The Bobcat is Lincoln-Mercury's first domestic entry into the small car market and there is every indication that it will be a timely debut.

"This new car comes at a particularly opportune time for us," explained William Benton, Ford Vice President and Division General Manager. "Our dealers want and need an entry in the domestic subcompact market and Bobcat will give us additional small car sales potential that we need now more than ever before."

Total small car sales have risen from 36-percent of the market in 1970 to almost 48-percent in 1974, Mr. Benton said, and he expects this segment of the market to continue to grow.

"While total subcompact sales have slowed from the record highs of last year's energy crisis, they still accounted for 27-percent of the market in the first weeks of January, and we expect that share to remain stable or increase in the months to come.

Bobcat will be offered in a three-door Runabout and Villager Station Wagon. Both will offer the styling and interior luxury that more and more buyers indicate they want in cars of every size.

The Bobcat's profile is set off by standard wide wheel???? moldings, styled steel wheels and bright belt, drip rail and window moldings. The Runabout also includes a bodyside protection molding with a vinyl insert and a bright rocker panel molding, while the station wagon includes a bright molding surrounding the simulated woodgraining.

Taillamps on the Runabout are a stylish horizontal design. On the station wagon, vertical design taillamps flank the wide, upward opening tailgate.

Bobcat's luxurious interior is emphasized by the low-back front bucker seats. The seats include wide headrests and a plush, pillow styled all-vinyl sear trim available in two solid colors or three two-tone shades. Other luxury touches include deluxe door trim panels, deluxe steering wheel, deluxe color-keyed seat and shoulder belts and color-keyed cut-pile carpeting.

Even with its subcompact car dimensions-a wheelbase of 94.5 inches on the Runabout and 94.8 inches on the station wagon, and an overall length of 169.0 inches on the Runabout and 178.8 inches on the station wagon-both Bobcats contain a generous amount of interior room with seating for four passengers. Or, the rear seat can be folded down to provide room for two passengers and a cargo floor extending to the rear of the vehicle.

With the rear seat down the Runabout model has a carpet load floor 61.0 inches long that will hold 29.0 cubic feet of cargo with the door closed. On the station wagon, the carpeted load floor is 69.1 inches long and the cargo volume is 57.6 cubic feet.

The chassis and body are of a strong unitized structure with coil spring front suspension and leaf spring rear suspension. A deluxe sound insulation package including a hood sound absorber is standard.

The U.S. produced 2300 cc OHC four-cylinder engine and a four-speed syncromesh transmission are standard. The European produced 2800 cc V-6 is optional. Select-Shift automatic is optional on the 2300 cc four-cylinder engines and required with the 2800 cc V-6.

Other standard equipment features include steel-belted radial ply tires, front disc brakes, rack-and-opinion steering solid-state ignition and high level passenger compartment ventilation.