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112-637: Deriving its chassis underpinnings and powertrain from the Ford Escort , the Tempo was the first aerodynamically styled sedan introduced by Ford. First seen on the 1982 Ford Sierra hatchbacks (designed by Ford of Europe) and the 1983 Ford Thunderbird , the model line was followed by the 1986 Ford Taurus . Produced across multiple facilities in North America, the Tempo/Topaz was produced in

224-400: A "U" shape, that connects to the body at two points along its longer center section, and on each end. When the left and right wheels move together the bar simply rotates on its central mounting points. When the wheels move relative to each other, torsion forces cause the bar to twist. Each end of the bar is connected to an end link through a flexible joint. The link is connected in turn to

336-475: A 1.3 L engine was designed and a prototype made, but did not see production due to lack of power and an inability to get it certified. The launch version of the hemi overhead cam inline-four produces 65 hp (48 kW). It was paired with four-speed MTX-2 and five-speed MTX-3 manual transmissions, and a three-speed ATX/FLC automatic transmission. For 1982 models, the engine was tuned to 69 hp (51 kW). In March 1982 an HO (high output) version of

448-557: A 1981 model launch, the original intent was for the American Escort and the European Mk III Escort to share a common chassis architecture and components. During model development, American and European design teams diverged in thinking, leading to extensive differences in the final product lines. Though they share the same basic shape, the 1981 Ford Escort and Escort Mk III share no interchangeable body parts;

560-407: A car. Understeer or oversteer can be reduced by changing the proportion of the total roll stiffness that comes from the front and rear axles. Increasing it at the front increases the proportion of the total load transfer that the front axle reacts to—and decreases it in the rear. In general, this makes the outer front wheel run at a comparatively higher slip angle, and the outer rear wheel to run at

672-504: A close-ratio four-speed gearbox. Also included were metric TR sport alloy wheels with Michelin TRX tires, fog lights, and front and rear spoilers. For 1983, the GT received a fuel-injected 1.6-litre engine, raising output to 88 hp (66 kW); the engine was now also paired to a 5-speed manual transmission. A Turbo GT was introduced, increasing output to 120 hp (89 kW). For 1984,

784-465: A comparatively lower slip angle, increasing understeer. Increasing the proportion of roll stiffness at the rear axle has the opposite effect, decreasing understeer. Because an anti-roll bar connects wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle, the bar transmits the force of a bump on one wheel to the opposite wheel. On rough or broken pavement, anti-roll bars can produce jarring, side-to-side body motions (a "waddling" sensation), which increase in severity with

896-627: A coupe variant of the Escort. The first production two-seat Ford since the Thunderbird , the EXP was developed with a sportier exterior appearance (but few performance upgrades) over the standard three-door liftback. The EXP was sold by Lincoln-Mercury from 1982 to 1983 as the Mercury LN7, differing slightly in grille and hatchback design. Following the 1985 update of the Escort, the EXP underwent

1008-685: A five-door counterpart of the Lynx RS (Escort GT). Alongside the Escort, the Lynx underwent a mid-1985 body revision. Distinguished by the addition of the "cascading" Mercury emblem replacing the "big cat" logo (used by the Mercury Cougar), the Lynx received an all-black grille between flush-mounted aerodynamic headlamps. For 1986, the Lynx RS was renamed the XR3 to align it with the Cougar XR7 (and

1120-549: A five-door hatchback was introduced in May 1981. To showcase its "world car" status, Ford designed an Escort badge for the front fenders including a globe representing the earth; this badge was used for 1981 only. In line with the larger Fairmont and LTD Crown Victoria station wagons, the Escort wagon was offered with an imitation woodgrain Squire package in the GL and GLX trims. For 1982,

1232-479: A flat lever arm from a stiff edge-on position to a more flexible flat-side-on position on other systems. This lets a mechanic tune the roll stiffness for different situations without replacing the entire bar. The MacPherson strut is a common form of strut suspension. This was not the first attempt at strut suspension, but in MacPherson 's original patent, the anti-roll bar forms an integral and essential part of

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1344-619: A half pseudo-lightbar grille similar to the one on the upcoming Sable . In back, the trunk and taillights were slightly restyled. In 1986, the Tempo surpassed the Hyundai Pony to become the best selling new car in Canada. A new "LX" luxury trim level replaced the GLX. An all-wheel-drive model was added for 1987 on both 2- and 4-door. It included all the interior amenities of the LX/LS models, and

1456-593: A limited-slip rear differential via a new driveshaft. There is no transfer case. The all-wheel-drive system adds 105 lb (47.6 kg) to the weight of the car, and increases ride height by just 0.5 in (13 mm). The only engine offered with the AWD option was the HSO four cylinder, with the 3-speed automatic transmission. In 1991 Ford started referring to the system as "Four Wheel Drive" instead of All Wheel Drive. The first generation Tempo and Topaz were unveiled on

1568-712: A more well equipped US model with more effective pollution controls. Ford Escort (North America) The North American version of the Ford Escort is a range of cars that were sold by Ford from the 1981 to 2003 model years. The direct successor of the Ford Pinto , the Escort also largely overtook the role of the European-imported Ford Fiesta as the smallest vehicle in the Ford model line in North America. Produced across three generations,

