1980 Mercury Cougar: Outside the Muscle Focus

Wikipedia's own account, this record's overview states, records that the 1980 Cougar was offered only as the XR-7 coupe, with the 255 V8 standard and the 302 optional, and that standard Cougar sedans joined the XR-7 for 1981-1982, with a 2.3-litre four standard on those cars and a 3.8-litre V6 replacing the inline six for 1982. Total 1980 production reached 58,028 cars, this record's own dek and production table agree, a figure Hagerty Media's own account gives as well, though this record's own note explains that Hagerty's 58,028 is specifically XR-7 production, which for 1980 amounted to the same thing since the XR-7 was the only Cougar offered that year.^1,2

Mercury's 1980 XR-7 brochure is documented as listing four versions for the year, this record's own key facts section states: the XR-7, and the XR-7 with Decor, Luxury or Sports Group. The same brochure text describes a new 4.2-litre (255 cubic-inch) V8 as standard, a unitized body replacing the prior separate body and frame, a four-bar-link rear suspension and a modified MacPherson strut front suspension, changes this record's own key facts section ties directly to the 1980 model.

Two engines are documented for 1980 by Hagerty Media's own account: the 255 V8 standard across the line, rated at 115 horsepower SAE net, and the 302 V8 optional, rated at 130 horsepower SAE net, this record's own engine table states. Hagerty's own production and price paragraph gives a single 1980 price, $7,045 for the XR-7 base car before options, on a basis the source itself does not state, this record's own prices section shows.²

Three option packages are documented for 1980 from Hagerty Media's own text: a Luxury Group pairing a padded landau roof with opera window, aero remote mirrors, cast aluminum wheels, Twin Comfort seats in velour or leather, 18-ounce carpet and power windows; a Sports Group with Recaro front bucket seats, a leather-wrapped wheel, aluminum wheels and two-tone paint; and an Appearance Protection Group named but not itemized. The same source names two further individual options for 1980, an electronic instrument panel and an AM/FM stereo radio with 40-channel CB, this record's own options section shows.²

The 1980 Cougar XR-7 brochure's own options availability chart, spanning the XR-7 and the XR-7 with Decor, Luxury or Sports Group, is this record's own source for eighteen further options: the 4.2-litre V8 and a 5.0-litre V8, an automatic overdrive transmission requiring the 5.0-litre engine, heavy-duty suspension, an electronic instrument panel described here in fuller detail as a digital speedometer, electronic fuel gauge and day/date/elapsed-time clock, a keyless entry system requiring the power lock group, Recaro bucket seats, Twin Comfort Lounge seats, leather trim for those seats, bucket seats with console, a Citizens Band radio, an electronic AM/FM stereo cassette radio with Dolby, a flip-up moonroof, Tu-tone and Glamour paint, a luxury half vinyl roof with quarter window louvers and coach lamps, cast aluminum wheels, and wire wheel covers, each carrying its own stated availability across the four versions.

This record's own specifications section carries three 1980 XR-7 dimensions from Hagerty's own text: a 108.4-inch wheelbase, a 200.4-inch overall length, and a 3,191-pound curb weight for the base XR-7. This record's own paint, interiors and transmissions sections are left empty for 1980, and no performance figures, identification codes, documented conflicts or unpublished leads survive in their respective sections either, consistent with this record's own production notes describing 1980 as outside the 1967-1973 muscle focus the record otherwise covers in depth.²