Should Mercury make a new Cougar?

[Jaguar D-Type]

I think Mercury should take the new Mustang's chassis and restyle both the interior and exterior (both modern).

Here is the 2003 Mercury Messenger concept

Mercury concept car

[drdisque]

I think that if they make a new cougar that it should be based on the mustang chassis but be a little bit longer and have a 3rd suicide door, it should also not be available with a V6. I don't think that a smaller car badged as a mercury would make sense.

[MagicRat]

^^good post^^
Take a page from the RX8 and give it a back (albeit tiny) back seat. It will broaden its appeal in a big way.........unlike the new Thunderbird!!

[Jaguar D-Type]

I've heard recently that a sporty Mercury coupe based on the Mustang platform is being considered.

[sub006]

That's a beautiful concept but I'd give it another name, maybe "Marauder" with the 500 hp supercharged Shelby engine.

The '67 Cougar was a beautiful car. Let's see what the stylists can do on a new Mustang chassis stretched 2" in wheelbase. Dan Gurney XR-7 retromobile, anyone?

[01L2Cobra]

If they build it they need to build it right!!!

By that I mean weight reduction for the love of god the GT500 is damn near 2 f*ing tons! And how about a proper suspension for once not something lifted out of a Mazda parts bin.

If I remember right the Messenger concept was based off of the DEW98 platform which is sadly now banished from all Ford’s line ups outside of Jaguar due to cost cutting. If it was built on the DEW98 that would mean it would have a 4-wheel independent double wishbone suspension. It doesn’t need the less sophisticated Mazda D2C platform (AKA S197) which consists of high-mounted MacPherson struts, lower wishbones, and rear the trailing arm is carried over directly from the Mazda C1 platform (Mazda3).

[95roaringcougar]

i want... with the build it right

[zx2guy]

i dont know how old everyone is here but im 18 and i know the routine of my opinion isnt worth crap. but i own a 73 xr7 convertable and an 03 zx2. and i think that if mercury comits to making a cougar they need to set some form of mold here, the cougar was one hell of a pony car ( ie my uncles 70 eliminator) then it got fat and heavy around the later 70's the turbo coupe was cool...fast and i loved the front end, and it eventually got to this sport coupe that was on the same platform as my zx2(bottom line TOO MANY BODY STYLES). they need to make up thier mind. and not go with whats popular, but what works, and what has always worked is rear wheel, massive power, that just melted the plastic off of that ricer you just dropped at the lights. and do it all in classiness.

[G-man422]

I think if they make a new cougar it should be done right. (power, looks, class) but to get this will take time. i would love to see a new cougar.

[Jaguar D-Type]

1969 Cougar

[snaggeltooth]

Wow I have never seen that one. I think it looks better than the new Camaro. Make it... I would buy one

[Jaguar D-Type]

The original Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger are more exciting than the original Cougar, in my opinion, but the modern styling of the Messenger concept would age better than the new Camaro and Challenger concepts.

[snaggeltooth]

Mercury has always had kinda weird looking grills, . That thing has a great profile. I know its lines would loose some sharpness but still, a lot beter than some of the other stuff.

[zx2guy]

doesnt really speak "mean eligance" to me, thats what the cougar was, basically a snooty version of the mustang. i mean i look at my cougar, and it has that higher end look, and the mustang has the "dirty hands, tough guy" look. while my cougar has the prim and proper look... which i am trying to get rid of... through jacking up the ass end, fat tires on the back. i would like to see a new one though.

[DressedtoDepress]

I think they should make it look like Doug Schramm's (www.creatingthelie.com) rendering.