1680-506: A new smaller front wheel drive (FWD) car. This new compact was expected to compete in the marketplace with General Motors' X-Body , but wound up more similar to GM's J-cars . Ford's chief development engineer for the new car was Ed Cascardo. The Tempo and Topaz chassis shared some parts with the front-wheel-drive platform used on the first North American Ford Escort , but with a wheelbase stretched by 5.7 in (145 mm) and distinctive new bodies. There were few common components due to

1792-402: A peak of 6.1 percent in 1981 to 0.37 percent in 1986). Less than 1.2 percent of Escort/Lynx overall sales were diesels. The Escort's engines received a slightly revised camshaft and roller lifters along with the mid-1988 revision; power of the standard model was unchanged but the GT went up slightly, to 110 hp (82 kW). Introduced for 1982, the two-seat Ford EXP (later Escort EXP) was

1904-416: A restyled grille with three thin horizontal chrome bars, composite flush-mounted rectangular headlamps and restyled front turn signals. The Tempo GLS, received a black grille and "D" pillar; flush mounted tail lamps and revised rear quarter window. The Topaz received a more formal, more vertical rear window, waterfall grille, more revised wheels, and solid red tail lamps. The HSO engine was standard equipment on

2016-502: A restyling, becoming the Escort EXP. Distinguished by the adoption of the front fascia from the liftback Escort, the two-seat coupe adopted a more subdued appearance. The variant was discontinued after the 1988 model year; as consumer demand shifted away from two-seat vehicles, Ford sought to concentrate its resources on the four-seat Ford Probe (which began development as the intended 1989 Ford Mustang). For 1981, Ford introduced

2128-475: A revision of the first-generation Escort. While much of the bodyshell was carried over, the front fascia saw extensive aerodynamic revisions, with designers fitting a smaller grille and flush-mounted aerodynamic headlamps, and the 1.6 L engine was replaced with a more powerful 1.9 L. Chrome trim was now largely relegated to the bumpers. In a trim revision, the Escort Pony became the lowest-price version of

2240-613: A running change during the 1982 model year, the Escort SS was renamed the Escort GT. In addition to removing conflict with the Chevrolet SS option package , the change aligned the model nomenclature with the namesake Mustang GT (with Ford offering the Escort GT solely as a three-door). Aside from the new HO engine, the GT featured cosmetic changes such as "GT" emblems and stripes, while under the shell there were improved brakes and

2352-777: A shared design with Ford of Europe, the Escort now shared a platform with the Mazda 323 and sharing a body with the Ford Laser (a model line sold in Asia and Oceania); the Mercury Lynx was replaced by the Mercury Tracer. For 1997, the third generation served as an extensive redesign of the previous-generation sedan; the Escort ZX2 two-door was introduced, with the Mercury Tracer adopting a similar redesign. Ford introduced

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2464-533: A single generation of two-doors; two generations of four-door sedans were produced. For the 1995 model year, the Tempo/Topaz four-door sedan was replaced by the Ford Contour (and Mercury Mystique) , developed from the Ford Mondeo ; the two-door Tempo was not directly replaced. In the late 1970s Ford began planning to replace their compact rear wheel drive Ford Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr models with

2576-409: A spot near a wheel or axle, transferring forces from the heavily loaded side of a suspension to the opposite. Forces are therefore transferred: The bar resists the torsion through its stiffness. The stiffness of an anti-roll bar is proportional to the stiffness of the material, the fourth power of its radius, and the inverse of the length of the lever arms (i.e., the shorter the lever arm, the stiffer

2688-420: A standard 5-speed manual transmission; a 4-speed automatic was offered with the 1.9L engine as an option. The 1.9-litre engine was one of the first Ford engines to feature distributorless ignition (known as EDIS, Electronic Distributorless Ignition System ). The Ford Escort GT was fitted with four-wheel disc brakes. For 1991 , Ford introduced the second-generation Escort under Pony, LX, and GT trims, returning

2800-554: A supplemental restraint system. In 1984, Ford entered a contract with the General Services Administration and the Department of Transportation to supply 5,000 airbag-equipped Tempos. Half also received a special windshield designed to minimize lacerations to passengers, and all were early recipients of the high-mounted brake lights that became required by law in 1986. In October 1985, the Tempo and

2912-461: A switchable decoupler on Rubicon models, to increase wheel articulation for off-roading. The first active anti-roll bar system was Citroën 's SC.CAR (Systeme Citroën de Contrôle Actif du Roulis), debuted in its 1994 Xantia Activa , a medium-sized European sedan. The anti-roll bar could be stiffened by the suspension ECU during hard cornering, minimizing body roll to 2 degrees. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class Active Body Control system eliminates

3024-430: A vehicle during fast cornering or over road irregularities. It links opposite front or rear wheels to a torsion spring using short lever arms for anchors. This increases the suspension's roll stiffness—its resistance to roll in turns. The first stabilizer bar patent was awarded to Canadian inventor Stephen Coleman of Fredericton, New Brunswick on April 22, 1919. Anti-roll bars were unusual on pre-WW2 cars due to

3136-402: A version of Mazda's four-cylinder RF diesel engine was offered in the Tempo and Topaz. The only transmission paired with the diesel engine was the 5-speed manual. An optional All Wheel Drive (AWD) system became available in the Tempo and Topaz in 1987, and was offered until 1991. Although Ford had a long history with four wheel drive, and had built prototypes based on other car models before,

