1997 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 itself used Lincoln Mark VIII wheels and model-specific C-pillar emblems. Total 1997 production reached 35,267 cars, this record's own dek and production table agree, with two further rows splitting that total: 27,454 regular XR7 cars, credited on the source's own page to Kevin Marti, and 7,813 30th Anniversary cars, this record's own note stating that the first run came in Dark Toreador Red Clearcoat Metallic before a second run in Light Prairie Tan, Crystal White Tri-Coat or Performance White, with no colour split published; this record's own production notes confirm the XR7 and 30th Anniversary rows sum to the 35,267 total, and this record's own key facts section is empty for the year.^1,2

Two 1997 prices are documented from the Auto Channel's own buyer's-guide database, this record's own prices section shows: $17,830 MSRP excluding destination for the XR7 two-door coupe, and a $16,279 dealer invoice figure for the same car, both drawn from the database's own styleid-1997340102 entry and both on an effective date the source itself does not state. This record's own price notes add that a J.D. Power valuation figure once shown here was pulled from every page on the site because those live pages can change without notice and cannot be independently checked, and that a price elsewhere matching that figure exactly may be quoting it rather than confirming it.³

The same two engines carry into 1997 unchanged from 1996, this record's own engine table shows: a 3.8-litre (232 cubic-inch) V6 with sequential multi-port fuel injection, standard and rated 145 horsepower at 4,000 rpm with 215 lb-ft of torque at 2,750 rpm, 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. This record's own transmissions section is left entirely empty for the year.²

This record's own options section itemizes 30 entries for the model's final year: a new Sport Edition package bundles a body-colour decklid spoiler with integrated stop lamp, 16-inch 7-spoke wheels, P225/60R16 Goodyear Eagle GT+4 touring tires, larger front disc rotors and a sport-tuned suspension, while a 30th Anniversary Special Edition adds the unique Dark Toreador Red exterior, seat trim and floor mats embroidered with the anniversary logo, unique front bucket seats with power lumbar support and side bolsters, an auto-dimming mirror, and its own 16-inch lacy spoke wheels on the same tires, brakes and suspension as the Sport Edition. The Luxury Appearance Group, renamed from 1996's Sport Appearance Group, and the power moonroof's dependency shifted once more, now requiring the illuminated visor vanity mirrors rather than the Luxury Light Group. Two Preferred Equipment Packages, 260A and 262A, are again documented.²

This record's own paint table carries 13 colour entries for 1997, all clearcoat: Dark Toreador Red Metallic Clearcoat is the 30th Anniversary's own first-run colour, Arctic Green Metallic Clearcoat carries a late-availability note, and two separate Tricoat whites appear side by side, White Opalescent Tri-Coat and Crystal White Tricoat, the latter one of the second-run 30th Anniversary colours this record's production notes describe. Eight interior descriptions are carried by trim code, this record's own interiors section shows: four first-character seat-type codes, including two reserved for the 30th Anniversary's own sport buckets in cloth or leather, and four second-character colour codes, including a new Light Prairie Tan entry alongside Medium Graphite, Willow Green and Portofino Blue.²

This record's own specifications section carries nine 1997 figures: a 113.0-inch wheelbase, a 199.9-inch overall length, a 72.7-inch overall width, a 52.5-inch overall height, 18.0 gallons of fuel capacity, 15.1 cubic feet of cargo capacity, curb weights of 3,528 pounds with the V6 and 3,666 with the V8, and brakes now uniformly 10.8-inch front and 10.0-inch rear discs with no drum option carried in this record's own text. 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 1997 as outside the 1967-1973 muscle focus the record otherwise covers in depth.²