[JCam]

Take a mustang, keep the front fenders, change the grille/headlight insert to look like the 60s cougar with the bodycoloured waterfall between the grilles, and add a quarter window like this.

Just what mercury needs

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•  05Cougar_20_copy.jpg (934.66K)
  Number of downloads: 2477

[Watchdevil]

JCam, on Feb 9 2006, 08:42 PM, said:

Take a mustang, keep the front fenders, change the grille/headlight insert to look like the 60s cougar with the bodycoloured waterfall between the grilles, and add a quarter window like this.

Just what mercury needs

What is so Cougar about that? It looks like a new Mustang with 1994-98 style quarter windows and the C-scoop detail deleted.

[ford4v429]

sorry, but I kinda agree with above...a bit too much late model mustang to carry the cougar name...I am hoping to see a cougar come out, but think it needs to follow 67-70 profile(preferably w/69-70 side accent line) and the gt should be 'eliminator' pkg like the 69's...very pretty cars. I just think the merc will need a little higher/more formal roofline, a 4" stretched chassis for a little rear legroom, and the nose work as you mentioned. I'd love to see the return of the hideaways(surely they could make them reliable these days) and standard full width sequentials in the back.

[timmm55]

I did a bunch of new Cougars based off the Mustang platform at Mercurycougar.net and The Mustang Source.

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•  anotherXR72.jpg (94.29K)
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•  new_24.jpg (112.94K)
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•  Cougarx24.jpg (92.61K)
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[Maranello]

timmm55, on Feb 13 2006, 01:46 PM, said:

I did a bunch of new Cougars based off the Mustang platform at Mercurycougar.net and The Mustang Source.

Man, those are very well done! If Ford ever brought the Cougar back they should look just like those. B)
I really need to learn to Photoshop! :(

This post has been edited by Maranello: 14 February 2006 - 09:56 PM

[Mark B. Morrow]

timmm55, on Feb 13 2006, 06:46 PM, said:

I did a bunch of new Cougars based off the Mustang platform at Mercurycougar.net and The Mustang Source.

Very Cool Timmm55. I never liked the '70 grille back when it was new. I really like your take on the Cougar. I wonder if hidden headlights will ever come back. Thew look great.

[Austin]

timmm55, on Feb 13 2006, 01:46 PM, said:

I did a bunch of new Cougars based off the Mustang platform at Mercurycougar.net and The Mustang Source.

These are very, very nice and evocative of the original Cougar without being totally retro.

Your sketches and those posted earlier point out a key fact. The Mustang is unique and successful. If Ford were to implement a Cougar, it would need a totally unique sheet metal set from the Mustang. And lamps, and interior... So that's going to make it a relatively high investment. And if the wheelbase needs to be lengthened, or if you need IRS standard, then that's more $$$$. So this product might be somewhat difficult to justify, at least for now when the plant is full.....

But it sure would fit in nicely in the Mercury showroom.

[stegomon]

i like them!

[ford4v429]

very very nice. I especially like that rear 3/4 view- looks buildable. I think the front would need a bit more bumper projection for 5mph- personally I miss steel bumpers :)

[NickF1011]

I'll say it again.....I don't think anything remotely retro from a new Cougar would be a good idea. It would be a complete oddball on the Lincoln-Mercury showroom and would do nothing to contribute to the rest of the brand. Sure, you'd get a few conquest sales (from the FORD dealer), but that would be it.

The Cougar should be elegant and sophisticated, with power to spare. Then perhaps your conquest buyers would be those from OTHER carmakers, like people shopping for a G35 coupe or maybe even some low-end Mercedes models.

[timmm55]

NickF1011, on Feb 14 2006, 08:37 AM, said:

I'll say it again.....I don't think anything remotely retro from a new Cougar would be a good idea. It would be a complete oddball on the Lincoln-Mercury showroom and would do nothing to contribute to the rest of the brand. Sure, you'd get a few conquest sales (from the FORD dealer), but that would be it.

The Cougar should be elegant and sophisticated, with power to spare. Then perhaps your conquest buyers would be those from OTHER carmakers, like people shopping for a G35 coupe or maybe even some low-end Mercedes models.