3248-410: Is a steel unibody . The structure from the firewall forward is shared with the contemporary Ford Escort. The Tempo's front suspension on each side comprises a lower lateral link triangulated by the anti-roll bar and a coil over MacPherson strut. The rear "Quadralink" suspension is two parallel lower lateral control links and a radius rod per side, with coil over MacPherson struts. This differed from

3360-399: Is called the "High Swirl Combustion" ( HSC ) engine and displaces 2.3 L. It has a cast iron block and head, with a single cam-in-block and two overhead valves (OHV) per cylinder with pushrods and rocker arms. The HSC engine was also offered in a "High Specific Output" (HSO) version producing 100 hp (75 kW). In 1992 the 3.0 L Ford Vulcan V6 engine became an option in

3472-408: Is to reduce body lean. This is dependent on the total roll stiffness of the vehicle. Increasing this stiffness does not change the steady state total load (weight) transfer from the inside wheels to the outside, it only reduces body lean. The total lateral load transfer is determined by the center of gravity height and track width. The other function of anti-roll bars is to tune the handling balance of

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3584-679: The Capri and the Mk I Fiesta , but these were single products conceived from the beginning to cater for both markets, not world cars. Following the success of the smaller Fiesta, the new vehicle was to adopt a front-wheel drive powertrain. The program intended to consolidate the replacements for the North American Ford Pinto and the European Ford Escort Mk II under a single model architecture. Intended for

3696-530: The Ford Focus in North America for 2000 as its third "world car", phasing it in as the successor of the Escort. After 2000, the four-door Escort was moved primarily to fleet sales (with the coupe remaining available); production ended entirely after the 2002 model year. In contrast to the first-generation American Escort and Escort Mk III of Ford of Europe (and the Mondeo/Contour and Mercury Mystique),

3808-607: The Ford Windstar . Kansas City Assembly and Cuautitlán Assembly became assembly points for the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique. The Tempo was a sales success for Ford, staying one of the top ten best selling cars in the US, if not one of the top five, during its entire production run. For the introductory, extended 1984 model year (16 months long), Ford sold a total of 531,468 examples of the Tempo and Topaz combined, but this

3920-548: The Mazda 323 /Protegé. Again using front-wheel drive, the wheelbase expanded to 98.4 inches (almost within an inch of the Tempo). To improve handling stability, a rear anti-sway bar was added to the rear suspension. In another design change, the Escort adopted independent rear suspension. The Escort shared its body with the third-generation Ford Laser, introduced in Japan in 1989. The two model lines are nearly identical in appearance;

4032-744: The 1989 and 1990 model years. As Ford was gearing up for the April 1990 introduction of the next generation Escort, this version was only built at the Edison Assembly plant in New Jersey for the abbreviated 1990 model year. Developed for the Escort on both sides of the Atlantic, the CVH inline-four engine family was introduced in a 1.6-litre displacement alone for the North American market;

4144-459: The AWD Tempo was their first production passenger sedan to offer four wheel drive. This design of part-time system is not meant for serious off-road driving, nor for use on dry streets. It is designed specifically to provide additional traction in slippery road conditions. The system is controlled by a rocker switch in the interior. When activated, the system engages a clutch which sends power to

4256-517: The CG is usually not on the roll axis, the lateral force creates a moment about the roll axis that tends to roll the body. (The roll axis is a line that joins the front and rear roll centers ). The moment is called the roll couple . Roll couple is resisted by the suspension roll stiffness, which is a function of the spring rate of the vehicle's springs and of the anti-roll bars, if any. The use of anti-roll bars allows designers to reduce roll without making

4368-526: The Escort GT (and Lynx RS) during the 1984 model year. As part of the mid-1985 model-year revision, the 1.6-litre engine was enlarged to 1.9 litres, increasing output to 86 hp (64 kW); the high output GT engine offered 108 hp (81 kW) thanks to revised intake manifolds, cylinder heads and real headers. The GT was available only with manual transmissions, and the Turbo GT was retired. Estimates state that only about 1,000 Turbo GTs were built in

4480-472: The Escort GT and the EXP. For liftback/wagon Escorts, the unnamed base model was dropped, leaving the L trim as standard. For 1984, the trim levels were revised further, as the GLX was dropped and replaced with a fuel-injected LX model. Offered for the five-door hatchback or wagon, the LX was fitted with the fuel-injected engine of the GT, along with its blackout trim and styled cast-aluminum wheels. The interior of

4592-451: The Escort GT was largely carryover, with the Turbo GT lasting into the first half of 1985 production. For the 1985 1 ⁄ 2 revision of the Escort, the GT initially went on hiatus, returning for the 1986 model year. Alongside the standard Escort, the 1.6 was replaced by a 1.9-litre fuel-injected engine, with the GT receiving a higher-output 108 hp (81 kW) version thereof. Distinguished by its body-color asymmetrical grille,

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4704-467: The Escort Mk III to front-wheel drive. During its production, the Escort also underwent a wide use of platform sharing and rebranding. The first generation served as the basis of the longer-wheelbase Ford Tempo/Mercury Topaz , the two-seat Ford EXP/Mercury LN7 and was rebranded as the Mercury Lynx. The second generation was introduced for 1991, growing into the compact segment. Moving away from

4816-407: The Escort SS as a performance-oriented version of the model line, offered as both a three-door liftback and five-door station wagon. Externally distinguished by blacked-out trim, special stripes and SS decals, the Escort SS also received upgraded brakes, suspension, and model-specific seats and full instrumentation. The drivetrain was unchanged; 6,842 Escort SS were built for the 1981 model year. As

