power Assist Steering system, modified underbody shields, taller air dam, larger four-wheel ABS disc brakes and its front fascia is also getting facelift for improved aerodynamics. The Cougar will come with a similar version of new Mustang instrument cluster graphics, including a speedometer that reads to 160 mph and a tachometer that goes up to 8,000 rpm.

The tradition of style, luxury, European elegance paired with American muscle will continue on the new Mercury Cougar by adding the traditional burled walnut accents to the interior of the XR7. Options will include 17-inch aluminum wheels; rear spoiler, fog lamps, leather-wrapped steering wheel with tilt and telescoping column, AM/FM stereo with six-disc CD changer and MP3 capability and 6 speakers, SYNC® voice-activated communications and entertainment system, Dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control (DEATC), driver's seat lumbar support, premium Verona-grain Imola leather seating surfaces in two-tone parchment. Other options will include both cooling and heating systems in the seats, heated mirrors, heated cupholders, remote start, navigation, blue tooth technology, Reverse Sensing System, chrome doorhandles, pinstripe kit, and much more. 

Standard equipment includes some of these features: 16-inch aluminum wheels, a tire pressure monitoring system, cloth front bucket seats, power windows, power doorlocks, keyless entry, power mirrors, air conditioning, AM/FM Stereo with single CD and MP3 player, body color doorhandles, carpeted floor mats, ambient temperature sensor and ambient lighting placed in the front and rear footwells and the cup holders. 

The Cougar will be made in three different price points and six models.

V6 Coupe (MSRP: $24,395)
V6 Premium (MSRP: $26,395)

V6 XR7 Coupe (MSRP: $29,395)
V6 XR7 Premium (MSRP: $31,395)

XR7 GT: (MSRP: $33,395)
XR7 GT Premium (MSRP: $36,395)

Ford has announced that no convertible will be offered at this time harkening back to the first two years of the Mercury Cougar in 1967 and 1968.  No word yet on if Ford will introduce a performance package like the GT500 or Shelby, but if they do expect the word Eliminator to be involved.

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If you've read this far and are excited and ready to make a trip to your local Lincoln-Mercury dealer then I have some bad news...

APRIL FOOLS!

Information for this post came from the Ford press release for the new 2011 Ford Mustang 5.0, the Ford Mustang Wikipedia  page, the Mercury Milan features page and a couple of other sources.

Photos were found at http://www.irmaododecio.blogspot.com/. I must say that if that vehicle were released I would trade in my 2010 Honda Accord and buy a new Cougar.

Please advise if I need to take down this content and I will be happy to remove.

Happy April Fools Day!