THE Cougar is a classic example of Ford's "New Edge" international styling philosophy. New Edge means a machined look taut, crisp surfaces designed to make a car look more athletic than the softer, more organic shapes of the early 1990s. A good example of the latter is the Probe, the Ford coupe that preceded Cougar. Triangular shapes appear across the Cougar's bodywork and throughout the interior. Styling imperatives have their practical drawbacks however, as there is minimal space in the rear and poor rear vision. The sleek looks are also not backed up by 0.35Cd figure for aerodynamics, which is quite high.