Mercury Cougar Engines by Year

Mercury's Cougar began in 1967 as an upscale relative of the Mustang and changed character several times: a larger coupe in 1974–1976, a full intermediate line in 1977–1979, rear-drive coupes through 1997, and a front-drive hatchback in 1999–2002.

Pick a year to see every engine offered that model year, with its code, rated horsepower and the trims it came in. Each engine links to its full specs.

Jump to a year

1967–1973: 1967 · 1968 · 1969 · 1970 · 1971 · 1972 · 1973

1974–1979: 1974 · 1975 · 1976 · 1977 · 1978 · 1979

1980–1988: 1980 · 1981 · 1982 · 1984 · 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988

1989–1997: 1989 · 1990 · 1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994 · 1995 · 1996 · 1997

1999–2002: 1999 · 2000 · 2001 · 2002

1967–1973

The first Cougars shared the Mustang's engines, from the 289 to the 390 and 428 Cobra Jet, with the Boss 302 in the 1969–1970 Eliminator. Ratings are SAE net from 1972.

1967 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
289 V8 (C-code)	200 hp gross	Cougar, XR-7
289 V8	225 hp gross	Cougar, XR-7
390 V8 (S-code)	320 hp gross	GT, 6.5 Litre option (Cougar, XR-7)

1968 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
289 V8 (C-code)	195 hp gross	Cougar (base)
302 V8	210 hp gross	Cougar, XR-7
302 V8 (J-code)	230 hp gross	Cougar, XR-7
390 V8 (X-code)	280 hp gross	Cougar, XR-7
390 V8 (S-code)	325 hp gross	GT, 6.5 Litre option
427 V8 (W-code)	390 hp gross	GT-E, XR7-G
428 V8 (R-code) Cobra Jet.	335 hp gross	Cougar, XR-7, GT, GT-E, XR7-G

1969 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
302 V8 Boss 302, Eliminator.	290 hp gross	Eliminator
351 V8	250 hp gross	Cougar, XR-7, Convertibles
351 V8 (M-code)	290 hp gross	Cougar, XR-7, Eliminator (standard)
390 V8 (S-code)	320 hp gross	Cougar, XR-7, Eliminator
428 V8 (Q-code / R-code) Cobra Jet.	335 hp gross	Cougar, XR-7, Eliminator

Race-only (not street legal): Boss 429 factory drag cars, —

1970 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
302 V8 Boss 302, Eliminator.	290 hp gross	Eliminator
351 V8	250 hp gross	Cougar, XR-7
351 V8 (M-code)	300 hp gross	Cougar, XR-7, Eliminator (standard)
428 V8 (Q-code / R-code) Cobra Jet.	335 hp gross	Cougar, XR-7, Eliminator

1971 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
351 V8	240 hp gross	Cougar, GT, XR-7
351 V8 (Q-code)	280 hp gross	Cougar
351 V8 (M-code)	285 hp gross	Cougar, GT, XR-7
429 V8 (C-code / J-code)	370 hp gross	Cougar, GT, XR-7, Convertibles

1972 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
351 V8	164 hp net	Cougar, XR-7
351 V8 (Q-code) Published ratings for this engine vary.	248–262 hp net	Cougar, XR-7
351 V8 Q-code + CJ Performance Group	266 hp net	Cougar, XR-7

1973 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
351 V8 Published ratings for this engine vary.	168–173 hp net	Cougar, XR-7
351 V8 (Q-code) Published ratings for this engine vary.	253–264 hp net	Cougar, XR-7

1974–1979

The Cougar moved to Ford's intermediate platform with the 351, 400 and 460, and for 1977–1979 the name covered sedans and wagons as well as the XR-7 coupe.

1974 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
351 V8	162 hp net	XR-7
351 V8 (Q-code)	255 hp net	XR-7
400 V8	170 hp net	XR-7
460 V8	220 hp net	XR-7

1975 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
351 V8	148 hp net	XR-7
400 V8	158 hp net	XR-7
460 V8	216 hp net	XR-7

1976 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
5.8L / 351 V8	152 hp net	XR-7
6.6L / 400 V8	180 hp net	XR-7
7.5L / 460 V8	202 hp net	XR-7

1977 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
5.0L / 302 V8 Published ratings for this engine vary.	130–137 hp net	Cougar, Brougham, XR-7 (not wagons)
5.8L / 351 V8	149 hp net	Wagons (standard), Others (optional)
5.8L / 351 V8	161 hp net	Cougar, XR-7
6.6L / 400 V8	173 hp net	Cougar, XR-7, Wagons

