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TheFord Probeis aliftbackcoupéproduced byFord,introduced in 1988 and produced until 1997. The Probe was the result of Ford's collaboration with its longtime Japanese partnerMazda,and both generations of Probe were derived from the front-wheel driveMazda G platformthat underpinned theMazda Capella.
The Probe succeeded theFord EXP,and the instrument cluster of the first-generation Probe and pop-up headlight mechanisms were borrowed from theFC Series RX-7.
Based on theMazda MX-6as a sport compactcoupe,the Probe was intended to fill the market niche formerly occupied by theCapriin Europe, and it was originally intended to be the fourth generationFord Mustangin the North American market as a direct competitor with theAcura Integra,Isuzu Impulse,Nissan 200SX,and theToyota Celica.During that time, Ford's marketing team had deemed that afront-wheel driveplatform (borrowedMazda GD and GE platforms) would have lower costs for production, and also because the platform had been gaining popularity with consumers.
Mustang fans objected to thefront-wheel driveconfiguration,Japaneseengineering, and lack of aV8,so Ford began work on a new design for the Mustang instead. On March 17, 1997, Ford announced the discontinuation of the Probe.[1]
Background
Starting in the late 1970s, Ford andGhiastarted exploring a series of futuristic designs with the "Probe" series ofconcept vehicles.[2]TheProbe I,first shown in 1979, was a wedge-shaped design that incorporated a number of drag-reducing features like covered rear wheels and pop-up headlights. This was followed the next year by a much more conventional lookingProbe II,whosehatchbackstyling was also reminiscent of thepony cars.The 1981Probe IIIwas an advanced demonstrator with covered wheels, but its bodywork evolved into the more conventionalFord Sierra(orMerkur XR4Ti) and styling notes that were used on theFord Taurus.[3]The 1983Probe IVwas a more radical concept car with a low Cd (drag coefficient), and evolved into the equally radical 1985Probe V.[4]
After the1979 energy crisis,the economic slump initiated by high fuel prices promptedFordto give theFord Mustanga major redesign. The new design would be based on a totally new platform introduced to Ford by Japanese automakerMazda,who had been partnering with Ford since 1971, and whom Ford had owned a 25% stake in since 1979. Toshi Saito, a North American-based designer working for Ford, took the lead in envisioning styling directions for the front-wheel drive Mustang, and a design by Saito was chosen and finalized in early 1984. The project was then transferred to Mazda in Hiroshima, Japan and in internal Ford parlance, was referred to by the codename "ST-16".[5]It was intended to gradually phase out the RWD Fox platform Mustang under the name "Mustang Classic" and have it eventually supplanted by the ST-16 as the "Mustang."
By 1985, Mazda acquired the former FordFlat Rock Assembly PlantinFlat Rock, Michigan,and intended to commence production of the two Mazda-badged GD platform cars for North America, the 626 along with the MX-6, and the ST-16, contracted by Ford, in 1987.
Christopher Sawyer, writing forAutoWeekmagazine, in their issue for April 13, 1987, was the first to publicly reveal the existence of the ST-16 Mustang in a sensational report that featured an artist rendering on the issue's cover of a vehicle nearly identical to what would be released as the 1989 Ford Probe GT stating "Exclusive: The '89 Mustang," along with detailed technical reports about its Mazda origins and switch to front-wheel drive. The public outcry was immediate, with many Mustang fans andpony carpurists detesting the ST-16's Japanese engineering, front-wheel drive platform and lack of a V8 engine, which were anathema to traditional Mustang buyers and enthusiasts. Ford Motor Company executives, along with many car magazines received strongly-worded letters of criticism decrying the decision.
Neil Ressler, the then-chief of small car engineering at Ford, spoke about the internal cultural differences at Ford Motor Company which led to a strong disagreement between two factions that had radically different notions about what the Mustang should be:
This idea came forth that we would replace the Mustang with this front-drive car, the ST-16. There were a lot of people who thought that was a great idea—a modern car. There were also a lot of us who were appalled by that. It was like the champagne sipping crowd replaced the beer drinking crowd. The idea that we would replace the Mustang with a Japanese car—a different car from a different culture aimed at a different audience—this is not going to work.
