Afterburn Vector

1990 Mercury Cougar XR7

R154

Media library

9 photos

Original Build Studies

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Original Build Studies ↗

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Original Build Studies ↗

Ladies of WBS Gallery

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Ladies of WBS ↗

Wave Photography

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Wave Photography ↗

Platform Showcase

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Platform Showcase ↗

Story

Afterburn Vector takes the forgotten 1990 Cougar XR7 silhouette and forces it into a Pikes Peak problem set: thin air, short straights, violent braking zones, and corners that punish anything without real aero and real cooling. The front end is re-engineered into a front‑mid layout, pulling mass rearward for rotation and stability, while the bodywork turns the long-nose coupe into a squared-off, vented, pressure-managed weapon.

The widebody isn’t decoration—110mm trapezoidal front box flares and 125mm rear quarters exist to house 330-section rubber on 18x11 TE37s and to give the air somewhere to go. A 150mm splitter, raised dive planes, sidepod heat exchangers, and a tall-mounted 1,750mm wing work as a system, keeping the Cougar planted when the mountain takes away horsepower and margin at the same time.

Blueprint

The Whitepaper Room

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Collectible Poster

Collector's Edition

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Technical dossier

Fictional engineering concept

Platform

1990 Mercury Cougar XR7

Powertrain concept

Front‑mid mounted turbo V8 concept tuned for altitude resilience and transient response
Front-mounted radiator/intercooler core supported by sidepod auxiliary heat exchangers
6-speed sequential transaxle-style packaging with paddle shift and flat-shift strategy
Dry-sump oiling and baffled fuel cell to survive long lateral loads and uphill acceleration

Aero package

150mm front splitter with reinforced leading edge and flat floor tie-in
Raised dive planes positioned ~100mm above splitter for front-end bite without stalling the splitter
Vented front fenders with vertical extractor slats (~120mm tall) behind the front tires
Rear diffuser extending ~260mm past rear axle with strakes to stabilize expansion
1,750mm single-element rear wing on ~600mm carbon uprights mounted to reinforced hatch structure

Chassis & stance

1990 Mercury Cougar XR7

Wheels & tires

Volk Racing TE37, 18x11 square
330-section time attack compound tires front and rear
Motorsport extended studs with center-lock style caps for quick service aesthetics and practicality
High-temp brake package sized for repeated downhill braking zones with dedicated ducting

Fabrication notes

Engine setback requires new front subframe, firewall modifications, and revised steering rack placement
Widebody integrated into steel structure with bonded/composite overfenders and serviceable inner liners
Splitter, floor, and diffuser mounted to chassis hardpoints with quick-release access for repairs
Wing mounts tied into rear structure with load-spreading plates to handle high AoA settings