There aren`t any all-new cars coming from Ford Motor Co. until midyear, when the subcompact Mercury Tracer and Merkur Scorpio appear.
Tracer is an offshoot of the Mazda 323 built by the Japanese automaker, in which Ford owns an equity interest. Tracer will be assembled in Mexico. The Scorpio is the luxury 4-door sedan companion to the Merkur XR4Ti 2-door coupe imported from Ford of Europe.
Yet while `87 starts out as one of those ”years of refinements” at Ford, the automaker has done more than just turn horizontal grilles vertically. Ford has done a lot of little things that could pay some big dividends.
The sporty Mustang has new a interior and exterior and the louvered rear taillights and plastic cosmetics on the GT version are eye popping.
Thunderbird also will attract a few stares now that the front end has been redone for 1987; its sister car, the Mercury Cougar, has a fresher look, too.
For those who consider performance to mean getting through the snow, the compact Ford Tempo and Mercury Topaz will offer 4-wheel-drive versions for the first time.
Truck fanciers will spot the restyling on the F-series, but appreciate more what they don`t see, the new rear wheel antilock system that`s standard for 1987.
Here`s a brief rundown on what`s new at Ford in the upcoming model year:
Escort/Lynx–Confusion as L, GS, GL, LX designations revamped. Standard 1.9-liter four-cylinder engines now fuel injected.
Mustang (Capri is gone)–SVO series discontinued; 2.3-liter four upgraded from carburetion to fuel injection; five-speed manual replaces four-speed and four-speed automatic replaces three-speed; 20 horsepower boost in 5-liter, fuel-injected V-8 while 3.8-liter V-6 is dropped; exterior styling changes in all with focus on GT and new lower air dam, integrated fender extensions with air scoop and round fog lamps, flared rocker moldings, and large decklid spoiler.
Tempo/Topaz–4-wheel-drive models in each series with automatic standard. Tempo also adds power steering as standard in all models.
Taurus/Sable–Forget new items, the trick here is to build enough cars to satisfy demand. Larger batteries. Manually controlled air standard on Sable LS, air and tilt wheel standard on Taurus MT-5, power seats on LX, AM radio on L.
Thunderbird/Cougar–T-Bird Elan now LX; Sport version has floor-mounted automatic, tinted glass and manually controlled air standard. On the turbo model, the 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine is now intercooled; new front end on turbo minus a grille; 4-wheel antilock brakes standard; automatic ride control suspension; larger 16-inch wheels. On Cougar, GS series dropped; automatic overdrive replaces three-speed automatic; 5-liter V-8 replaces the 2.3-liter fuel-injected turbo as standard on the XR-7; manual air and tinted glass standard, but power windows optional.
LTD Crown Vic/Grand Marquis–Air, tinted glass, digital clock now standard on LTD, manually controlled air and single key for door/ignition standard on Grand Marquis.
Town Car, Continental, Mark VII–Electronic AM/FM stereo with cassette and six speakers and premium sound standard on Town Car along with
conventional size spare; larger battery for Continental; battery/alternator upgrade on Mark.
Among trucks, chassis cabs dropped from the Ranger line; rear antilock brakes standard on Bronco, Bronco II, and F-Series trucks; multiport fuel injection added to 4.9-liter six-cylinder engine in Bronco, F-Series, Econoline and Club Wagon; 3-liter V-6 standard on Aerostar van along with AM radio/digital clock.
GENERAL MOTORS
Here`s a brief rundown of what`s new for 1987 at Pontiac and Olds.
Pontiac: Cars come and go, but the Bonneville name lives on at Pontiac. For 1987, the Bonneville monicker that once graced the full-size, rear-drive model and then went on the midsize, rear-drive model, is now on Pontiac`s new front-wheel drive, full-size H-body cousin to the Olds 88 and Buick LeSabre. The rear-drive Parisienne is dropped.
Built on the same 110.8-inch wheelbase and the same length as the Olds and Buick H`s, 198.7 inches, Bonneville is offered only as a 4-door sedan, but in three versions: base, LE, and SE, which is a sporty version with special suspension, gauges and the like. When the Delco-Bose sound system is purchased with the SE, radio controls are housed in the steering-wheel hub as with the 6000 STE.
Standard equipment on all Bonnevilles includes Buick`s 3.8-liter V-6 with sequential port injection, four-speed automatic, power brakes and steering, air conditioning and tinted glass.