4928-539: The Escort too by 1991. In April 1990, Ford released the second-generation Ford Escort as an early introduction for the 1991 model year. Again a "world car" like the previous generation, the model line shifted away from its Ford of Europe origins, adopting a design from Mazda (at the time, 25-percent owned by Ford). Adopting mechanical commonality with the Mazda 323, the Escort became the American-market version of

5040-428: The Escort was revised, introducing a new dashboard and new rubber shift boots for manual transmissions; automatic models received new gear selector levers with straight lines for gear selection instead of the twisting "question mark" pattern of the previous models. In line with other Fords, activation of the horn was moved from the turn signal stalk to the steering wheel. Debuting as a "1985½" model change, Ford released

5152-677: The Escort's rear suspension, which used a lower lateral arm, radius rod, and non-concentric coil spring and shock absorber. The Tempo was the first ever American built Ford with an independent rear suspension using MacPherson struts. Brakes are 9.3 in (236 mm) discs in front and 8.0 in × 1.2 in (203 mm × 30 mm) drums in back. Steering is by power assisted rack and pinion, with three turns lock-to-lock. Standard tires on base models are 175/80R13, while higher trim levels have 185/70R14, and sportier models are fitted with Michelin TRX 185/65R365 metric tires on aluminum wheels. The Tempo's four cylinder gasoline engine

5264-569: The Focus adopted a much larger degree of commonality between its European and North American variants, in effect, becoming the original world car Ford had originally envisioned with the Escort. During its entire production, the Escort was produced by Wayne Stamping & Assembly in ( Wayne, Michigan ) and the first generation was also produced by Edison Assembly in ( Edison, New Jersey ), San Jose Assembly Plant in ( Milpitas, California ), and Oakville Assembly in ( Oakville, Ontario, Canada ) while

5376-596: The GL, while the Escort Pony replaced the Standard and L versions. Finding some popularity during the final three years of this generation was the Pony model, which was the least-expensive U.S.-built Ford prior to the introduction of the Ford Festiva . Pony models used plainer interior trim with greater use of vinyl and plastic instead of cloth, and four-speed manual transaxles were standard, although buyers could opt for

5488-530: The GLS, XR5 and LTS trim levels; all other model years read to 85 MPH. A revised body with eight headlamps was previewed late in 1991, and a redesigned Tempo was expected for 1993 or 1998. The Tempo was discontinued in 1994, replaced by the Contour for model year 1995. Second generation Tempo trim levels: Second generation Topaz trim levels: Although a third-generation Tempo had been spotted testing in 1990, this

5600-422: The GT continued its use of 15-inch wheels. For non-wagon LXs, a "Sport Appearance" option package was introduced; along with 14-inch alloy wheels, the option included a decklid spoiler and the full-width taillamps used by the GT. For 1994 , a driver-side airbag became standard. For 1995 , dual airbags becane standard for 1995, requiring a redesign of the dashboard, with the motorized seat belts were retained on

5712-479: The GT received another grille revision, and stayed unchanged for 1990. The first-generation Ford Escort was marketed by Lincoln-Mercury as the Mercury Lynx. The successor to the Mercury Bobcat , the Lynx also adopted a nameplate derived from big cats . Sharing its entire body with the Escort, the Lynx differed from its Ford counterpart primarily in its grille styling, parking light and taillamp lenses, and

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5824-518: The GT received body-color bumpers (integrating the foglamps), 15-inch alloy wheels, body sill skirts, and optional two-tone paint (similar to the Merkur ). While 1987 was largely carryover, the GT underwent a second facelift midway through the 1988 model year alongside the standard Escort 3-door. The 1988 1 ⁄ 2 Escort GT replaced the asymmetrical grille with a body-color insert and new rear spoiler, while power climbed by two horsepower. For 1989,

5936-527: The HSO engine from the Sport (detailed below). An automatic transaxle was standard, and the AWD was driver-selected with a pushbutton. From 1985 to 1987, Ford offered the Sport GL, which included unique interior and exterior styling cues, the 2.3 L HSO engine, alloy wheels, tachometer, and the five-speed manual transaxle with a lower (numerically higher) final drive ratio of 3.73 for quicker acceleration. It

6048-659: The Mercury Topaz XR5 and LTS models. Both the sedan and coupe received a revised instrument panels with a central gauge cluster that included a standard engine temperature gauge, and ergonomic driver controls. Fan and windshield wiper controls were mounted on rotary-style switches on either side of the instrument panel, and the HVAC controls received a new push-button control layout. Other changes included revised interior door panels. A driver's side airbag continued as an option. LX and AWD models received chrome and wood trim on

6160-421: The Tempo and Contour, and many buyers assumed that the new car would be priced the same as the old, causing some to face a large sticker shock. For buyers shopping for a compact Ford, moving to the Contour came with a jump in price: the range topping 1994 Tempo LX sedan with V6 cost about $ 12,900, equivalent to $ 25,470 in 2022, while a base model 1995 Contour GL with four-cylinder engine and manual transmission

6272-513: The Tempo and Topaz's larger size. Switching to front-wheel drive freed up interior space that would have otherwise been lost to accommodate a driveshaft and rear differential. Wind tunnel testing on the Tempo began in December 1978. More than 450 hours of testing resulted in over 950 different design changes. The Tempo and Topaz both featured windshields inclined at a 60° angle and aircraft-inspired door frames, two features that had both appeared on

