2001 Mercury Cougar ZN and C2

Mercury has sharpened the Cougar's claws with a mid-life update and has added two feature-laden, limited-edition sport packages that roar, "Here I am, look at me."

Building on its energetic "break the mold" look, all 2001 Cougars get new front and rear fascias, seamless grilles, and graphic treatments aimed at attracting a more youthful audience. The updates are intended to secure the sales position in the strained compact coupe segment, which faces imminent competition from the more potent Acura Integra replacement.

At the top of the Cougar range are two feisty felines equipped to add the flash needed to draw the desired, younger buyers.

Cougar Zn
It's hard to miss its eye-catching zinc-yellow paint, and flashy hood scoop and spoiler. Upgraded 17-inch wheels, improved suspension, higher-ratio rack-and-pinion steering, satin aluminum gauges, in-dash six-disc CD changer, and sporty bucket seats round out its standard features.

Cougar C2
The Cougar C2 adds its own head-turning style to the mix with color-trimmed dash, spoiler, floor mats, wheel caps, and logo-emblazoned leather seats. Body hue choices include distinct French blue, silver frost, vibrant white, and black.

A 2.0-liter/125-horsepower DOHC 16-valve Zetec I-4 engine, power windows and door locks, anti-theft system, trip computer, five-speed manual transmission, and air conditioning are standard across the entire Cougar lineup. Through additional option packages, buyers can bump up to a 2.5-liter/170-hp 24-valve DOHC Duratec V-6 or High-Output 196-hp Duratec V-6 with either manual or automatic transmissions.

In dealerships now, pricing for the Cougar Zn starts at $20,595 while the C2 begins at $19,715.