By 1987,Alex Trotman,the newly appointed vice president in charge of Ford's North American operations, with strong urging from Ford Marketing vice president Bob Rewey, a dedicated performance enthusiast, decided that in the light of consumer outrage, the ST-16 would not make a suitable Mustang. At this point, somewhat ironically, Mustang sales, which were lackluster, grew substantially after the article's publication, out of fear that it would be the last opportunity to purchase a traditional RWD V8 Mustang. While Trotman approved the development of a RWD successor, there were many difficulties, notably that the engineering budget for the Mustang was spent on the ST-16 and Ford was still recovering from a financial crisis of the early 1980s that brought the company close to bankruptcy until theTaurusarrived.
John Coletti,Ford's small-car engineering manager and a vociferous opponent of the ST-16 Mustang, said of the project, "I would rather have seen the Mustang name die than put the Mustang name on the Probe...".[6]
Ken Dabrowski, Ford's small-car line manager, tapped Coletti to lead askunkworks teamthat would develop a RWD Mustang successor with the understanding there would not be a full budget to create an entirely new car. Coletti's team heavily revised the 1979Fox platformfor the new car, which eventually became thefourth-generation Ford Mustangreleased for the 1994 model year.
However, production for the ST-16 was about to commence, meaning Ford had to put it on sale or lose its development budget along with further potential financial headaches if Ford would break its production contract with Mazda. It was decided that the ST-16 would be released as theFord Probein 1988, taking the name from Ford's line of futuristic concept vehicles, and be sold alongside the Mustang, which would continue production in its then-current form with minor refreshing. Instead of being aimed as a successor to the Mustang or as a rival to its traditional competitors, theChevrolet CamaroandPontiac Firebird,[7]Ford would aim the Probe against popular imported sports coupes of the era such as theToyota CelicaandHonda Prelude.
Both generations of the Probe were sold in Japan as Fords, at Ford/Mazda sales channels called Autorama. Japanese models were not in compliance with Japanese Government regulations concerningexterior dimensions and engine displacement,resulting in Japanese buyers being held liable for additional taxes as a result.
The Probe was a sales success in its first model year, owing to its futuristic styling and enjoyable driving experience. In fact, demand exceeded supply in 1988, enough that buyers were paying list price or higher for a Probe, and Jim Mateja, the automotive columnist for theChicago Tribune,urged potential Probe buyers who couldn't find a Probe to consider its sibling, the Mazda MX-6.[8]Sales of the first-generation Probe were successful enough that Ford partnered with Mazda again, with further Ford engineering from the beginning of the project, to create a second-generation Probe for the 1993 model year developed alongside a second-generation Mazda MX-6. A proposed third-generation Probe, which would have been based on theFord Mondeoinstead of being Mazda-derived, was eventually released as the 1999Mercury Cougarin the North American market to strengthen the Mercury brand. After disappointing sales of the Cougar and the waning popularity of front-wheel drive sport coupes in the late 1990s in favor ofsport utility vehicles,Ford left the market segment with the 2002 discontinuation of the Cougar, and the 2003 discontinuation of the ZX2.
67.9 in (1,725 mm) 1989–1991 GT: 68.5 in (1,740 mm) 1991–93 GT: 68.3 in (1,735 mm)
Height
51.8 in (1,316 mm) 1991–93 LX: 51.9 in (1,318 mm) 1991–93 GT: 52.0 in (1,321 mm)
The first generation Ford Probe was based on theMazda GD platform,and was powered by a 2.2 L SOHC 12-valve 4-cylinderMazda F2 engine.It debuted in 1988 for the 1989 model year and was produced until 1992 in the United States inFlat Rock,Michigan.[11]The Probe was available in several trim levels that differ depending on the market in which the vehicle was sold. In theUnited States,the Probe was available in GL, LX, and GT trim levels:[12]
The GL was the base model with the 110 hp (82 kW)/130 lb⋅ft (176 N⋅m) F2 2.2 L 4-cylinder engine and few options. Most Probes sold in the United States were equipped with air conditioning.
