If the new Mustang is the huge success Ford hopes it will be, do you think a new Mercury Cougar will be developed? I think it would be great to see a new Cougar based on the new 'stang. Look back at the late 60's and see how great these cars were. If there could be a Camaro and Firebird, the Mustang should have a sister car. With a front clip revision, new hood, taillights from the concept, and maybe some fender/door trim a new cougar could be a home run? Photoshop guys have some fun!

 

It's already been done (but not by me B) ):

 

Yeah, here's a link...

Burningman

 

Not gonna happen. If Mercury could have sold something like Cougar, then it'd still be around. Capri's gone, come back, gone. Cougar wasn't a Mustang-like car since, what, '71? Yeah. Then it was a LuxoBarge. Then a Mid-ish sporty type coupe thing, then they quit all things Cougar in, uh, '97, came back with a FRONT WHEEL DRIVE Girly car, and finally, FINALLY, killed it outright.

Meanwhile, Mustang started as a 2+2 rear wheel drive sporty coupe that can be had with good (or great!) performance at an affordable price. Even the IIs, given the circumstances. And it still is today. Praise be to Ford!

Coupes just don't sell as well as four door cars, or SUVs or Trucks (and most of those have, you guessed it, four doors!) so a Cougar just ain't happening. IMO, of course. Reality has this thing for stepping in and slapping me around every so often...

Of course, just to show how much I like Cougars, I would buy that Eliminator Tom's showin' right there before I bought any '05+ Mustang if Cougar looked like that. Here's to hoping Cougars are coming, despite my above statements!

 

yeah, that would be awesome....if only....

 

I am sick of Mercury and Ford sharing the same car. So I am not in favor of a Cougar - Stang!
I have stated this before, but I think Ford really needs to keep the Mercury Brand seperate from Ford. New designs and ideas etc.
I still think Mercury should be an upgrade from an average Ford, and I also think that they need to be alittle sportier as well. These cars should have good HP and handling.

I would like to see Ford or Mercury have a true all-around performance car, Handling: IRS, AWD and HP. And I don't want it to be a Stang either.
I like the Stang and Cobra the way they are. But a small sportscar that doesn't cost an arm and leg like a FORD GT, but a car that would be priced in the high 20's and mid 30's. A car to compete with the euro- Japanese cars. Maybe use the Falcon or Comet name plate?!

I would like to see Ford come out with a sporty 4 passenger rag top as well. In the 18k - 23k price range. The only rag tops Ford have are the Stang and T-Bird, and both are very expensive for the average buyer or college kid.

Although I love my Stangs, a new Torino would be nice!

 

All Car Companies do that-and it most usually doesnt work.
contour and Taurus- same
Capri and Mustang- same(remember those? Eww)
Grand Am Impala and Alero- Same thing Gm N class cars.
explorer and Mountaineer- same.

Camaros and Firebirds were also almost the same thing-remember the 80s?

 

Ford is even starting to share design and platform with its other companies, ie (ford Escape = Mazda Tribute; ranger = B1000 etc...)

 

All Car Companies do that-and it most usually doesnt work.
contour and Taurus- same
Capri and Mustang- same(remember those? Eww)
Grand Am Impala and Alero- Same thing Gm N class cars.
explorer and Mountaineer- same.

Camaros and Firebirds were also almost the same thing-remember the 80s? [/b][/quote]
One minor correction: The Contour and Taurus weren't the same. The Sable and Taurus were. It was the Contour and Mystique that were related.

 

I stand Corrected B)

 

Ford's been sharing lines with Mazda for years. The B-series pickups have been Ranger clones since the mid 90s at least. The Probe was built on the Mazda MX-6 platform. The crappy mid-90s Escort was a Mazda design, down to the roof-mount antenna and really bad tilt wheel.

But it makes sense. You save so much money by using the same production lines, because you've already got the money invested in R&D. For Mercury to create their own platform for the Sable, for example, would be a huge expense for not much additional gain. So instead, you get a nicer version of the Taurus. Same with Lincoln; Crown Vic = Grand Marquis = Town Car underneath, it's the package around it that makes the Lincoln so much nicer.

All companies do it. Lexus is a nicer Toyota. Infiniti is owned by Nissan and they share lots of parts. Honda's luxury arm is Acura, plenty of platform sharing there.

 

They are not "Eww" :nono:

And the new 500/Montego/Freestyle share the Volvo S80 chassis.

 

Yea, don't be talkin' about Evils Capris. He'll come after you!

 

i think the 80's capri with the mustang rear hatch was awesome looking. Like a mustang with a wide body kit. great car!

 

Yeah, I love the Capris! My dad's friend has one as a project car, and he's got it running 11's now.

 

the whole 80s skipped right over my head for car love. Sorry B)

 

Make a Cougar to compete with the Monte Carlo as a coupe with a decent backseat, 'cept make it RWD. You know, how it used to be before it was axed.

 

Yep the early 90's Ford Escort/Mercury Tracer was the Mazda 323 (I think thats the model name, or was it 626)...and by the way it is a lot of fun to throw around on the weekend, especially the 1.8L version.

Platform sharing is the only way for most car companies to make a profit, the only reason that DaimlerChrysler still has a big stake in Mitsu is to take advantage of their R&D...