6384-530: The Tempo arrived four years after GM's compact X-Bodies in 1979 for the 1980 model years, and two and a half years after Chrysler's compact K-cars were introduced. The four door Tempo had three windows in profile, somewhat similar to the European Ford Sierra , while the four-door Topaz received a more upright C-pillar without rear quarter windows. The front of the car featured two sealed-beam halogen headlamps in chrome trimmed recessed mounts, and

6496-491: The Tempo with only two trim level options, GL and LX. 1992 also brought a slightly redesigned gauge cluster, with a tachometer reading up to 7,000 rpm instead of the previous 6,000 rpm. A fuel door indicator was added to the fuel gauge as an arrow pointing to the side of the car where the fuel door was located. 1992 was the only year when a speedometer reading to 120 mph was available in American models, and only in

6608-488: The Tempo. Fitting the Vulcan V6 into the Tempo required changes to the water pump, and use of a more restrictive exhaust system that reduced maximum power. The original base transmission in the gasoline fueled Tempo/Topaz is a four-speed IB4 manual that made up part of what Ford called the "Fuel Saver" powertrain. A five-speed MTX-III manual or a three-speed FLC automatic were optional upgrades. From 1984 to 1986

6720-711: The Tempos remained under government ownership under official use, later sold to private owners. Ford assembled and sold two models based on the American Tempo in Mexico — the Ford Topaz and the Ford Ghia . The cars were built in Ford's Cuautitlán Assembly plant. The lower level of automation at that plant translated into higher assembly costs, making a Mexican-built Ford Topaz retail for about US$ 400 more than

6832-618: The Thriftpower six, topped with a new cylinder head and using other new technologies, while repurposing as much tooling as possible at the Lima plant. When the cars were released, a turbocharged version of the new four cylinder was said to be in development, but this engine never became available. At that point, a V6 was not being considered. Released in 1983 as a 1984 model, more than 107,000 two-door Tempos and more than 295,000 four-door Tempos were sold in its first year. The Tempo's chassis

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6944-591: The Thunderbird and Cougar in 1983. The door frames wrapped up into the roofline, which improved sealing, allowed for hidden drip rails, and cleaned up the A-pillar area of the car. The rear track was widened, improving aerodynamic efficiency. The front grille was laid back and the leading edge of the hood was tuned for aerodynamic cleanliness. The wheels were pushed out to the corners of the body, reducing turbulence. The cars' backlights were also laid down at 60°, and

7056-451: The Topaz received several minor changes for the 1986 model year. The rectangular sealed-beam halogen headlamps were replaced with new, plastic composite enclosures with a replaceable lamp. The new headlights were flush-mounted to match the redesigned front corner lights and freshly restyled grille, which more closely matched that of the new Taurus that debuted in 1986, while the Topaz received

7168-506: The US-market models through 1996. For 1996 , the Escort saw few changes as the third generation was introduced for 1997. The restyle dropped the hatchbacks and added a new sporty coupe for the 1998 model year. The Escort sedan and wagon used the lower-powered CVH SPI2000 engine with 110 hp (82 kW). There are subtle differences in the Escort sedan from 1996 to 2002. The trim lines for 1997 were base and LX, for 1998–2002 it

7280-419: The additional benefit of lowering its center of gravity during a turn, increasing its stability. When both front and rear anti-roll bars are fitted, their combined effect can help maintain a vehicle's tendency to roll towards the general slope of the terrain. An anti-roll bar is usually a torsion spring anchored to resist body roll motions. It is usually constructed out of a cylindrical steel bar, formed into

7392-490: The aero Ford Thunderbird. The four door returned a drag coefficient of 0.37. The Tempo was designed for a four-cylinder engine, but all production of Ford's 2.3 L Lima OHC four was committed to other product lines. In 1983 Ford had stopped production of their 200 cubic inch Thriftpower inline six, leaving unused capacity at the Lima Engine plant. Ford developed a four-cylinder engine that shared some features of

7504-738: The arrangement let China keep its favored nation status with the United States (despite political tensions of the late 1980s). In 1992, Ford began sales operations in China for the first time, introducing the Tempo alongside the Ford Taurus, Ford Crown Victoria, Ford Aerostar, and the Lincoln Town Car. In total, the Chinese government purchased over 8,200 Tempos, with the initial order of 3010 1992 four-door Tempo sedans serving as

7616-447: The bar). Stiffness is also related to the geometry of the mounting points and the rigidity of the bar's mounting points. The stiffer the bar, the more force required to move the left and right wheels relative to each other. This increases the amount of force required to make the body roll. In a turn the sprung mass of the vehicle's body produces a lateral force at the centre of gravity (CG), proportional to lateral acceleration. Because

7728-465: The dash and doors. Topaz models featured a tachometer-equipped gauge cluster and a front center armrest as standard. For the 1991 model year the all-wheel drive Tempo and Topaz and the Canadian market exclusive entry-level Tempo L were discontinued. For 1992, the Tempo and Topaz were mildly restyled, with the Tempo gaining body-colored side trim that replaced the black and chrome trim, as well as full body-colored bumpers. The Tempo's three bar chrome grille

7840-454: The deck of the USS Intrepid , a decommissioned aircraft carrier that had been turned into a floating museum in New York Harbor. They were released on 26 May 1983 as 1984 models. An early advertisement for the car featured a Tempo sedan performing a 360 degree loop on a stunt track. The car in the ad was securely attached to a track, and was pulled through the shot rather than operating under its own power. As Ford's first downsized compact car ,

