1996 Mercury Cougar: Outside the Muscle Focus

Wikipedia's own account, this record's overview states, records that the 1994 Cougar shifted from the 302 V8 to a 205-horsepower 4.6-litre SOHC V8, and that the 1997 30th Anniversary Cougar used Lincoln Mark VIII wheels and model-specific C-pillar emblems. Total 1996 production reached 38,929 cars, this record's own dek and production table agree, with Wikipedia and the AEROCATS site giving the identical figure, though this record's own note still explains that it rests on a single tertiary source whose underlying record is not stated; this record's own key facts section is empty for the year.^1,2

Two engines are documented for 1996, this record's own engine table shows, both carrying revised ratings from 1995: a 3.8-litre (232 cubic-inch) V6 with sequential multi-port fuel injection, standard and now rated 145 horsepower at 4,000 rpm with 215 lb-ft of torque at 2,750 rpm, up from 140 horsepower the prior two years, and a 4.6-litre SOHC V8 of 281 cubic inches, optional and rated 205 horsepower at 4,250 rpm with 280 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm, its torque figure up from 265. This record's own transmissions section is left entirely empty for the year.²

This record's own options section itemizes 33 entries: the 4.6-litre V8 option now carries its own note of a 100,000-mile scheduled tune-up, several items are newly grouped into a Luxury Light Group with an indicator lamp module for door-ajar, low-fuel, low-coolant and low-washer-fluid warnings plus a Traction Assist light on equipped cars, and a new Sport Appearance Group bundles geometric spoke wheels with a non-functional luggage rack, replacing the separate roof-rack and wheel items of prior years. The power moonroof's own dependency changes too, now requiring the Luxury Light Group rather than the light group alone. Two Preferred Equipment Packages are documented, 260A and 262A, the entry-level 260A trimmed down from 1995's version and 262A adding illuminated entry, the leather-wrapped wheel, the power seat and the 4.6-litre V8.²

This record's own paint table carries 11 colour entries for 1996, all clearcoat, with several names changed from 1995: Light Saddle Metallic Clearcoat replaces the Champagne (Light Saddle) naming, Pacific Green Metallic and Alpine Green Metallic appear as newly separate colours, Laser Red Tinted Metallic Clearcoat debuts as a Tricoat finish, and Bright Red Clearcoat replaces the Electric Red Metallic naming carried since 1993.²

Six interior descriptions are carried by an again-revised trim-code scheme, this record's own interiors section shows, down from seven the prior year: two first-character seat-type codes, including a new K- code alongside the carryover leather-only 6- code, and four second-character colour codes, Medium Graphite, Willow Green, Saddle and Portofino Blue, none of them the Opal Grey, Ruby Red, Mocha or Evergreen codes 1995's table carried.²

This record's own specifications section carries nine 1996 figures matching prior years' dimensions, a 113.0-inch wheelbase, 199.9-inch length, 72.7-inch width and 52.5-inch height, with curb weights of 3,558 pounds with the V6 and 3,725 with the V8, both down slightly from 1995. This record carries no 1996 price at all, its own price notes explaining the same removed J.D. Power figure described for other years, and no performance figures, identification codes, documented conflicts or unpublished leads survive in their respective sections either.²