Enrique Marco
For the test we have a completely original Ford Probe, one of the 4.552 that were sold in Spain until 1997. It is specifically one of the first units that the oval brand registered for a dealer in June 1993. And it did so initially only with this version of 6 cylinders, 163 CV and generous equipment.
The oval mark intended to attack the premium coupe segment, where the BMW 3 Series Coupe -the E36, with mechanics of up to 192 CV- and the Audi Coupe -whose S2 version reached 220 CV-. Although it also pointed to the leader of generalist coupes, the Opel Calibra -initially atmospheric 4-cylinder with 115 or 150 CV-.
And it succeeded, because in its first years of commercialization came to unseat Calibra in the registration ranking. The American model was convincing due to a combination of attractive bodywork, a powerful 24-valve aluminum engine inherited from Mazda, very complete equipment and a price of less than 4 million pesetas. In this way, it was maintained for half of the five years in which it was marketed on the category podium.
TOUGH COMPETITION
Of course, in a couple of years it already fell from the top sales, despite having also launched a version of access 2.0 16v of 115 CV. And it is that, on the one hand, its main competitor reacted with new and performance versions -Opel released a Calibra 2.0 Turbo 4×4 with 204 CV, as well as a front-wheel drive V6 and 170 CV- and, on the other, a good number brands also opted for coupes. These lived in their golden age in the 90s, we had more than a dozen brands involved with more than 20 models to choose from! A radically opposite scenario to the current one.
Because it's almost hard to remember the huge number of coupé options that the Spanish market offered in the mid-90s. We go there with the most representative: Audi Coupe (from 115 to 220 CV), BMW 3 Series Coupe (from 102 to 192 CV), Fiat Coupe (142 atmospheric and 195 CV Turbo), our Ford Probe, Honda Predule and Accord Coupe (from 136 to 185 CV), the original Mazda MX-3 (with the small 6-liter V1,8 and 133 CV) and Mazda MX-6 (same base on which Ford Probe is developed, and 167 CV) , Mitsubishi Eclipse (150 CV), Nissan 200 SX Turbo (169 CV), Opel Calibra (from 115 to 204 CV), Rover 200 Coupe (from 136 to 200 CV), Toyota Celica (the 3rd generation with double round headlights and 175 CV has just been launched), Volkswagen Corrado (from 136 to 190 CV of the VR6) and Volvo 480 (atmospheric 109 CV or turbo 120 CV)…
The thing does not end here, because after a short time more arrived, like the Alfa Romeo GTV. Or even a much cheaper model, with more basic mechanics and somewhat fair finishes, which since 1996 it “busted” the market: the Hyundai Coupe FX. It was around 2,5 million pesetas and was the outstanding leader in the category. These FX (1.6 with 114 CV or 2.0 with 138 CV) were sold "like donuts" in Spain, although today they hardly remain, even less in original condition. The truth is that Korean is much more complex to be well valued as a classic than any of the aforementioned.
Up to here the review of the panorama of this decade so fruitful for this type of sports car, which "lived happily and oblivious" to what 30 years later was going to happen with the simplification of ranges and the proliferation of SUVs. A summary in which we may have extended too much, but it is that the contrast with the current situation makes us very nostalgic To all of us who value this type of bodywork and concept.
THE ORIGINS OF THE FORD PROBE
And now, before getting fully into what a car like the Ford Probe meant in the 1993 domestic market, as well as how it behaves today, let's start by remembering how this original sports car was conceived. It was designed by a woman, Mimi Vandermolen., the first time that Ford entrusted such responsibility to a female.
The germ of this story starts with the Mazda 626 Coupe platform, on which Ford would manufacture the first generation of the Probe (474.892 copies) at its Flat Rock (Michigan) plant. It was launched in 1989 and was marketed until 1992, but it did not reach Europe. The relationship between Mazda and Ford It was not due to a specific agreement, but because the Ford Motor Company owned at that time a good percentage of the shareholding of the Japanese firm.
The truth is that this project had as its mission, on the one hand, replace the successful Ford Capri and, on the other, it was even considered to become a new generation of Mustang. Such a global idea did not get good reviews from fans of the famous “pony car”. The most classic American tastes required a V8 engine, a rear-wheel drive concept, more muscular lines and a “more American” product. And of course, the Probe had an all-Japanese chassis, engine and gearbox.
Thus, the idea was rejected and a new Mustang was launched for the USA, which had the ingredients that the purists wanted, since a V8 with more than 200 CV was included. Of course, the contempt for the modern coupe designed by Mimi Vandermolen is a bit questionable, since the option of access to the Mustang (3.8 V6 of 145 CV) did not offer better benefits than those of the Probe with the Japanese mechanics 2.5 V6 24v. As far as aesthetics is concerned, we will not pronounce ourselves because everything is a matter of taste, but this 4th generation of the Mustang did not stand out especially while the 2nd generation of the Probe did enjoy a line of great personality.
