Meeting The Competition Head On

The Ford Probe, first introduced in 1988, has been a top contender in one of the most competitive market segments in the industry. For 1993, Ford introduces an all new Probe and Probe GT with features to meet and exceed the expectations of the drivers of the 90's.

In this class of vehicle, the exterior sets the tone. The road hugging, aerodynamic appearance is achieved by a cab-forward design, a cowl that is almost three inches lower, and increased windshield slope. Cab forward means: Shortening the front overhang (four inches shorter than before), pulling the cab forward and moving the wheels out to the corners to provide a roadholding stance.

Body Construction

The body of the new Probe is lighter and more rigid than that of the previous model. This stiffness gives the new Probe significantly reduced levels of noise, vibration and harshness.

By positioning the engine slightly rearward, weight distribution has been improved. It is now 60/40 front/rear (with two front seat passengers).

A New Suspension System

The new Probe has a redesigned strut-type front suspension. Gone are the electric stepper motors for the adjustable dampers on the previous model. A new geometry, a wider stance and an increase in caster helps eliminate the understeer tendency common to front-wheel drive vehicles.

In the rear, the new suspension design allows the toe-in of the rear tires to change according to cornering loads. When the lateral force is slight, the rear wheels remain neutral. This improves the turn-in characteristics of the car and maintains a mild understeer when exiting a corner. Under heavy lateral force, the rear wheels toe in for improved rear tire grip. This design also helps improve control during lane-change maneuvers.

New, larger tires, combined with a wider stance, also contribute to the improved traction and road holding characteristics of both new Probe models. Besides being larger, the GT tires feature a unique internal construction and tread compound designed to optimize the GT's ride and handling performance.

Getting Behind The Wheel

Behind the wheel is where the driver of a performance car wants to be. The new Probe reflects a lot of attention to driver comfort and convenience. On the driver oriented instrument panel, important operating information is located directly within line of sight beneath a low windshield cowl line. The cluster features analog gauges, including a tachometer.

In the center of the steering wheel, a standard driver's side air bag supplemental restraint system is housed. This safety feature is complemented by optional anti-lock brakes with four wheel disc brakes.

Both Probe models come with precise, power-assist rack and pinion steering featuring 2.9 turns lock-to-lock. This very quick and responsive steering system has an engine-speed sensitive pressure switch. This switch provides maximum assist at low engine speeds for easier low-speed maneuvers and less assist at higher speeds to give the driver better road feel.

Two New Engines

The standard Probe is powered by an all-new 2.OL 16valve I-4 engine with multi-port electronic fuel injection. This engine generates 115 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 124 ft. Ibs. of torque at 3,500 rpm. The combination of higher engine output and lower weight makes the new standard Probe quicker than the previous model with its 2.2L SOHC 12-valve I-4. Fuel economy has also been improved by two to three miles per gallon.

The new Probe GT is also powered by an all-new engine. It's a 2.5L DOHC 24-valve multi-port V-6. This is one of the lightest and most compact V-6 engines on the market. It develops 164 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 156 ft. Ibs. of torque at 4,000 rpm. With this power plant, the Probe GT is capable of 0-60 mph performance in about 7.5 seconds ...comparable to the performance of the turbocharged engine on previous Probe GT's.

Transaxles

Standard with both of these engines is a 5-speed manual overdrive transaxle. Optional is a revised and improved version of the automatic 4-speed electronic overdrive transaxle used on previous Probes.

Special Touches

There's no reason that a performance vehicle like the Probe shouldn't offer special touches that make driving and ownership safer and more fun. Here are just a few.

We have already mentioned the standard driver-side air bag and the option of ABS brakes. The Probe has its own unique steering wheel, unlike the standard wheel used on other Ford and Lincoln-Mercury vehicles with air bags. Besides a sporty appearance, this steering wheel has larger horn buttons for easier operation.

For the owner's peace of mind, an optional remote keyless entry system may be combined with an anti-theft system to deter would-be thieves. The anti-theft system helps protect against break-ins and thefts by monitoring all doors and the trunk lock cylinder. When someone tries to break into the vehicle, the headlamp and hazard lights flash and the horn honks. This continues for five minutes. Equally important, the starter circuit is disabled until the system is disarmed.

On vehicles equipped with power door locks, there is a new feature that allows one or both doors to be unlocked from the outside with the key. Turning the key to the first detent unlocks the door the key is in. Turning the key further unlocks the other door also. Turning the key in the opposite direction locks both doors.

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