Ford Probe
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| Ford Probe | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Manufacturer | AutoAlliance International |
| Parent company | Ford Motor Company |
| Production | 1989–1997 |
| Predecessor | Ford EXP |
| Successor | Ford Cougar (For Europe) Ford Escort ZX2 (For North America) |
| Class | Sport compact |
| Body style | 3-door hatchback |
| Transmission | 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual |
| Related | Mazda MX-6 Mazda 626 |
| Similar | Chevrolet Beretta Mitsubishi Eclipse Volkswagen Corrado |
| First generation | |
|---|---|
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| Production | 1989–1992 |
| Engine | 2.2L 110 hp I4 2.2L 145 hp I4 3.0L 145 hp V6 |
| Wheelbase | 99.0 in |
| Length | 177.0 in |
| Width | 67.9 in |
| Height | 51.8 in |
| Fuel capacity | 15.1 US gal. |
| Second generation | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Production | 1993–1997 |
| Engine | 2.0L 118 hp I4 2.5L 164 hp V6 |
| Wheelbase | 102.9 in (2614 mm) |
| Length | 178.9 in (4544 mm) |
| Width | 69.8 in (1773 mm) |
| Height | 51.8 in (1316 mm) |
| Curb weight | 2894 lb (1313 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 15.5 US gal. |
The Ford Probe was a car produced by Ford, introduced in 1989 to replace the Ford EXP as the company's sport compact car. It was sold in the European, Australian, and North American markets. A sporty coupe, the Probe was intended to fill the market niche formerly occupied by the Capri in Europe, and although it was intended as the replacement to the Ford EXP, it was also considered a possible replacement for the Ford Mustang in the North American market. Fans objected to the front wheel drive configuration, Japanese engineering, and lack of a V8, so Ford went to work on a new design for the Mustang instead.
Sales were not up to Ford's expectations, selling only 837,273 units in its eight year production run. The styling, while modern, was not universally liked. The innuendo of the car's name did not endear itself to prospective buyers. Sales of the Probe were finally discontinued in 1997, selling only 32,505 units.
Contents |
[edit] 1988-1992 Probe
The first generation Probe appeared in 1988 and lasted until 1992 in the United States. In some markets the model years were from 1987 to 1991. It was based on a series of futuristic concept cars of the early 1980s, the likes of which have only been seen since in films like Judge Dredd and Total Recall. It was a large coupe, based on the Mazda GD platform, and was powered by a 2.2 L SOHC I4 cylinder Mazda F2 engine. The base engine produced just 110 hp (82 kW), but a 145 hp (108 kW) turbocharged version was available.
This generation was available in several trim levels, which differ depending on the market the vehicle was sold in. In the United States, the Probe was available in GL, LX, and GT trim levels:
GL was the "bare bones" model, offering the base 110 hp/130 ft.lbf F2 2.2 L engine and few options, but most Probes sold in the U.S. were equipped with air conditioning. LX added power windows, power locks, and power mirrors, as well as an optional manually operated moonroof; starting in 1990 the LX was available with the 3.0L "Vulcan" V6, also used in the Ford Taurus, Ford Ranger, and Aerostar. GT included all options from the LX, but also stepped up to the F2T 2.2L turbocharged, intercooled engine, which put out 145 hp and 190 ft.lbs of torque delivering a significant performance boost. It also had 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS and 3 way adjustable suspension. This car is very similar to the Mazda MX-6.
[edit] 1993-1997 Probe
The second-generation car came out in the United States in late 1992 as a 1993 model. It used the Mazda GE platform, which it shared with the Mazda MX-6 and the Mazda 626. The Probe came with Mazda-designed engines and was available in three trims:
The GL or base version came with a 2.0L FS inline-4 producing 118 hp (88 kW) The GT version came with a 2.5L KL V6 producing 160 to 164 hp (119 to 122 kW), depending on the year and location. The SE, Sports Edition, which was a GL version fitted with GT bumpers and side skirts, but not the GT engine, appeared with the 1993 remake.
In 1994 there was a "special edition" Probe that came in Royal Plum Pearl Metallic Clearcoat (more commonly known as Wild Orchid). While the special edition's features were limited, they included: purple colored material in the center of the seats, "PROBE" stitched in purple on the floormats, and the "PROBE" emblem on the back of the car was outlined also in purple.