A DIFFERENT MODEL
So things, from the matrix it was decided that the Probe would be another complementary coupe to the Mustang, which would also be marketed in the local and Canadian markets. In addition, it was intended to assault the European continent and repeat the good reception that the Capri had had a few years ago.
Initially neither of the two projects went badly, and in the first years of both models (Mustang and Probe) more than 100.000 annual units of each of them were assembled from the state of Michigan. The difference is that that Mustang was in production until 2004 with constant sales, while those of the Probe fell resoundingly from 1995. Thus, in 1997, production ceased after having assembled a little more than 380.000 Probe of this generation. Of the previous one, which was not officially marketed in Spain, many more were made, about 475.000 between 1989 and 1992.
In short, they assembled a total of 855.000 units between the first and second generation. Much worse fared for his successor, the Ford cougar, also with a 2.5 V6 of similar power, but this time a self-produced Zetec that had nothing to do with Mazda.
ARRIVAL IN SPAIN
Centered already in 1993 and in our country, the appearance of the Ford Probe got a lot of attention. Its long body of 4,54 meters and barely 1,31 meters high, the retractable headlights, and the huge tires (225/50 R16) did not go unnoticed. His color palette was starring the "river red", although many were also seen in “electric blue”, in silver, in black and, much less, in “calypso green”.
It cost less than 4 million pesetas and came well equipped, since it only left metallic paint (46.000 pesetas) and the electric sunroof (115.000 pts) as extras. The standard equipment included sports seats with integrated headrests and electrically adjustable support (both lumbar and lateral), anti-lock brakes ABS, airbag for the driver or air conditioning, among other things.
THE FORD PROBE OF THE TEST
We get behind the wheel of this June 93 unit that you see in the photos, very well cared for and almost all her life in the same family. Only during the first months it was in the name of a dealer and, for a few months, in the hands of its current owner. It has 140.000 kilometers and only has the audio equipment as a non-original element.
It comes in the most common color in the range -river red- and with the standard seats with dark gray fabric upholstery, the only ones available until later the extra leather seats arrived (they cost 276.000 pesetas). They are not the most comfortable or sportiest seats we have tried. Of course, they surprise by an unusual element in cars of its price and time: the hydropneumatic side regulation With electric control, which helps you pick up the body very well.
Su fine-rimmed steering wheel with perforated leather, with a central part that includes the name of the model and the initials SRS -Supplementary Retention System-, that is, the airbag). The design of the entire dashboard is sober, but with a more than acceptable quality, a complete instrument panel and a decorative red stripe that runs from the door moldings to the entire front in an enveloping manner. The rear seats are more than acceptable except for very tall sizes, and the huge trunk for this type of body (420 liters capacity).
AT THE CONTROLS
It's time to put our Ford Probe 2.5 V6 24v to the test. We start and the first thing that is perceived is its finesse. He sound emitted by mechanics is very nice, although -in my opinion- excessively discreet. And it is that his vocation is not that of a pure sports car, but rather a "Gran Turismo", comfortable and fast, but without a great sporty touch. As in the acoustic issue, in terms of mechanical response we get some delicious sensations, although we cannot qualify them as exciting. That is to say, the Probe V6 24v pushes quite a bit and throughout the rev rangeIt revs decisively, without hesitation and with a certain joy, but it doesn't have any rev range in which it surprises the driver.
As far as dynamic behavior is concerned, it is outstanding, with safe cornering that generates a lot of confidence, great precision in the direction and a relatively good agility. Due to its tires and wheelbase, its ideal habitat is wide roads, but it is not averse to twisty mountain passes.
Meanwhile, its braking is energetic enough, with a good touch and with the guarantee of having ABS. Compared to the competition, it did not have the most capable front discs (curiously, the same size as the rear ones: 258 mm), since its competitors in many cases exceeded 280 mm on the front discs. In any case, for normal driving or even something sporty today they are more than enough.
ENOUGH SPENDING
Regarding the type of driving that we mentioned earlier, it also greatly influences consumption, one of the aspects for which some potential customers discarded this Probe V6 with its large tires. In no case spend little, but while on the highway at legal speeds it can be around an acceptable 9 l/100 km on average, little more than let's squeeze its mechanics we exceed 15 l/100 km. The average figure approved is no less than 11,2 l/100 km.
