The Coupe de Ville prototype featured a one-piece curved windshield, a first for GM, a two-way radio/telephone, power windows, power seats, a lipstick holder, a perfume atomizer, and a back-seat secretarial kit for those on-the-road dictation sessions.
Mercury was serious about the Cougar being the performance icon for the company. The XR7-G, named for Mercury road racer Dan Gurney, came with all sorts of performance add-ons, including a hood scoop, Lucas fog lamps, and hood pins.
It was two inches longer and almost two and a half inches wider than the 1970 model. The wheelbase was extended one inch to 109”. The 200ci 6-cylinder was dropped along with the 428, the Boss 302, and the Boss 429.