The LX added options for power locks, power windows, electrically adjusted exterior mirrors, a storage tray underneath the front passenger seat, as well as an optional flip-up moon roof. Starting in 1990, the LX was available with the 3.0 L "Vulcan"V6 engine,that was also used in theFord Taurus,Ford Ranger,Ford Tempo,andFord Aerostar.The LX package offered optional equipment, such as a single-disc CD player, and adigital instrument clustercoupled with a fuel economy computer installed in a hidden compartment on top of the center dashboard air conditioning vents.
Ford Probe GT rearThe GT included all the equipment of the LX, but featured the F2T 2.2 Lturbocharged,intercooled 4-cylinder engine that produced 145 hp (108 kW) and 190 lb⋅ft (258 N⋅m) of torque. It came with an IHI RHB5-VJ11 turbocharger and an intercooler to the intake tract, as well as a knock sensor and electronic boost controller to the engine-control system. The boost pressure was 7.3 psi (0.50 bar) in the vicinity of 2,500 rpm. The GT version also came with 4-wheel disc brakes withABS,a 3-way adjustable suspension utilizing variable damping shocks, and a speed-sensitive variable-assist power steering (VAP). The Probe GT's suspension system was based on a Mazda design, but its tuning was different and included nitrogen-gas pressurized front and rear struts, with stabilizer bars.
The Ford and Mazda design teams merged once again to give the Ford Probe a complete redesign for the 1993 model year. As before, the Probe was to share its under-structure with Mazda's MX-6 and 626. Mazda engineered the engine, transmission, and chassis, while Ford engineered the body and interior. Technically, the second generation Probe is 60% Mazda and 40% Ford. Despite the car being extended and widened 2 in (50 mm) it was 125 pounds (60 kg) lighter than the first generation Probe. The second generation Probe was introduced in August 1992 as a 1993 model. As first planned during 1992, it finally went on sale in Europe in the spring of 1994, filling the gap left there by Ford in that market sector since the demise of theCapriseven years earlier. The Capri had regularly been one of Britain's 10 best selling cars throughout the 1970s, but its popularity declined in the early 1980s as Ford launched high performance versions of theFiesta,EscortandSierrahatchbacks. Such was the falling demand for this type of car that by 1986, when the end of Capri production was announced, Ford decided against launching a direct replacement.
The second-generation Probe was designed by a team led by Mimi Vandermolen, who led the interior design of the 1986Ford Taurus.In 1987, Vandermolen became the first female designer to be the design executive of small cars for an automobile manufacturer, and Vandermolen designed the Probe to improve the driving experience for women, stating "If I can solve all the problems inherent in operating a vehicle for a woman, that'll make it that much easier for a man to use."[17]
However, the late 1980s and early 1990s saw the sales of affordable sports cars recover, first with a rising demand for Japanese built models like theHonda Prelude,Nissan Silvia,Mitsubishi Eclipse,andToyota Celica,and then with theVolkswagen Corradoand theVauxhall/Opel Calibrafrom Ford's direct competitorGeneral Motors.By 1992, Ford had decided that there was now justifiable demand in Europe for a new affordable sports coupe to be launched.
Ford had been hoping to sell around 20,000 Probes each year in Britain as the car market recovered from the effects of therecessionfrom 1992, but in the three years it was sold there, a total of just over 15,000 were sold - around a quarter of the projected figure for that length of time. Imports ceased during 1997, and itsCougarsuccessor - launched a year later - was even less successful, being imported to Europe for just two years.
