Ford's new sports coupe, Cougar, is set to turn heads with a look that combines classic and "new edge" design.

The European designed and engineered V6 coupe will be released exclusively through the specialist FTE dealerships which opened in October this year.

The Cougar design team included three classic design principles in the car's development:

• Capture the spirit of the archetypal 1960s Italian sports car, with curves and flowing lines
• Focus more on a traditional coupe rather than a "sports" car
• Take inspiration from highly functional race-cars such as the GT, touring cars and CanAm vehicles of the mid-1970s.

These classic influences were combined with a "new edge" design treatment that uses crisp folds to emphasise features. The Cougar's headlamps and bonnet are defined by intersecting arcs that reflect this "new edge" philosophy.

Together, the classic and "new edge" influences produce a look that ensures the Cougar will stand out in a crowd.

Chief Designer, Darrell Behmer, says the Cougar's sweeping lines have actually improved the manufacturing process, boosted quality, as well as contributing to performance.

"Just as important as the Cougar's looks has been the work that has gone into development of the car's driveability and handling."

The drive "feel" of the Cougar was established through extensive market research using a process Ford calls Quality Function Deployment. "First the customer is 'identified'. Then, detailed collaborative testing defines their attitudes and demands," explains Philippe Castro, Cougar's ride and handling supervisor.

"It wasn't a case of asking whether customers believed the ride should be sports or comfort oriented. It was much more scientific. The customers drove, and we observed and measured." These methods helped the Cougar's development team refine such characteristics as steering feel and precision.

Part of the vehicle's ride quality is delivered by Cougar's unique seat frame, which has been "tuned" to match the car's tyres, springs and dampers. "It is the final ingredient in the quest to optimise ride comfort," explains Colin Wood, Cougar's seat and restraints supervisor.

"A good seat will isolate occupants from vibrations across a frequency range extending from 5 to 50hz - vibrations that have escaped elimination by the suspension and subframe bushings and are thus carried by the floor pan. It's the job of the seat to intercept the majority of these before they reach the passenger."

Final development testing took the Cougar design team to extreme vehicle conditions around the world.

"We aim to test every vehicle in every conceivable condition experienced in every market," explains Buelent Imrencler, Cougar's vehicle engineering supervisor. Such testing takes the development teams to Arizona, Finland and Florida for hot, cold and humid climates. In the summer, the Gross Glockner's infamous 34 km 12 per cent gradient provides a serious test of any transmission and braking system. Specific testing was also carried out in California, around Britain and the de-restricted stretches of the German autobahn.