Ford Probe

The Ford Probe is a sport compact coupe that was marketed by Ford from the 1988 to 1997 model years. Taking its name from a futuristic series of aerodynamic concept vehicles, the Probe was originally developed as the fourth-generation Ford Mustang. As news of the design change became discovered in the mid-1980s, a profoundly negative response to the potential new model convinced Ford to maintain the Mustang under its traditional pony car format. To recoup its investment in the project, Ford ultimately released the design under a different name, slotting it above the Escort and Tempo coupes and below the Mustang and Thunderbird. Developed in collaboration with Mazda, the Probe is a counterpart of the Mazda MX-6, using the Mazda G platform of the Mazda 626. Along with fuel-economy gains associated with the transition to front-wheel drive, the collaboration with Mazda was marketed by Ford with having lower production costs (over the previous Fox platform) and would be acceptable. Developed in the wake of the second fuel crisis, front-wheel drive had gained considerable popularity among consumers. In contrast with the Mustang competing nearly exclusively against the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird, the Ford Probe was a direct competitor against a much wider range of vehicles, including the Acura Integra, Isuzu Impulse, Nissan 200SX, and the Toyota Celica. The Probe was in the Flat Rock Assembly Plant (Flat Rock, Michigan), initially by Mazda Motor Manufacturing USA. In 1992, Ford purchased a 50% stake of the operation, becoming AutoAlliance International. For 1993, a second generation of the Probe was launched, again based on the MX-6/626. On March 17, 1997, Ford announced the discontinuation of the Probe; the third generation model line that was in development was rebranded as the Mercury Cougar, with the smaller Ford Escort ZX2 also replacing the model line.