The sporty subcompact Firebird adds a GTA option for the Trans Am. On the outside there`s special ornamentation and a body-colored aero wing spoiler. Inside, the GTA is powered by the same 5.7-liter tuned-port injection V-8 as the Chevy Corevette. Teamed with a four-speed automatic overdrive, the GTA boasts 210 h.p. and a zero-to-60 m.p.h. time of 6.5 seconds. There`s also performance suspension with stabilizer bars, quick response power steering, tuned springs and shocks.
The Firebird Formula returns after a one-year absence in `86 with a domed hood, body-colored aero wing spoiler, Formula graphics, and the 5.7 TPI V-8, with automatic only as an option. The base Firebird coupe drops the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine in favor of a 2.8-liter multiport fuel injected V-6 and new five-speed manual developed in cooperation with Getrag of West Germany.
Grand Am, Pontiac`s best seller, will offer a 2-liter MPI four cylinder with turbocharger, 5-speed, and 165 h.p. Automatic is an option. Fiero GT gets the Getrag five-speed as standard, teamed with a 2.8-liter 135 h.p. V-6. Base and sport coupe get new front and rear ends and all Fiero fuel tanks hold 12 gallons, up from 10.
The midsize 6000STE has the 2.8-liter MFI V-6 as standard (optional on all other 6000s) with a new four-speed automatic with overdrive. The Getrag will be offered later in the year and you can expect it will be on a special high-performance model. Four wheel antilock brakes are standard on the STE, which also comes with a radio system that disables itself if removed from the car, to discourage thieves.
The subcompact Sunbird GT gets a new 2-liter overhead cam MFI turbocharged 165 h.p. engine as standard, teamed with five-speed; the rear-drive Grand Prix remains as does the rear-drive Safari wagon that was called Parisienne in `86; while the T-1000, cousin to the Chevy Chevette, enters its last model year. In 1987, perhaps midyear, Pontiac will import about 80,000 subcompacts from Daewoo, of South Korea, to take the T-1000`s place.
Bonneville and Grand Am will have automatic safety belt systems later in the model year, in which the driver or passenger simply sits in the seat and the belts fasten around them when the door is closed.
Olds: Reacting to criticism that GM cars look alike, Olds offers a Touring Sedan version of the 98 and a Trofeo version of the Toronado for 1987 in an attempt to set Olds models apart from Buick and Cadillac. To make room, Olds drops the base 2-door 98 Regency coupe.
One sure way to be unique was Olds plan to offer a luxury sports 2-plus-2 model based on the compact N-body Calais. Cadillac has its $50,000 2-seater Allante, Buick will have its 2-seater Reatta in 1988, but sadly, the 2-plus-2 Olds has been vetoed by higher-ups in GM.
The 98 Touring Sedan will be offered later in the year and will feature lots of leather and walnut interior trim, a floor-mounted four-speed automatic, and the 3.8-liter V-6 engine.
The Trofeo (Tro-fay-oh means trophy in Spanish and Italian) Toro features blackened out exterior trim, which Olds says adds international flavor. Inside the seats are covered with perforated leather.
Focusing on youth, the subcompact Firenza offers the FE3 sports suspension for firm handling and the Getrag five-speed as standard with the 2.8-liter V-6 in the GT. The base 1.8-liter four is replaced by a 2-liter four.
The midsize Ciera A-body adds a new aerodynamic coupe roofline in S and SL trim levels plus base and Brougham sedan models to set the line off from its Buick Century, Pontiac 6000, and Chevy Celebrity A-body cousins. A new Brougham wagon also is added. The rear-drive Cutlass Supreme continues.
In 1988 GM will offer downsized, front-drive W-body replacements for the Supreme, Buick Regal, Pontiac Grand Prix rear-drive cars. It looks as if GM might continue offering those rear-drive cars for a brief period in 1988 and for a time the front-drive and rear-drive cars would be offered at the same time.
The Calais and 88 will add automatic passive belt systems which fasten around front-seat occupants when they close the door. Later in the year Toronado will add lap and shoulder belts for rear-seat passengers.
MAILBAG
I`ve noticed my Dodge Caravan leans about one inch to the right up front. And I`ve seen others lean, too. Help!
R.G.–Arlington Heights
We called our Dodge mechanic expert, who said: ”Some police cars have a two-inch lean. Because there always will be a driver and the extra weight on the left hand side, the lean compensates for the weight when going over bumps and reduces body roll when taking corners and turns.”
Jim Mateja`s Autos column appears twice weekly, Sunday and Monday, in The Tribune`s Business Section.