1978 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
5.0L / 302 V8	134 hp net	Cougar, Brougham, XR-7
5.8L / 351 V8	144 hp net	Cougar, XR-7
5.8L / 351 V8	152 hp net	Cougar, XR-7
6.6L / 400 V8 Published ratings for this engine vary.	160–166 hp net	Cougar, XR-7

1979 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
5.0L / 302 V8 Published ratings for this engine vary.	130–133 hp net	Cougar, Brougham, XR-7
5.8L / 351 V8	135 hp net	Cougar, XR-7
5.8L / 351 V8	151 hp net	Cougar, XR-7

1980–1988

The Fox-platform Cougar used Ford's 2.3 four, 3.3 six, 3.8 V6 and 4.2 and 5.0 V8s; the 1984–1986 XR-7 had a turbocharged 2.3.

1980 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
4.2L / 255 V8	115 hp net	XR-7
5.0L / 302 V8	130 hp net	XR-7

1981 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.3L / 140 inline-four	88 hp net	Cougar, GS, LS (sedans)
3.3L / 200 inline-six	88 hp net	Cougar sedans (optional), XR-7 (standard)
4.2L / 255 V8	115 hp net	Cougar sedans, XR-7
5.0L / 302 V8	130 hp net	XR-7

1982 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.3L / 200 inline-six	87 hp net	Cougar, GS, LS, Wagon, XR-7
3.8L / 232 V6	112 hp net	Cougar sedans/wagon, XR-7
4.2L / 255 V8	122 hp net	XR-7

1984 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.3L / 140 inline-four turbo	145 hp net	XR-7
3.8L / 232 V6	120 hp net	Cougar/GS, LS
5.0L / 302 V8	140 hp net	Cougar, LS

1985 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.3L / 140 inline-four turbo	155 hp net	XR-7
3.8L / 232 V6	120 hp net	Cougar/GS, LS
5.0L / 302 V8	140 hp net	Cougar, LS

1986 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.3L / 140 inline-four turbo	155 hp net	XR-7
3.8L / 232 V6	120 hp net	Cougar/GS, LS
5.0L / 302 V8	150 hp net	Cougar, LS

1987 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.8L / 232 V6	120 hp net	LS
5.0L / 302 V8	150 hp net	LS (optional), XR-7 (standard)

1988 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.8L / 232 V6	140 hp net	LS
5.0L / 302 V8	155 hp net	LS (optional), XR-7 (standard)

1989–1997

The MN12 Cougar offered the 3.8 V6, supercharged in the 1989–1990 XR-7, and V8s: the 5.0 and, from 1994, the 4.6.

1989 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.8L / 232 V6	140 hp net	LS
3.8L / 232 V6 supercharged	210 hp net	XR7

1990 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.8L / 232 V6	140 hp net	LS
3.8L / 232 V6 supercharged	210 hp net	XR7

1991 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.8L / 232 V6	140 hp net	LS
5.0L / 302 V8	200 hp net	LS (optional), XR7 (standard)

1992 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.8L / 232 V6	140 hp net	LS
5.0L / 302 V8	200 hp net	LS (optional), XR7 (standard)

1993 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.8L / 232 V6	140 hp net	XR7
5.0L / 302 V8	200 hp net	XR7 (optional)

1994 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.8L / 232 V6	140 hp net	XR7
4.6L / 281 V8	205 hp net	XR7 (optional)

1995 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.8L / 232 V6	140 hp net	XR7
4.6L / 281 V8	205 hp net	XR7 (optional)

1996 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.8L / 232 V6	145 hp net	XR7
4.6L / 281 V8	205 hp net	XR7 (optional)

1997 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.8L / 232 V6	145 hp net	XR7
4.6L / 281 V8	205 hp net	XR7 (optional)

1999–2002

The last Cougar was a front-drive hatchback with Ford's 2.0 Zetec four and 2.5 Duratec V6.

1999 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.0L / 121 inline-four	125 hp net	Base (I4)
2.5L / 155 V6	170 hp net	V6

2000 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.0L / 121 inline-four	125 hp net	Base (I4)
2.5L / 155 V6	170 hp net	V6

2001 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.0L / 121 inline-four	125 hp net	Base (I4)
2.5L / 155 V6	170 hp net	V6

2002 Cougar engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.0L / 121 inline-four	125 hp net	Base (I4)
2.5L / 155 V6	170 hp net	V6

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