The third generation Mercury Cougar was introduced for the 1974 model year. The third generation of Cougar saw the model shift from muscle cars to personal luxury cars, now available exclusively as a two door hardtop in XR-7 trim. The third generation Cougar was offered with a 5.8L, 6.6L, or 7.5L V8 engine, and was produced until 1976, when Mercury introduced the Fourth Generation Cougar.