Ford Cougar
Ford Cougar (1998-2002)
The Ford Cougar ( English name for Puma ) is a of Mercury and commissioned by Ford in Cologne and Dunton (England) developed based on the American Ford Contour Sport Coupe. It was produced between spring 1998 and summer 2002.
Model history
Was manufactured the Coupé in spring 1998 in the Community work AAI ( Auto Alliance International, a joint venture between Ford and Mazda) in Flat Rock, Michigan (USA).
The official launch of the Mercury Cougar was held on 7 May 1998 in the United States. In Europe, the Cougar was sold but due to the lack of infrastructure of Mercury from the autumn of 1998 under the label of Ford. For the U.S. version, there were only small differences, such as grille, front and rear lighting, suspension and brakes.
The offer two engine options were with four-valve technology. A Zetec inline four- cylinder and a Duratec V- six-cylinder, the X-Type was used with only minor modifications, also in the Mercury Mystique, Ford Contour, Ford Mondeo and Jaguar. Furthermore, the Cougar was offered four-speed automatic with electric control with either a fully synchronized (MTX 75 ) Five -speed manual or optional on the V6 with a ( CD4E ).
After more than 230,000 vehicles produced the last copy was on 30 August 2002 from the tape.
Cougar ST200
In 1999, the press was presented as a more powerful, sportier variant of the Cougar ST200.
A number of pre-production models were manufactured, which had at trade shows, press events and photo shoots their use. All preparations for the launch including advertising campaigns, information to insurers and spare parts manufacturer through to delivery of the prospectuses with the dealers were taken; However, the sale was literally stopped at the last second from market analysis and the reasons Cougar ST200 never came to delivery.
The pre-production models were all destroyed according to official figures. Documented are two surviving copies. In vehicles, known as " Cougar ST200 " are commonly on the roads, it is therefore largely to private conversions by was installed in a Cougar body of the engine of the Mondeo ST200.
Facelift
Beginning of 2001 was visually slightly revised the Cougar. Technically, there were no relevant changes. The coupe has new headlights, new front end, new rims and an upgraded interior.
Specifications
Chronicle
- 09.1997: Presentation of the Concept Car at the 57th IAA Mercury MC2.
- 07.1998: Delivery of the first vehicles.
- 09.1999: Presentation of the Cougar ST200 at the 59th IAA.
- 01.2001: Facelift
- 08.2002: production setting
Others
Since 2008, a small SUV sold under the phonetically almost identical sounding name Ford Kuga.