I've heard that correlation/complaint before. But take it one step further to the 350Z/G35 vs the Mustang/Cougar. It's cheaper to share a platform, the engineering has already been done. It's my contention that the Cougar should have everything the Mustang has AND more, like a NAV system, heated seats, auto lamps, beter plastics/textures, wood trim....at a higher price. Some people don't like the new Mustang because it is basic. I say give them the alternative, something very NOT basic, just like the original Cougar. It does need to be elegant and sophisticated. The Camaro and Challenger will be coming in the near future. They intend to conquest sales from Ford, I say better some of it goes to Mercury rather than GM or Chrysler. It looks like 1967 all over again LOL.

Retro isn't a new fad,......hell the 56 Mark II was retro. So was the 74 Mustang II and about a dozen other cars.

And what's GOOD about the Mercury showroom now? Just the Milan and Montego....both 4 doors. The Mariner was an old hand-me-down when Mercury got it. Mountaineer....new yet old. G Marquis old AND old. (And the M&M naming of cars is just stupid IMHO). Oddball? Maybe, but that's exactly what Mercury needs...if you consider something with panache and excitement as oddball. While they are at it, make a Cyclone and a Turnpike Cruiser. If you look at eBay's collectible car listings "MERCURY" is divided into "COUGAR" and "OTHER"....it tells me, in numbers and prices, that the Cougar name and reputation is still viable.

[NickF1011]

timmm55, on Feb 15 2006, 09:19 PM, said:

I've heard that correlation/complaint before. But take it one step further to the 350Z/G35 vs the Mustang/Cougar. It's cheaper to share a platform, the engineering has already been done. It's my contention that the Cougar should have everything the Mustang has AND more, like a NAV system, heated seats, auto lamps, beter plastics/textures, wood trim....at a higher price. Some people don't like the new Mustang because it is basic. I say give them the alternative, something very NOT basic, just like the original Cougar. It does need to be elegant and sophisticated. The Camaro and Challenger will be coming in the near future. They intend to conquest sales from Ford, I say better some of it goes to Mercury rather than GM or Chrysler. It looks like 1967 all over again LOL.

Retro isn't a new fad,......hell the 56 Mark II was retro. So was the 74 Mustang II and about a dozen other cars.

And what's GOOD about the Mercury showroom now? Just the Milan and Montego....both 4 doors. The Mariner was an old hand-me-down when Mercury got it. Mountaineer....new yet old. G Marquis old AND old. (And the M&M naming of cars is just stupid IMHO). Oddball? Maybe, but that's exactly what Mercury needs...if you consider something with panache and excitement as oddball. While they are at it, make a Cyclone and a Turnpike Cruiser. If you look at eBay's collectible car listings "MERCURY" is divided into "COUGAR" and "OTHER"....it tells me, in numbers and prices, that the Cougar name and reputation is still viable.

Well, I never said the Cougar shouldn't share PLATFORMS with the Mustang. I would say that is a MUST. It just shouldn't look like a Mustang with a waterfall grille and sequential tail lights. That would do nothing to revive Mercury and would do no justice for the Cougar.

Take the Mustang platform, throw some sexy curvy MODERN sheet metal on it, tuck an IRS under the rear, throw in some nice gadgets like Bluetooth, nav system, heated/cooled seats and you have a winner.

Oh wait. I just described the Messenger concept. :D

[timmm55]

NickF1011, on Feb 16 2006, 01:07 PM, said:

Well, I never said the Cougar shouldn't share PLATFORMS with the Mustang. I would say that is a MUST. It just shouldn't look like a Mustang with a waterfall grille and sequential tail lights. That would do nothing to revive Mercury and would do no justice for the Cougar.

Take the Mustang platform, throw some sexy curvy MODERN sheet metal on it, tuck an IRS under the rear, throw in some nice gadgets like Bluetooth, nav system, heated/cooled seats and you have a winner.

Oh wait. I just described the Messenger concept. :D

Yeah, I like the Messenger a lot. Still do.

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•  messenferrdst.jpg (157.99K)
  Number of downloads: 433

[joelijoi]

I have to agree with NickF1011 and timmm55, a retro Cougar would not work. A new Cougar design should evolutionary by using design cues from past Cougars and combining those with the Mercury Messenger and Ford Iosis. For example, the roof could be designed similar to that of the original but with a slight slant downward. The rear window should be somewhat like that of a 2001 Audi A4 since this goes with the shape of the rear of the Messenger. The side rear quarter panel could reflect that of a '87 with a character line going down the side of the car and flair upward at the rear quarter window like that of the original and of the new Charger. The side should have some type of scoop like that of the Messenger or Iosis. Also, the Iosis front could be used with a Mercury grille with the Cougar head and on the front of the bumper have the aluminum trim like the Mariner or Moutaineer with the original full bodied Cougar engraved in it. Just an idea.

