Friday, May 1 4 Photo submitted THE FORD Probe was developed in a joint venture between Ford and Mazda: both the Probe and the new Mazda MX-6 are built at a Mazda manufacturing plant in the Ford Probe Contemporary design refines front-wheel-drive sports coupe United States. THE FIRST Ford Probe, introduced in 1988, was intended to be a replacement for the aging Mustang. But prior to its introduction, the Ford Motor Company discovered that the typical Mustang-buyer didn’t like the Probe’s front- wheel-drive layout, swoopy cab-forward styling or its contemporary high-tech nature. Fortunately for Ford, this turn- ed out to be a blessing in disguise. Both sporty coupes found their own particular buyers in the mar- ketplace and Ford now has two sporty coupes instead of one. The 1993 Probe continues to be a modern front-wheel-drive sports coupe with contemporary styling and civilized road manners. The Probe was developed in a joint venture between Ford and Mazda; Ford did the styling and Mazda did most of the engineering. Both the Probe and the new Mazda MX-6 are built at a Mazda manufacturing plant in the United States. Approximately five centimetres longer and five centimetres wider than the previous model, the new Probe has a wider, more ag- gressive stance. By lowering the cowl height (base of windshield) by almost eight centimetres and moving the forward point of the windshield forward by {0 cen- timetres, the new Probe nas been given an even more contemporary “‘cab-forward’* appearance. The low cowl also contributes to im- proved forward vision over the hood. Though it’s an all-new design, some identity cues remain from the old Probe, such as pop-up headlamps, wraparound, frameless rear window glass, and big Greg Wilson TEST DRIVE wraparound taillamps. Two models are available: the base Probe and the sportier Probe GT. The former is powered by a new 115-horsepower 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with twin overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. Despite its small size (the previous standard engine has 2.2 jitres), the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine has slightly more horsepower and is a smoother-operating twin-cam design. It is also quieter with fewer vibrations, and fuel economy is also slightly better than the previous engine. The same goes for the new 2.5-litre V6 engine in the Probe GT. It is more powerful (164 horsepower) than the previous 3.0-litre V6 and the turbocharged four-cylinder unit (which has been discontinued). Acceleration is just as quick; 0 to 169 km/h takes just eight seconds. And with its smooth, even power progression, the new V6 overcomes the prob- lem of ‘torque steer’’ in the tur- bocharged unit. The sudden surge of power from the turbocharged engine through the front wheels often made steering difficult and unpredictable. Both the standard five-speed manual transmission and _ four- speed automatic transmissions have been refined for smoother shifting. The manual unit now has a shorter, quicker throw, and lighter clutch action. The automatic transmission now senses the speed at which the pedal is depressed, shifting down one or two gears, depending on what’s needed to generate acceleration. ! liked both units. The new Probe also makes con- siderable gains in ride and han- dling. Subjectively, it feels lower, tighter, more stable and well- balanced. It’s also more forgiving should you rush into a corner too quickly. The steering is very precise and accurate, and combin- ed with excellent visibility, power- ful brakes, and a_ responsive powertrain, the Probe is now a more enjoyable and safer driving machine. The GT, of course, is more of a driver's car. It offers a_ stiffer suspension, four wheel disc brakes, cptional anti-lock brakes, fog lamps, and wider P225/50VR 16-inch performance radial tires mounted on aggressive-looking aluminum alloy wheels. Inside, there’s a leather-wrapped steering wheel, power driver’s seat, console and armrest, and a rear cargo net. The new Probe’s interior is much more attractive and ac- commodating than before. The front reclining sport seats have better lateral support to hold you snugly when negotiating turns. The lower dash height, blacked- out dash area, and intelligent positioning of controls and in- struments are very user-friendly. A driver’s-side airbag is now standard equipment. Rear passen- gers, though, still take a back seat in terms of comfort. Legroom is minimal and access is awkward. Price as tested approx. $19,000 Type two-door, four-passenger coupe Layout transverse engine/front wheel drive Engine 2.5-litre V6, DOHC x 2, 24 valves, electronic sequen- tial fuel injection Horsepower 164 @ 6,000 rpm Torque 156 lb.-ft @ 4,000 rpm Transmission five-speed man- ual (four-speed automatic) front Like the previous model, and unlike the Mazda MX-6, the new Probe is a hatchback design. The trunk is rather small and the sill is very high, but the fold-down rear seats and hatchback door make it possible to load large, bulky ob- jects when moving day comes around. Standard equipment on all Pro- bes includes a full analogue in- strument cluster, AM/FM stereo radio with four speakers, split fold-down rear seats, and power rack-and-pinion steering. Options are numerous, including air condi- tioning, power sunroof, remote keyless entry, anti-theft system, and premium sound systems. Suggested retail prices were not confirmed at press time, but the base model is expected to start under $16,000, and the GT under $19,000. In my opinion, that’s ex- cellent value in the medium-sized sporty coupe class. Curb weight 1,277 kg/2,815 tbs. Wheelbase 2,614 mm/102.9 in. Length 4,544 mm/178.9 in. Width 1,773 mm/69.8 in. Height 1,316 mm/S51.8 in. Tires P225/50VR16 stecl-belted radials Trunk cu.ft. Fuel economy n/a Warranty complete three yrs/ 60,000 kms faquire about the 1993 Ford Probe at Dave Buck Ford, 879 Marine Dr., North Van. space 314 litres/11.0