The original Probe will ever be remembered as the car that almost replaced the Mustang. With all this, the Probe is at best a “half-American” car despite all-Ford styling and availability of the 3.0-liter Taurus V-6 on midrange LX models for 1990-92. (The base GL used a 2.2-liter Mazda four, the top-line GT a turbocharged version). A crisp four-door notchback bowed for 1992 in mid-range LX trim, breaking news app (just click the next article) and there was a sporty LX-E version with the GT’s engine and firm suspension, plus rear disc brakes — a kind of pint-size Taurus SHO. Nevertheless, the SHO was a very slow mover on the sales chart, mainly because there was no automatic option and the mandatory Mazda-supplied manual five-speed suffered balky, high-effort shift action. For 1988, Ford added a reengineered version of its 90-degree 3.8-liter V-6 as a new option. Here, Ford applied “mini-Taurus” styling to the latest version of Mazda’s small, front-drive 323/Protege to produce a competent Japanese-style subcompact with much greater sales appeal against rival Toyotas, Hondas, and Nissans. The plant also turned out MX-6s and 626 sedans for Mazda’s U.S. We shouldn’t leave this decade without mentioning the Probe, which was new for 1989. A sporty hatchback coupe based on Mazda’s MX-6, it was a high point for Dearborn’s then 15-year-old partnership with the Japanese automaker.
Though its new-for-’86 rear-drive Aerostar was way outpolled by Chrysler’s front-drive models, sales were consistent and high enough that Ford stayed the Aerostar’s planned 1994 execution, letting the older minivan run alongside the new front-drive Windstar. More­over, Taurus took over as the country’s top-selling car line in 1992 to end the Honda Accord’s three-year reign, though not without cash rebates and other sales incentives. By the mid-’90s, these truck successes added to the continuing popularity of Taurus and Escort to make Ford the sales leader in five vehicle segments: full-size pickups (F-Series), midsize car (Taurus), sporty-utility vehicles (Explorer), subcompact car (Escort), and compact pickup (Ranger). Ford sold over 236,000 of the ’86s and nearly 375,000 for ’87 — astounding for what was, after all, a very daring departure for a middle-class American car. Two different Dearborn regimes presided over this remarkable sales performance. Cited by many other bands as an influence, Fugazi had a very unique sound and two vocalists. They got one, and 1989 was showtime — or rather SHO time: a new “Super High Output” 3.0 V-6 with overhead-cam cylinder heads and four valves per cylinder (instead of two), plus dual exhausts.
Teens can also start a daily gratitude journal and use it to write a short paragraph about “One good thing that happened today.” High schoolers can also express thanks with a group community service project such as serving a meal to a homeless shelter or visiting a nursing home. Microsoft Exchange support means users can now synchronize their iPhones with their Microsoft Outlook accounts. Whatever features users liked in Wave will likely make their way into a future project or acquisition. Arriving in spring 1990 as an early-’91 model, it was another “world car,” though in the same way as Probe. The second-generation Probe was the last, with production ending in ’97. Chelsea broke records for all the wrong reasons as their 86-game unbeaten home record finally came to an end, with several surprise away losses effectively ending their title challenge (as well as resulting in manager Luiz Felipe Scolari being sacked), though they did win the FA Cup under caretaker manager Guus Hiddink.
The SHO came only in a sedan with standard antilock all-disc brakes, a handling package with larger antiroll bars, and 15-inch aluminum wheels wearing high-speed V-rated tires. Citing financial problems stemming from low oil prices, the dismissed individuals were offered salaries and benefits for six months as a severance package. At least it was cheap, and that combined with more efficient production in Mexico as well as Michigan to make for very low list prices: $7976 for the stark three-door Pony to more than $11 grand for the GT. So was the basic “CVH” engine retained for all Escorts save the sporty GT three-door. Though the CVH gained sequential-port fuel injection and distributorless electronic ignition, it remained a gruff and noisy slogger with just 88 horsepower. With all this, Ford Division remained “USA-1” in the early ’90s, selling well over a million cars a year and a like number of light trucks. Though it wouldn’t be evident on the road until middecade, Ford 2000 seemed a prudent plan in light of the automobile industry’s ever-increasing globalization. Remember, the patterns you plan into your design will be amplified by the clutter of everyday life.