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•  2007_Cougar_XR_7.JPG (23.99K)
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[NickF1011]

joelijoi, on Feb 16 2006, 11:57 PM, said:

I have to agree with NickF1011 and timmm55, a retro Cougar would not work. A new Cougar design should evolutionary by using design cues from past Cougars and combining those with the Mercury Messenger and Ford Iosis. For example, the roof could be designed similar to that of the original but with a slight slant downward. The rear window should be somewhat like that of a 2001 Audi A4 since this goes with the shape of the rear of the Messenger. The side rear quarter panel could reflect that of a '87 with a character line going down the side of the car and flair upward at the rear quarter window like that of the original and of the new Charger. The side should have some type of scoop like that of the Messenger or Iosis. Also, the Iosis front could be used with a Mercury grille with the Cougar head and on the front of the bumper have the aluminum trim like the Mariner or Moutaineer with the original full bodied Cougar engraved in it. Just an idea.

Now YOUR idea could work! That's the best profile view of a new Cougar I've seen yet.

[Xriry]

This is a great topic. I definitelly think that a mercury version of a mustang could work, and i think there would be a pretty good market segment for it. I think that if they go for it, Retro should be the last thing on their mind. NO RETRO!

I threw a sketch over an 05 mustang to show what they could do with the current platform.

Attached File(s)

•  rhMERCCOUGAR.jpg (1.31MB)
  Number of downloads: 552

[timmm55]

Xriry, on Feb 17 2006, 10:46 AM, said:

This is a great topic. I definitelly think that a mercury version of a mustang could work, and i think there would be a pretty good market segment for it. I think that if they go for it, Retro should be the last thing on their mind. NO RETRO!

I threw a sketch over an 05 mustang to show what they could do with the current platform.

I like that sketch xriry!!!! When I first saw the Messenger I immediately thought "Cougar!" Messenger (as in don't shoot the......) is an odd name.
Any Cougar with RWD and a V8 can be considered retro. It just depends on how far they want to go in recreating it. The Cougar floudered when it lost it's roots, going from a sporty V8 RWD compact, to a luxury midsize, to a 4 door sedan to a wagon (!) sporty coupe (again) to a small FWD Flavor of the month coupe.

[NickF1011]

timmm55, on Feb 17 2006, 01:17 PM, said:

I like that sketch xriry!!!! When I first saw the Messenger I immediately thought "Cougar!" Messenger (as in don't shoot the......) is an odd name.

Well, the original press release for the Messenger said its name was used because its styling cues were going to meld into future Mercury models....looks like that never panned out. Bummer. Mercury's current design theme was getting old 10 years ago. Now it's just flat outdated.

[swenson88]

If Mercury does get a model based on the Mustang platform it should definitely NOT be retro. After all, how many Americans have any strong feelings towards the old Cougars? The Mustang has been a cultural icon for more than 4 decades, the Cougar has always been a rebadged Ford model, hardly the type of stuff to make the public go wild. I like what someone mentioned - like a Nissan Z/Infiniti G35 relationship. Give Merc the sophisticated modern coupe and let the Mustang be the retro hot-rod. That fits much better with the current marketing of the two brands.

[timmm55]

swenson88, on Feb 18 2006, 10:12 AM, said:

If Mercury does get a model based on the Mustang platform it should definitely NOT be retro. After all, how many Americans have any strong feelings towards the old Cougars? The Mustang has been a cultural icon for more than 4 decades, the Cougar has always been a rebadged Ford model, hardly the type of stuff to make the public go wild. I like what someone mentioned - like a Nissan Z/Infiniti G35 relationship. Give Merc the sophisticated modern coupe and let the Mustang be the retro hot-rod. That fits much better with the current marketing of the two brands.

I dunno you could ask the people at mercurycougar.net!

A lot of us feel that the 67-73 Cougar was Mercury's Icon. I wasn't just rebadged then. There were significant engineering and completely different sheet metal differences. Although the chassis was similar it was 3" longer. The Cougar was notable for what it didn't have: NO 6 cylinders.

It could be retro and sophisticated and modern.