7952-428: The diameter and stiffness of the anti-roll bars. Other suspension techniques can delay or dampen this effect of the connecting bar. Excessive roll stiffness, typically achieved by configuring an anti-roll bar too aggressively, can make the inside wheels lift off the ground during hard cornering. This can be used to advantage: many front wheel drive production cars lift a rear wheel when cornering hard in order to overload

8064-602: The engine replaced the previous throttle-body fuel injection with a sequential configuration (SEFI); to allow for a lower hoodline, the engine was tilted forward. The Escort GT dropped the CVH engine, replacing it with the Mazda-sourced 127 hp DOHC BP 1.8L I4 (shared with the Mazda Protegé LX and Mazda MX-5 ). The 4-speed manual and 3-speed automatic transmissions were dropped. Both engines were paired with

8176-546: The engine was added, originally only in the EXP and with an automatic transmission, but soon thereafter available with a manual and also in the sporting Escort GT (which had replaced the SS). This unit produces 80 hp (60 kW), thanks to a higher compression ratio, a new exhaust system, and larger venturis in the carburetor. Multi-port fuel injection increased the output of the HO engine to 88 hp (66 kW) for 1983. The 1983 GT

8288-624: The eventual Topaz XR5). The Lynx was retired after 1987, but was replaced by the Mazda 323 -derived Mercury Tracer model which was sold alongside it for much of the year. The first Mercury sold without a Ford counterpart (in North America) since 1960, the Mexican- and Taiwanese-assembled Tracer shared its body with the Asian-market Ford Laser, sharing much of its chassis architecture with the Mazda 323/Familia, as would

8400-522: The exterior received a minor revision, as the model badging was revised to reflect the adoption of the Ford Blue Oval emblem on the North American product lines. Along with an updated grille, the blue oval also replaced the previous "FORD" lettering on the liftgate. The "SS" package was also available during 1981; this included blacked-out trim, a special stripe and decal package, upgraded brakes, and wider tires but no additional power. The SS package

8512-442: The first generation was a subcompact ; the latter two generations were compact cars . Becoming highly successful in the marketplace, the Escort became the best-selling car in the United States after 1982, a position it would hold for much of the 1980s. Produced across three generations, the Escort was the first world car developed by Ford, with the first-generation American Escort designed alongside Ford of Europe, who transitioned

8624-605: The five-door Escort station wagon was styled with vertical taillamps (in line with the larger Taurus); following the discontinuation of the LTD Country Squire , the Escort wagon now served as half of the Ford station wagon line. While the Laser shared powertrain offerings with the Mazda Familia/323, the Escort carried over the 1.9L CVH inline-four (retuned to 88 hp) from the previous generation. For 1991,

8736-414: The five-speed manual or the three-speed ATX automatic. The list of available options was very limited, to the extent that such luxuries as power steering and factory-installed air conditioning were not offered (a dealer-installed A/C system was available). Given their lighter weight, the Pony models also had somewhat better fuel economy than the regular Escorts. The 88.5 Escort remained largely unchanged for

8848-400: The generally much stiffer suspension and acceptance of body roll. From the 1950s on, however, production cars were more commonly fitted with anti-roll bars, especially those vehicles with softer coil spring suspension. An anti-sway or anti-roll bar is intended to reduce the lateral tilt (roll) of the vehicle on curves, sharp corners, or large bumps. Although there are many variations in design,

8960-415: The grille between them featured four thin horizontal slats, swept back to allow for greater air flow into the engine compartment and over the hood. The first generation Tempo came standard with a four-cylinder 2.3 L gasoline engine or an optional Mazda-built 2.0 L diesel engine. In late 1985 the four speed manual transmission was discontinued and the five-speed became standard. A slight modification

9072-656: The grille oval around the Ford emblem was enlarged in size. In a trim change, the base-trim Pony was dropped for the last trim, becoming an unnamed standard trim Escort. For the first time, a four-door Escort sedan was introduced, with the LX-E trim serving as the Ford counterpart of the Mazda Protegé LX and four-door Escort GT (equipped with four-wheel disc brakes, larger front brakes, larger clutch, equal-length driveshafts, larger anti-roll bars, dual-outlet exhaust, sport interior, and 1.8L DOHC engine). For 1993 , 1.9-litre Escorts moved from 13-inch to 14-inch wheels (last used in 1990);

9184-484: The largest single fleet order ever received by Ford. In addition of the fitment of metric-unit instrument panels, the Tempo underwent several revisions for the Chinese market, including modifications of the fuel system to accommodate leaded fuel, heavier-duty suspension, and heavier-grade wiring. The initial government fleet order was originally intended for use as taxis and tourist vehicles; all were white-colored GL-trim four-door sedans. Following their importation,

9296-436: The model line, replacing the Escort L entirely for 1986. The Mazda diesel engine continued to be available in the five-door hatchback versions of the Lynx and Escort until discontinued after 1987. For 1987, the trim lineup was simplified to a three-version range, including the Pony, GL, and GT. The Pony and GT were offered solely as a three-doors; the GL was offered as a three-door, five-door, and wagon. The model year also saw

