We Love Ford's, Past, Present And Future

We Love Ford's, Past, Present And Future

Mercury raised its muscle car profile with the introduction of the 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator. Mercury Cougar received its first restyle for 1969, and Mercury answered the Boss 302and Mach 1 Mustangs with the striped-and-spoilered Eliminator. Mercury had introduced its sporty coupe in 1967 as a luxury-touring alternative to the pony-car herd. It had mature styling and upscale interior appointments and was built on a Mustang chassis stretched by three inches to provide a longer, ride-enhancing wheelbase. Mercury in these years was deeply involved in racing. It backed a variety of record-setting Comet and Cougar drag specials, as well as NASCAR-winning Cyclones. Its street image was tamer, though not for lack of trying. Cougar contributed with the '68 GT-E, which like the Mustang, opened the year with an available 390-horsepower 427-cid V-8, then switched to the 428 Cobra Jet. The image was still more Euro luxury touring car than American muscle, though. It wasn't until the release of the 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator that Mercury was able earn a reputation for muscular Detroit iron.

Not all 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminators were that powerful. In all-out acceleration, the available 290-horsepower 302 was overmatched by the Cougar's weight, but the 428 Cobra Jet benefited from the relatively generous wheelbase. Grip was slightly better off the line than in the shorter Mustang, and quarter-mile times were every bit as good. Like Mustang, the Eliminator offered the 428-cid CJ with and without Ram Air, as well as in Drag Pak guise with an oil cooler and a 4.30:1 gear-ratio Detroit Locker rear axle. The Eliminator didn't use the shaker hood; its standard scoop was functional only when Ram Air was ordered. A blacked-out grille, side stripe, and front and rear spoilers enhanced the muscular look, and Mercury offered the Eliminator in a palette of "high-impact" blue, orange, and yellow exterior colors. More impact could be obtained over dealer parts counters, which offered not only headers and dual-quad carburetors, but such exotic hop-up components as deep-sump oil pans and quadruple Weber carburetor setups. From the factory, or with these available parts, the 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator was true American muscle.

The system recognizes and automatically activates driver profile settings based on recognition of a key fob or smartphone. The SiriusXM app has cloud-connected features. The wireless device charging system enables wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Over-the-air downloads mean the car can remotely update its software without needing to go to a dealer. For now, this version of the Sync system is exclusive to the Mach-E; it鈥檚 unlikely we鈥檒l see it roll out first on any other Ford vehicles. Classic Mustang touches, like the sculpted dash and vintage-inspired instrument cluster, nonetheless keep these modern features in perspective. And what鈥檚 a Mustang without a pony car sound? Ford knew it had to get the right noises coming from the Mach-E, and not just to appease federal regulators鈥?insistence that EVs make enough noise to alert pedestrians of their presence. Sound engineers distilled over 30 sounds to come up with one surprisingly pleasant score, which adjusts based on driving conditions. The audio signature is most apparent when switching between the three 鈥渄rive experiences鈥? the relaxed and soothing Whisper, the balanced Engage, and the aggressive, frankly thrilling Unbridled. Throttle and steering automatically adjust to suit each setting, and the soundtrack follows.

Though the Mach-E wasn鈥檛 available to drive, rides were provided in prototypes that have actually been used for testing. Our ride was in a Premium model, with 332 horsepower and 417 pound-feet of torque, and you can feel all of that torque right off the line. The Mach-E provides a pleasant, smooth passenger experience, whether on the street, in a slalom, or in an all-out sprint. Passengers enjoy a low seating position, which, combined with the vehicle鈥檚 low center of gravity, effectively hide the vehicle鈥檚 SUV proportions. Ford believes the Mach-E represents 鈥渇reedom,鈥?which is to say, it brings with it an all-new (for the brand) online shopping experience and access to the largest charging network in the United States. Online ordering goes live on Sunday, November 17, right around the time of the official unveiling. 500 deposit. Delivery for Premium and First Edition models is anticipated in late 2020, and though the GT models won鈥檛 be available until early 2021, they, too, can be ordered immediately. The Mach-E will also be available through Ford dealerships. Ford notes that the company has been working with dealers for more than two years to communicate pricing expectations; however, Ford cautions, dealers legally have the right to upcharge if the model proves desirable and in short supply. 43,895 for the base Select model, before destination fees or any tax credits. 60,500 for the GT. 7500 federal EV tax credit to be available through the first year or so of Mach-E purchases; this credit is no longer available for Tesla or GM electric vehicles. No doubt this is just the beginning of Ford鈥檚 electric onslaught. We鈥檒l be curious to see how it plays out, and if the Mach-E can live up to the Mustang name.

55,845, and lacking any comforts like AC, or a backseat, surprisingly, these models sold out immediately. 2000 was a great year for the Mustang, and a total of 215,393 units were sold. 2001, the Cobra returned! For 2002 the popular wheels from the Bullitt made its way to the options list for the regular Mustang, but this was the only change for this year. The following year, a much more powerful Cobra was introduced, along with an all-new limited edition Mach 1 model. Pumping out an astonishing 390 hp, the new Cobra utilized a supercharged version of the 4.6-liter, DOHC, 32-valve V8. This baby was the quickest and fastest Mustang EVER built by Ford. The new Mach 1 introduced in 2002 was basically mechanically identical to the '98 Cobra in specification. It did use a normally aspirated version of the 4.6-liter, DOHC engine that was now rated at 305 hp, a solid rear axle and five-speed manual transmission.