The Crown Vicky is dead

[Laconian]

and the "Daytona" package had Dodge floormats standard

LOL! What a half-assed rebadge.

[USA_Idol]

If Ford later DID rebadge the Mercury model as a Ford in OTHER markets, that is not germane to the point or the discussion.

The fact that the Ford version of the Cougar wasn't sold in the USA doesn't change the fact the Mercury Cougar was a clone of that Ford model.  So, looking at it globally (and Ford is a global company), the FWD Cougar was not exclusive to Mercury.  And neither was the 1991-1994 Capri (Ford Capri elsewhere). 

You know, I'm not even sure why I'm discussing this.  I don't even like the FWD Cougar.   

[93JC]

The Neon was branded as a Dodge, Chrysler, and Plymouth in the US!

No it wasn't. It was a Dodge and a Plymouth.

In Canada it was Dodge and Plymouth 'til 1999, Chrysler 'til '03, and "Dodge SX 2.0" until the end.

[93JC]

The fact that the Ford version of the Cougar wasn't sold in the USA doesn't change the fact the Mercury Cougar was a clone of that Ford model.  So, looking at it globally (and Ford is a global company), the FWD Cougar was not exclusive to Mercury.  And neither was the 1991-1994 Capri (Ford Capri elsewhere). 

You know, I'm not even sure why I'm discussing this.  I don't even like the FWD Cougar.   

The point he's trying to make is that the Ford Cougar was a rebadge of the Mercury, not the other way around.

In the same way a Saturn salesman tried to convince me the Sky is an Opel rebadge: it isn't. The Opel GT is rebadge of the Sky, not the other way around.

[Raza]

No it wasn't. It was a Dodge and a Plymouth.

In Canada it was Dodge and Plymouth 'til 1999, Chrysler 'til '03, and "Dodge SX 2.0" until the end.

I could have sworn I've seen cars branded "Chrysler Neon" before.

[93JC]

Probably from Canada.

[ifcar]

Or Europe.

[USA_Idol]

The point he's trying to make is that the Ford Cougar was a rebadge of the Mercury, not the other way around.

In the same way a Saturn salesman tried to convince me the Sky is an Opel rebadge: it isn't. The Opel GT is rebadge of the Sky, not the other way around.

I guess I should worded my original post as "Going back even thirty years (1977), I can't remember a single Mercury that wasn't simply a rebadge (or a mild rework of the profile) of a US or Euro Ford model...or served as a template for a Ford variant.."  I will try to be more precise next time.

In any case, the Cougar was not exclusive to the Mercury line. 

[omicron]

Or Europe.

And Australia.

[2o6]

I thought the Daewoo G2x, Saturn Sky and Opel GT were CO-DEVELOPED for different markets.....not rebadges.

[Laconian]

I thought the Daewoo G2x, Saturn Sky and Opel GT were CO-DEVELOPED for different markets.....not rebadges.

Don't drink the marketing Kool-Aid!