9408-414: The object is to induce a vehicle's body to remain as level as possible by forcing the opposite wheel's shock absorber , spring, or suspension rod in the same direction as the one being impacted. In a turn, a vehicle compresses its outer wheel's suspension. The anti-roll bar forces the opposite (inner) wheel's suspension to compress as well, thereby keeping the body in a more level lateral attitude. This has

9520-544: The only common components between the two vehicles are the CVH inline-4 engine and the ATX automatic transmission. The suspension is the same basic design between both cars, but again the components are not interchangeable. While sharing a common 94.2 inch wheelbase, the American Escort is longer and wider than the European version; most versions are fitted with a larger amount of chrome exterior trim typical of American vehicles of

9632-477: The opposite wheel, limiting understeer . Some anti-roll bars, particularly those intended for use in auto racing , are externally adjustable while the car is in the pit, whereas some systems can be adjusted in real time by the driver from inside the car, such as in Super GT . This allows the stiffness to be altered, for example by increasing or reducing the length of the lever arms on some systems, or by rotating

9744-438: The partial 1984 model year, it is unknown how many early 1985s were made. For 1987, the standard Escort adopted throttle-body fuel injection, dropping the carburetor; output again inched up to 90 hp (67 kW). The model year also saw the retirement of the diesel engine, discontinued due to low demand as American buyers largely gave up on diesel-engined cars during the 1980s (the proportion of diesel sales overall went from

9856-471: The period, and the altered proportions gave the car a heavier and more ungainly appearance than its European sister. In Europe, the Escort was produced in three body styles never developed for North America, including a 3-door station wagon, 2-door convertible, and a 2-door van. The European version also had a 4-door sedan derivative marketed separately under the Orion nameplate. The first-generation Ford Escort

9968-509: The previous three-door and five-door hatchbacks and five-door station wagon. While growing in wheelbase, the Escort saw only negligible growth in overall size, gaining less than two inches in length and approximately 100 pounds of weight. The US-market models have the automatic shoulder belts, while the Canadian market models (except for the GT and the sedan models until 1993) have the manual shoulder belts. For 1992 , to improve engine cooling,

10080-407: The radio. Also for 1985, the engine received a new central fuel injection (CFI) system, although the carbureted version was offered in Canada until 1987. The instrument panel featured a new, easier to read gauge layout, with all switches and controls placed within easy reach of the driver. In early 1985, the Tempo became the first production American automobile to feature a driver's side airbag as

10192-415: The rear deck was raised, reducing drag and resulting in greater fuel efficiency. Viewed from the side, the raised trunk imparted a wedge stance to the car which was especially prominent on the two-door coupes. The aerodynamic work resulted in a coefficient of drag ( C d {\displaystyle \scriptstyle C_{\mathrm {d} }\,} ) of 0.36 for the two-door Tempo, equal to that of

10304-405: The rear side windows were enlarged, and the rear-end design was more rounded. Larger, 14 inch wheels replaced 13 inch units on non-GTs and to accommodate passive-restraint regulations, the Escort received automatic shoulder safety belts. Three-door hatchback models had curving window lines along the sides towards the rear of the cars. The Escort EXP was discontinued and the LX trim replaced

10416-467: The retirement of the Mercury Lynx, replaced by the Mercury Tracer during 1987 (a rebranded Ford Laser, itself derived from the Mazda 323). 1987 was also the last year the Escort was built in Canada. The Escort saw a second facelift in mid-1988, commonly referred to as the "88.5" year, which smoothed out the front and rear fascias. The integrated plastic bumpers replaced the metal bumpers, while

10528-404: The second and third generations were also produced by Hermosillo Stamping and Assembly in ( Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico ). The North American Ford Escort began as an intended " world car " project by Ford in North America and Ford of Europe , which had sold cars branded "Ford Escort" since 1968. Ford had already tried to market some of its European models in the North American market, including

10640-480: The simplified track control arm of the original design. Various methods of decoupling the anti-roll bar have been proposed. The first production car to use a semi-active anti-roll bar was the 1988 Mitsubishi Mirage Cyborg. The 16-valve turbo model's "Dual Mode Suspension" has a dashboard- operated hydraulic actuator built into the front anti-roll bar link, allowing it to toggle between sport and touring modes. The Jeep Wrangler (JK, JL) and Jeep Gladiator (JT) also have

10752-505: The standard Escort was styled with a grille insert styled in line with the Ford Taurus and places the rear license plate between the taillamps (the Laser, into the rear bumper). The Escort sedan was styled with a body-color C-pillar, with black trim for the Laser (a design adopted for higher-trim Mercury Tracer sedans). In line with the previous generation, the Escort GT again adopted an asymmetrical grille insert. Unique to North America,

10864-414: The suspension's springs stiffer in the vertical plane, which allows improved body control with less compromise of ride quality . One effect of body lean, for typical unibody suspension geometry, is positive camber of the wheels on the outside of the turn and negative on the inside, which reduces their cornering grip (especially with cross ply tires). Anti-roll bars provide two main functions. The first

10976-422: The suspension, in addition to its usual function in controlling body roll. A strut suspension like MacPherson's requires a hinged lower member between the chassis and wheel hub to control the wheel position both inwards and outwards (controlling the track), and also forwards and backwards. This may be provided by a wishbone with a number of joints, or by using an additional radius rod . MacPherson's design replaced

11088-465: The third-generation Ford Laser (introduced in 1989). In North America, the Mercury Tracer now shared design commonality with the Escort. In a major design change, a four-door sedan joined the model line for the 1992 model year, sharing its underpinnings with the Mazda Protegé . The second-generation Ford Escort adopted the Mazda B platform (BG); in North America, the chassis was also used by

