Motorweek Retro: 1989 Ford Thunderbird and Cougar XR7

[kevm14]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF2pIu5edrI

I was telling Bill about this at the auto show. Not really great cars, but I guess they were decent for 89 standards. Heavy as hell, though. 3,800 lbs!

[bill25]

Sweet 2 door Taurus! (Thunderbird) I used to make fun of someone I knew that owned one of these because they thought it was a sports car. My aunt had a Cougar, it was pretty nice.

[kevm14]

I much prefer the old Turbo Coupe.

[Adam]

Sweet 2 door Taurus! (Thunderbird)

At least you could get a stick with the top trim SC.

[kevm14]

I'm sure that supercharged Essex was thrilling to wind out...

[Adam]

I'm sure that supercharged Essex was thrilling to wind out...

Probably more than the N/A engine.

[kevm14]

Yeah. To wiki!

Base Essex:
140 hp @ 3800 rpm and 215 lb·ft @ 2400 rpm
Had this exact engine at this exact output in the 1990 Continental. A fuel injected V6 with a power peak below 4000rpm is just sad.

Initial supercharged Essex: 210 hp @ 4000 rpm and 315 lb·ft @ 2600 rpm

Later supercharged Essex: 230 hp @ 4400 rpm and 330 lb·ft @ 2500 rpm

So it probably drove somewhat like a TPI V8 of the 80s.

But for comparison, the initial V8 offering from 91-93 was the 302 which had 200 hp @ 4000 rpm and 275 lb·ft @ 3000 rpm.

Then came the 4.6 in 1994 which had 205 hp @ 4500 rpm and 265 lb·ft @ 3200 rpm. The word "tepid" comes to mind.

None of the aforementioned combinations trapped over 88mph or broke out of the 15s.

[Adam]

The supercharged Essex probably drove OK on the street with its 300+ lb-ft of torque. Especially the later one, which matched the torque output of the B-Body LT1.