Ford Aerostar
| Ford Aerostar | |
|---|---|
1992–1996 Ford Aerostar
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Ford |
| Production | June 1985 – August 22, 1997 |
| Model years | 1986–1997 |
| Assembly | Hazelwood, Missouri (St. Louis Assembly) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Minivan |
| Layout | |
| Platform | Ford VN1 platform |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2.3 L Lima I4 2.8 L Cologne V6 3.0 L Vulcan V6 4.0 L Cologne V6 |
| Transmission | five-speed manual 4-speed automatic 5-speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 118.9 in (3,020 mm) |
| Length | Standard-length:174.9 in (4,440 mm) Extended-length:190.3 in (4,830 mm) |
| Width | 71.7 in (1,820 mm) |
| Height | 72.2–74.0 in (1,830–1,880 mm) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | |
The Ford Aerostar is a minivan that was manufactured and marketed by Ford for the 1986 to 1997 model years in the United States and Canada; a limited number were exported outside North America. Deriving its name from becoming one of the most aerodynamic sleek vehicles sold by the company at the time of its introduction (in spite of being over six feet tall, the body of the Aerostar had a drag coefficient of Cd=0.37, besting the Lincoln Mark VII), the Aerostar was introduced shortly before the Ford Taurus in 1985 as a 1986 model.
Distinguished by its one-box slope-nosed body design, the Aerostar was produced as both a passenger van and cargo van in two body lengths; in contrast to the front-wheel drive Chrysler minivans, it was sold with both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive powertrains. Several major components of the Aerostar would be derived from the Ford Ranger; during most of its twelve-year production run, the Aerostar was marketed as part of the Ford light-truck model line.
For the 1995 model year, the passenger version of the Aerostar was replaced by the front-wheel drive Ford Windstar; Ford sold both minivans until the Aerostar was discontinued after the 1997 model year. The role of the cargo version has been most directly replaced by the Transit Connect, introduced for 2010. A total of 2,029,577 Aerostars were produced from 1985 to 1997. All production was sourced from the now-closed St. Louis Assembly Plant in Hazelwood, Missouri.
At Ford, development of a minivan began in the early 1970s as a companion model to the Econoline full-size van. As the company was readying the third-generation Econoline for a 1975 introduction, company product planners sought to develop the concept of a "garageable van" that could easily fit through a standard 7-foot-tall garage door opening. Dubbed Carousel, the vehicle was given a lower roofline and a rear body surrounded by glass (similar to the Chevrolet Nomad). Sharing its chassis with the standard-wheelbase van, the Carousel prototype was powered by a 460 cubic inches (7.5 L) V8 and an automatic transmission. In a key indication of its target market, the Carousel wore a rear tailgate with a drop-down rear window with simulated exterior woodgrain trim. Inside, it was fitted with two rear bench seats with interior trim similar to the Ford Country Squire and Mercury Colony Park.
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