In 1997 (the Probe's last year) a GTS model was offered. It had no more performance than the regular GT, but exterior modifications were instantly recognizable. 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. Chrome wheels and a spoiler were also included in the package, as well as having a "blank" center reflector which lacked "GT" lettering that was characteristic to the Australian and European models which were available in either 16V and 24V versus "GT","SE",or base model in North America.
In Japan, the 2.5L V6 was the higher performance KL-ZE, while the 2.0L was a I4 called the FS. In Europe and America, the 2.5L V6 was a lower performance KL-DE (often incorrectly called the KL-03).
Originally, the Probe was only supposed to be on a year hiatus, as there were plans to bring it back in 1999 as a sibling to the Mondeo-based, front wheel drive Mercury Cougar. These plans were scrapped, however, likely because of sluggish sales figures for the Ford Cougar, which replaced the Probe in Europe. In North America, the Probe was replaced by the Escort-based ZX2.
[edit] Models
| Year | Model | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 mph (97 km/h) | .25 mi (0.4 km) | Top speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989–1992 | base | 2.2 L (2184 cc) F2 I4 | 110 hp (82 kW) | 130 ft·lbf (176 N·m) | 9.3 | 17.0 | 113 mph (181 km/h)* |
| 1989–1992 | GT | 2.2 L (2184 cc) F2T turbo I4 | 145 hp (108 kW) at 4300 rpm | 203 ft·lbf (275 N·m) at 3500 rpm | 7.0 | 15.3 at 90 mph (145 km/h) | 134 mph (216 km/h) |
| 1990–1992 | LX | 3.0 L (2982 cc) Vulcan V6 | 140–145 hp (104–108 kW) | 160–165 ft·lbf (216–223 N·m) | 8.2 | 16.2 | 113 mph (181 km/h)* |
| 1993–1997 | base | 2.0 L (1991 cc) FS I4 | 130 hp (97 kW) | 135 ft·lbf (183 N·m) | 8 | 16.8 | 113 mph (216 km/h)* |
| 1993 | GT | 2.5 L (2497 cc) KL-DE V6 | 164 hp (122 kW) at 5600 rpm | 156 ft·lbf (212 N·m) at 4000 rpm | 7.5 | 15.5 at 89 mph (143 km/h) | 133 mph (214 km/h) |
| 1994–1997 | GT | 2.5 L (2497 cc) KL-DE V6 | 164 hp (122 kW) at 5600 rpm | 160 ft·lbf (217 N·m) at 4000 rpm | 7.5 | 15.5 at 89 mph (143 km/h) | 133 mph (214 km/h) |
- Electronically Limited
[edit] Trivia
- Two futuristic versions of the Ford Probe appears in Back to the Future Part II.[1][2]
- A '96 model of the Probe was customized on a 2006 episode of the MTV series Pimp My Ride.
[edit] Awards
The Probe GT was Motor Trend magazine's Car of the Year for 1993. It also made Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1989, 1993, and 1994.
[edit] See also
- Ford Cougar - the Mondeo based replacement for the Probe in Europe
- Ford EXP - the Probe's predecessor
- Ford Escort ZX2 - the Probe's successor in North America
[edit] References
- Kevin Smith. "Ford Probe GT". Car and Driver (August 1992): 32–37.
[edit] Notes
- ^ IMCDb.org: Vehicle details IMCDb.org
- ^ IMCDb.org: Vehicle details IMCDb.org
- ^ http://probefaq.org/qna.html#1
[edit] External links
- Performanceprobe.com Information on the Ford Probe specs, styling, competition and history
- Probe Performance Club of Sweden [Swedish Ford Probe owners club]
- Probetalk.com
- (Dutch Ford Probe Club)
- UKPOC United Kingdom Probe Owners Club
- BCPOC British Columbia's Probe Owners Club
- http://www.andie16v.co. uk 16v owners website info and links
- [http://www.probeschnupp.de.vu Information about the Probe (German and English + massive gallery)
- Probe-Enthusiast.com
- Probes Northwest Washington, Oregon, Idaho Probe Owners Club.
- Tennessee Probe Owner's Club
- Ford Probe Club of Poland (Ford Probe Klub Polska)
- SCPOC Southern counties probe owners club (UK)
- Ford Probe Specialty Online Store/Manufacturers
- Ford Probe Store, Specialist online store for Ford Probe & Mazda MX3/6, UK Based, ships Worldwide
- Club del Probe España
- Ford-PROBE.net Polish Ford-Probe owners club
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