In short, what we are facing an effective and pleasant “GT” which stands out for an elastic and energetic response from idle to 5.400 rpm at which it offers its maximum torque of 216 Nm. Perhaps it does not stand out for its benefits, because declares 8,0 seconds in the acceleration record from 0 to 100 km/h, but in almost all the real measurements of the time it used to invest a few tenths more, compared to the brilliant accelerations of other generalist coupés that did manage to stop the clock under 8 seconds.
Now, in recoveries at medium regime, this 2.5 V6 multivalve engine yes he was one of the best. It also helps due to the correct staging of the gearbox and its weight content (1.269 kilos). And speaking of weight, 62,5% fell on the front axle, which, together with the 225 tires on a 16-inch rim, favored outstanding motor performance. Maybe for that reason didn't need the electronic traction controls that very shortly after would begin to become generalized.
BUSINESS PATH
After a first year leading sales, Probe 94 added version 2.0 16v to the range which was not very successful due to its low price difference with the V6. At the same time, they enriched the equipment with the airbag also for the passenger, the electric antenna and a remodeled rear which abandoned the unusual square license plate to go to the classic elongated horizontal.
With an ever-increasing offering of coupes, the magazines of that time pitted our protagonist against various models, in addition to the "cousin" Mazda MX-6. This one sold much less because it was no less than 700.000 pesetas more expensive, a difference that is difficult to justify, not even with its sophisticated directional rear axle. He Opel Calibra V6 of 170 CV was the closest by price, concept, performance and dynamism. Already in 1995, 96 and 97, the Probe went up in price up to 4,6 million pesetas, which even brought it closer to the premium segment. In this way, media like Car They compared it to the BMW 323i with 170 CV that the Bavarian firm had launched in 95.
And so we see that, for different reasons of price, competition, changes in the tastes of buyers, etc., the Ford Probe did not finish succeeding. It went from being the striking coupe that made an impact on its arrival due to its line and competitiveness, to one more of the many offered by the market, which were either very cheap (Hyundai Coupé FX) or mounted Turbo engines and with a similar price. They clearly gained in performance (Fiat Coupe Turbo, Opel Calibra Turbo, Rover 200 Coupe Turbo), or in prestige, despite being more expensive (5 and 6 cylinder Audi and BMW respectively).
For this reason, of the 4.552 Ford Probes sold in Spain, almost all of them correspond to the V6 version and to the first two years of commercialization.
THE FORD PROBE TODAY
We cannot end this test of the Ford Probe without talking about its current status as a collectible. There are few left in an original state, so whoever likes it and finds it, buy it now! Its price is still quite low and there are units in good condition for less than 5.000 euros, which, compared to many rivals, is half the price!
Because it is worth asking for more for a 3-cylinder BMW 6 Series Coupé, I am not saying anything if it is an Audi S2, nor a Calibra Turbo (because of being a 4×4, very fast and with links to the competition), but for the VW Corrados G60 or VR6 they are asking today double that for a Ford Probe V6… It is clear that there is no objective justification.
As said, now that just turned 30, and that we have reminded you of the interesting history of this American with Japanese technology, it is time to claim it as a collectible classic. In a few years there will be less and they will cost much more; And if you don't believe me, time to time.
Photographs by Fernando Villaro and Enrique Marco.
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FORD PROBE 2.5 V6 24V |
|
| Motor | transverse front |
| Displacement | 2.497 cm3 |
| Cylinders | V-6 |
| Diameter x stroke | 84,2 x 74,2 mm |
| Maximum power | 163 CV to 5.400 rpm |
| Maximum torque | 216 Nm to 4.580 rpm |
| Food | Electronic injection |
| Compression ratio | 9,2:1 |
| Distribution | overhead camshaft, 24 valve |
| Fuel | Petrol |
| Traction | Lead |
| Gearbox | five speed manual |
| Clutch | dry single disc |
| Chassis | Self-supporting |
| Bodywork | 2-door 4-seater coupe |
| Front suspension | McPherson Independent |
| Rear suspension | McPherson Independent |
| Address | assisted zipper |
| Brakes | 258mm discs front and rear, ABS |
| Length/width/height | 4.585 / 1.773 / 1.310 mm |
| Ways | 1.510 mm |
| Battle | 2.610 mm |
| Weight : | 1.269 kg |
| Tires | 7Jx16” |
| Tires | 225 / 50 R16 |
| Deposit | 59 liters |
| Consumer goods | 11,2l/km |
| Trunk | 420 liters |
| Maximum speed | 220 km/h |
| Acceleration 0 to 100 km/h | 8,0 s |
| year of presentation | 1993 |
| years of production | 1993 – 1997 |
| year unit tested | 1993 |
| Units produced | 380.251 worldwide (55.513 Europe) |
