What year did Ford stop making the Cougar?
The last year of production for the Mercury Cougar—the pony car historically associated with Ford’s Mercury division—was 2002. In the years that followed, Ford reorganized its brands, and Mercury was ultimately discontinued several years later.
In answering when Ford stopped making the Cougar, it’s important to note the distinction between the model itself and the Mercury brand. The Cougar originated in 1967 as Mercury’s upscale, Mustang-based variant and continued through multiple generations until its final 2002 model year. The Mercury brand itself was phased out by Ford, with official discontinuation announced in 2010.
Origins and evolution of the Cougar
The Cougar debuted in 1967 as Mercury’s counterpart to the Ford Mustang, sharing a platform but offering distinct styling and equipment aimed at a more premium market. Over the decades, the Cougar evolved through several generations, adapting to changing design trends, safety standards, and customer preferences. A notable revival occurred at the end of the 1990s, introducing a more modern, feature-rich interpretation of the pony car before production ended in 2002.
End of production and branding context
The production run for the Cougar ended with the 2002 model year. Ford did not revive the name in the Mercury lineup afterward, and the brand itself faced restructuring in the following years. In 2010, Ford officially announced the discontinuation of the Mercury brand, reflecting a broader shift away from standalone badge engineering and toward a more consolidated product strategy.
Clarifying branding questions
Some readers wonder if Ford itself ever produced a true “Ford Cougar.” The Cougar nameplate was used exclusively by Mercury as part of Ford Motor Company’s lineup, not as a separate Ford-branded model. The final era of the Cougar was under Mercury before the brand was retired.
Legacy and market impact
The Cougar’s history illustrates Ford’s early attempts at badge engineering and market positioning within a changing automotive landscape. Its retirement in 2002 marked the end of Mercury’s pony-car chapter, and Mercury’s eventual brand discontinuation underscores the broader industry trend toward fewer standalone divisions and a stronger focus on crossovers and more versatile platforms.
Summary
