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Mercury introduces performance Cougar at SEMA

(Ford Motor Company press release - 02 November 1999)
The 34th annual Specialty Equipment Market Association show

Powered by auto show visitors' excitement over the Mercury Cougar Eliminator and the Cougar S concept cars, which debuted at the 1998 SEMA and Los Angeles Auto Shows, the California-based automaker today announced it will build a limited-production, high-performance 200-horsepower street-legal Cougar S for the 2000 model year.

The Mercury Cougar S combines a sporty, performance-enhanced free-revving, 2.5-liter V6 engine with a unique suspension optimized for agile handling. The result is a car that is exceptionally responsive and rewarding to drive.

The Cougar S should come to Europe in some guise - maybe the ST200.

"The inherent capabilities in the chassis and New Edge looks of the Mercury Cougar make it a natural choice for a performance derivative to attract serious driving enthusiasts," says Bob Rewey, Group Vice President for Ford Motor Company Marketing and Sales.

Increased power and upgraded suspension
For the Cougar S, the power output of the 24-valve V6 Duratec engine is increased from 170 to 200 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm. The Duratec V6 provides 170 ft.-lbs. of torque @ 5,500 rpm. To add to Cougar's performance, cylinder heads, camshafts, intake manifolds and the exhaust system have all been tuned to develop extra power and torque.

To handle the extra power, the car's suspension has undergone a comprehensive retuning, to deliver outstanding levels of handling. Overall stiffness has been substantially increased, with measures including the adoption of a larger rear stabilizer bar, while re-balancing of all the suspension elements ensures ride comfort is not adversely affected. To suit the character of the Mercury Cougar S, steering response also has been sharpened, with the emphasis on providing greater on-center feel. As a result, the steering responds more directly to driver inputs, contributing further to the car's performance appeal.

Exciting Styling
Sports styling details complete the high-specification package, including a blue background to the instruments. More supportive leather-covered seats are standard with an embroidered "Cougar S" logo. The driver's seat has six-way power adjustment. Cougar S is available in black, red and silver exterior.

The limited-production 2000 Mercury Cougar S will go on sale in the spring of 2000.

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