Far different from the Thunderbird-related Cougars of the past, the revived Cougar for 1999 was a compact, front-drive sports hatchback coupe with seating for four. Its goal: to enliven Mercury's image. Despite its sharp-edged styling, the 1999 Cougar was based on the Ford Contour/Mercury Mystique sedans. Overall, the Cougar measured just an inch longer. Engines were the same as those used on Contour/Mystique, but Cougars got a firmer suspension and tighter steering. The base 4-cylinder teamed only with manual shift, while a 4-speed automatic was available with the 2.5-liter V6. Options included front side-impact airbags, antilock braking, and traction control (with V6 only). A V6 Sport Group included rear disc brakes (rather than drums) and 16-inch wheels instead of the usual 15-inchers. A split folding rear seatback was standard in the sporty four-passenger interior.