By February 2016, just 718 examples of the Probe were still in use in Britain.[18]
The base model started at just over US$13,000 and came standard with the 2.0 L Mazda FS 16-valve 4-cylinder engine, performance instrument cluster with tachometer and full gauge complement, and an electronic AM/FM stereo. The sportier GT model started at $15,504[19]and came standard with the 2.5 LMazda K engineKL-DE 24-valve V6, low profile P225/50VR16 91V Goodyear VR50 Gatorback tires, 4-wheel disc brakes, unique front and rear fascias, fog lights, 5-spoke aluminum wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and driver-seat power lumbar/seat back side bolster adjustment. Both engines featured dual overhead cam designs with the choice of a 5-speedmanual transmissionor a 4-speed automatic transmission.[20]
Twoautomatic transmissionswere available in the Probe. At first both engines shared the same automatic transmission, theFord F-4EAT transmission,but from 1994 onwards this changed. TheV6 enginecontinued to use the 4EAT, but the 2.0 L I4 engine used a different automatic transmission, theFord CD4E transmission.It was sourced by Ford, and manufactured at Ford'sBatavia Transmissionplant in Batavia, Ohio.[21]
A new SE (Sport Edition) trim level was available for 1995 and 1996. It included the GT front fascia (without fog lamps), unique 15-inch (380 mm) aluminum wheels, P205/55R15 BSW and Sport Edition "SE" nomenclature.[22]
In a coast to coast road test by Automobile Magazine in search of the best cars in the world, the Probe GT scored third place, behind an $80,000 Mercedes-Benz and an $80,000 BMW. In the article, the Probe listed at about $15,000.[citation needed]
Special editions
For 1993 and 1994, Ford offered a "SE" appearance package on the base model Probe. The package offered 3 spoke swirl-style alloy wheels, the GT model's ground effects, and the GT model's front bumper. Unlike the base model, buyers were able to opt for power windows and mirrors on the SE package. Appearance wise, the only noticeable differences from the GT model were the wheels, "SE" nomenclature, rear bumper w/o air slot and lack of fog lights. "SE" was an appearance package and not an actual model or trim level. "SE" became a trim level in 1995 and was the middle-grade model in the Probe lineup between base and GT models.
In 1994, Ford released a limited edition of the Probe, marketed as the Probe "Feature Car", but officially called the "GT Plus" package. This special package is better known to the general public and enthusiast community as the Probe "Wild Orchid Edition". Included on this limited appearance package was Wild Orchid exterior paint, "PROBE" badge on floor mats outlined in Wild Orchid, black cloth bucket seats with unique Wild Orchid inserts, and the "PROBE" badge on the rear outlined in Wild Orchid. This package was offered in 1994 only, and was exclusive to GT models. After dropping the Probe Feature Car after only a year of production, Ford carried over the Wild Orchid exterior color for the 1995 model year which was available on all Probe models.
In 1997, a "GTS" package was offered on the Probe GT. It was essentially nothing more than an appearance package, as performance was identical to the GT, but differences with the exterior were distinct. Dual racing stripes available in either white or black started at the top edge of the front bumper and continued on to the back lip of the hatch, terminating just below the center light reflector on the rear bumper. A chrome plated version of the GT's directional "swirlie" wheels and a spoiler were also included in the package, as well as having a "blank" center reflector which lacked "GT" lettering as the regular GT models have. The "GTS" was an appearance package and not an actual model or trim level. Very few Probes were produced with the GTS package and are considered today to be extremely rare.
Models/trim levels
Base • 1993–1995; 1997
SE • 1995–1996
GT • 1993–1997
In most other markets outsideNorth America,trim levels were labeled as simply 16v (I4) and 24v (V6).
The last Probe was built on June 20, 1997. A third-generation model, using the same platform as theFord Contour,was under development intended for release in mid-1998 as a 1999 model. When Ford decided to discontinue the Probe, this new design became the next-generationMercury Cougar.[25]The name change was intended to attract younger buyers into Mercury showrooms, but this proved unsuccessful.[citation needed]TheEscort ZX2,released shortly after the discontinuation of the Probe, was considered the Probe's successor.[citation needed]In June 1998, Ford released what would have been the new Probe as the1999 Mercury Cougar.
TheNASCAR Dash Seriesversion of a 1990 Ford Probe driven byJeffrey Collierset a new track record atDaytona International Speedwayon February 13, 1990, with a speed of 166.553 mph. That record still stands as the fastest closed course lap for a non-turbo four-cylinder powered car.
References
^"Probe History".Performanceprobe.com. March 17, 1997. Archived fromthe originalon February 7, 2012.RetrievedJune 27,2010.
1993 Ford Probe GT
1994 Ford Probe GT
1995 Ford Probe GT
1996 Ford Probe GT
1997 Ford Probe GT
1997 Ford Probe GTS
1993 Ford Probe GT with red interior
1994 Ford Probe GT with black interior
1995 Ford Probe GT with black interior
1996 Ford Probe GT with saddle leather interior
1997 Ford Probe GT with black interior