11200-721: The use of additional chrome trim. Similar to the Escort, the Lynx was introduced in base, L, GL, GS, LS, and RS trims; the Mercury LN7 was the divisional counterpart of the Ford EXP. A late addition for the 1983 model year, Mercury introduced the Lynx LTS (Luxury Touring Sedan ) in October 1982. The counterpart of the Escort LX, the HO engine equipped LTS was also fitted with blacked-out exterior trim, TRX aluminum wheels, low-back bucket cloth seats, and upgraded suspension, serving as

11312-559: The wishbone with a simpler and cheaper track control arm , with a single inboard joint, to control the track. Forward and backward position was controlled through the anti-roll bar. Overall this required a simpler and cheaper set of suspension members than with wishbones, also allowing a reduction in unsprung weight . As the anti-roll bar is required to control wheel position, the bars of a MacPherson strut suspension may be connected through ball joints. However many later "MacPherson strut" suspensions have reverted to using wishbones rather than

11424-533: The year. A basketweave type of wheel was put on the Tracer Trio while a flower petal pattern was used on the Tracer Sport. The Sport/Trio package included aluminum wheels, a sport exhaust tip, a tachometer and a rear decklid spoiler. Anti-roll bar An anti-roll bar ( roll bar , anti-sway bar , sway bar , stabilizer bar ) is an automobile suspension part that helps reduce the body roll of

11536-564: Was $ 13,990, equivalent to $ 27,622 in 2022. 1994 marked the last year for the HSC engine, the 2.5 L having been dropped from the Taurus in 1991. It was also the end for the 3-speed FLC automatic transmission, with the Ford Escort and Mercury Tracer using the Ford F-4EAT transmission . The last Ford Tempo was built at Oakville Assembly on May 20, 1994. The facility was retooled to build

11648-495: Was also the nameplate's best year. All model year production figures for the Tempo are as follows: During the early 1990s, in an attempt to ease trade tensions with the United States, China agreed to buy millions of dollars worth of automobiles from each of the Big Three American automakers ; the share of the deal for Ford was worth $ 32 million. Along with reducing Chinese dependence on imports of Japanese automobiles,

11760-503: Was badged simply as "GL", but was recognizable because it lacked the GL's chrome front and rear bumpers, had 14" alloy wheels and charcoal trim accents. First generation Tempo trim levels: First generation Topaz trim levels: For 1988, the Tempo and Topaz sedans were redesigned, while the coupes were facelifted — in each case more resembling their Taurus and Sable counterparts. Both cars arrived in November 1987. The Tempo received

11872-533: Was eventually scrapped in favor of replacing the car with an adapted version of the European Ford Mondeo, then late in development. By 1993 Ford had been losing money on the Tempo for a decade. While the Tempo had long been a loss leader for Ford, the incoming Contour was based on the Mondeo , one of the most expensive cars in Ford's European lineup. Ford was unsuccessful in drawing a distinction between

11984-538: Was launched on October 3, 1980, for the 1981 model year, with Lincoln-Mercury marketing the model line as the Mercury Lynx. Sharing a nearly identical wheelbase with the Pinto, the Escort grew in size over its predecessor, nearly six inches longer and over three inches taller. Alongside an unnamed base trim, the Escort was marketed in L, GL, GLX, and SS trim levels. For 1981, the Escort was initially introduced with three-door hatchback and five-door station wagon body styles;

12096-411: Was made to the five-speed transmission, moving the "reverse" position in the shift pattern from right beside first gear to the opposite bottom corner to reduce the likelihood of mistakenly selecting reverse rather than first gear during takeoff. Other changes for 1985 included a redesigned instrument panel with passenger side shelf, side window demisters, and a redesigned driver's pod with separate area for

12208-410: Was offered in LX and SE trims. For 1999, the reverse lights were moved into the same piece as the tail lamps; they were previously below the tail lamp on the body. A very rare trim package was offered in 1999 with chrome 14 in (36 cm) wheel covers and other features. The Escort was offered in a "Sport" package as well. The Mercury Tracer's version was called the "Trio" or "Sport" depending on

12320-418: Was replaced with a body-colored monochromatic piece, while the Topaz's chrome grille was replaced with a non-functional light-bar. Also for 1992, the 3.0 L Vulcan V6 engine from the Taurus and Sable was introduced as an option for the GL and LX models, and as the standard engine on the GLS. The 1992 model year was the last year of the GLS, as it and its Topaz counterpart were discontinued in 1993. This left

12432-447: Was replaced with the (more powerful) Escort GT the following year due to an interaction with General Motors' Chevrolet SS option package . The Ford EXP was introduced as a two-seat hatchback coupe (see below). Starting at a price of $ 5,518, the 1982 Escort became the best-selling Ford model line and the best-selling automobile nameplate in the United States. For 1983, the exterior was largely carryover, with most changes concentrated to

12544-476: Was the first US Escort to be offered with a 5-speed manual transmission. For 1984, two new engines were introduced. A Mazda-sourced, 2.0-litre diesel inline-four producing 52 hp (39 kW) became available on non-GT Escort/Lynx trims; in contrast to the diesel, a turbocharged version of the 1.6-litre four raised output to 120 hp (89 kW) for the EXP Turbo. The turbo engine then found its way into

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