Mystique sedan i is a
‘slightly upscale version
of the Ford Contour. —
. Both are derived from
* the European-designed
Ford ‘Mondeo, which
' was introduced in
--.Europe in 1993 and in
“North America i in
© 1995.
“These compuct, frout-«
_wheel-drive sedans are best

: known for their excellent

‘handling, ride and steering —
_, the’ Mystique and Contour

_* Offer one of the best driving

riences in the compact

market.

: FOr 1998 (the 1998 ©

. model is here carly), the’

-. Mystique has been given new

front-end styling, more inte-

features, a refined base
engine, and a new manual
transmission, ~
Admittedly, the 1997
Mystique has extremely con-
servative styling. To make it
look more distinctive, Ford
stylists designed larger, wrap-

“up-and-over headlamps, a

bigger chromed grille, a new
hood, and new full-width ail
lamps. In addition, the hood
has been raised slightly to
make it easier to see when.
parking.

The new look gives the

Mystique a larger, more

“ aggressive “face,” though the

headiamps look rather big for
a compact car, in my opinion.

Inside the Mystique, more
legroom hus been added by
moving the rear seats back by
about half an inch. Rear
legroom has been increased
by about two inches since
1995, and it’s now adequate
if not spacious.

Other improvements to.
the interior include a new
lever type seat-back adjust-
ment instead of the -
European-style hand-wheel;
power window buttons relo-
cated to the door armrests
from the centre console with
a new one-touch feature for
the driver; a folding armrest
for the driver’s seat;

redesigned air vents; new
green glow lighting ‘for
instruments and controls; and
better door seals to reduce
wind noise. In addition,
there’s more burnished wood
grain trim in the centre dash-
board area.

ique technical data

Mercury Mystique

Technical Data 1998
Mercury Mystique:
Base price: $17,795 .
Price as tested: ‘$23, 395
Type: four-door, five- “pas-
senger compact sedan
Layout: transverse. front
engine /front. -wheel-drive
Engine: 2.5-litre V6,
DOHC, 24 valves

}

Friday, August 1, 1987 + North Shore News ~ 2,

usin

Important safety improve-
ments include a new centre
rear three-point seatbeit (in
addition to the other four
three-point seatbelts), four-
way adjustable front and rear
head restraints at outboard ©
positions, and an optional

Horscpower: 170 @ 6250

Torque! 165 fi. Ibs. @ 4250
rpm.

Curb wei nt: 1370 kg
(3,021 Ib.
joes ny 2705 ram
(106.5 in.)

Length: 4691 mm (184.8
in.) - :

Photo submitted

‘THE 1998 Mercury
Mystique is a compact,
front-wheel-drive sede.n
with new, largor head-
lamps, more rear seat
room, and a quiator, :
more fuel-efficient base
four-cylinder engine.
Models start at $17,795,

rear child seat,

Mystiques are available
with bur and six-cylinder
_ powerplants, both modert

' twin cam, muitivalve designs,

The base 125-borsepower
2,0-litre four-cylinder engine
offers some important refine-
tents although no increase
‘in horsepower. Chief among
these is a new variable
camshaft timing system that
improves engine efficiency,
emis.ions, and idling, Fuel
consumption has been
improved by two to three
percent and the Mystique
meets, stricter: TLEV cmis- ;
sions standards, The engine
has also been strengthened te.
reduce vibrations and noise in’
the passenger Compartment.
GS and°LS models are“
available with a 170 horse-
power 2.5-litre V6 engine —
one of the sweetest, sportiest
V6 engines available. Despite ..
its performance nature, the
V6 engine has surprisingly
good fel consumption -
(assuming frugal driving -
habits). Highway mileage can
go as high as:7.2 litres per
100 kilometers (39 m.p.g.).
The other important tech-
nological improvement in the
new Mystique is a new cable-
operated! five-speed manual
‘transmission which is easier

See Mystique page 34

Width: 1755 mm (69.1 in.) ./:
Height: 1385 mm (54.5 in.) | ~
Trunk capacity: 394 titers
(13.9 cu.ft.) ;
Fuel consumption: City —
41.3 1/100 km (25 m.p.g. "

" Hwy — 7.2 1/100 km (39

m.p.g. “
,, Warranty: three
- years/60,000 km

rior room, : additional safety

a Complete ¥ Mechanical.
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