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Ford Meteor

Ford Laser
2000 Ford Laser (KN) LXi sedan (2015-07-03) 01.jpg
Overview
Manufacturer Ford
Also called Ford Meteor (Australia)
Production 1981–2002
Assembly Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Taoyuan City, Taiwan (Ford Lio Ho, CKD)
Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Hai Duong, Vietnam
Rayong, Thailand (AAT)
Homebush, Australia
Japan
Wiri, New Zealand
Indonesia
United States
Mexico
Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines
Valencia, Venezuela
Bogotá, Colombia
Pretoria, South Africa
Willowvale, Zimbabwe
Body and chassis
Class Compact
Related Ford Capri
Ford Escort
Mazda 323
Mercury Tracer
Chronology
Predecessor Ford Escort
Successor Ford Focus
First generation (KA, KB)
1982 Ford Laser (KA) Ghia 5-door hatchback (22643862523).jpg
Ford Laser (KA) Ghia 5-door
Overview
Also called Ford Meteor (sedan)
Production 1981–1985 (Laser)
1982–1985 (Meteor)
Body and chassis
Body style 3-door hatchback
4-door sedan
5-door hatchback
Related Mazda Familia/323 (BD)
Powertrain
Engine 1.1 L E1 I4 (petrol)
1.3 L E3 I4 (petrol)
1.5 L E5 I4 (petrol)
1.5 L E5T I4-T (petrol)
Transmission 4-speed manual
5-speed manual
3-speed automatic
Second generation
1985-1987 Ford Laser (KC) Ghia 5-door hatchback 01.jpg
Ford Laser (KC) Ghia 5-door
Overview
Production Japan: 1985–1989
Australia: 1985–1990 (sedan, hatchback)
Australia: 1986–1994 (wagon)
New Zealand: 1980s–1996 (wagon)
South Africa: 1986–1995
Body and chassis
Body style 2-door convertible
3-door hatchback
4-door sedan
5-door hatchback
5-door station wagon
Powertrain
Engine 1.3 L E3 I4 (petrol)
1.5 L E5 I4 (petrol)
1.6 L B6 I4 (petrol)
1.6 L B6T I4-T (petrol)
Third generation (KF, KH)
1990 Ford Laser (KF) Ghia 5-door hatchback (20914599494).jpg
Ford Laser (KF) Ghia hatchback
Overview
Also called Ford Escort (North America)
Production Japan: 1989–1994
Australia: 1990–1994
New Zealand: 1990–1996
Body and chassis
Body style 3-door hatchback
4-door sedan
5-door hatchback
Dimensions
Length 4,270 mm (168 in) (Japan)
Width 1,695 mm (66.7 in) (Japan)
Fourth generation (KJ, KL, KM)
1995 Ford Laser (KJ) Liata LXi 5-door hatchback (2015-07-14) 01.jpg
Ford Laser (KJ) Liata LXi 5-door (Australia)
Overview
Also called Ford Aztec (Taiwan; 3-door)
Ford Liata (Taiwan; 4-door)
Production 1994–1998
Body and chassis
Body style 4-door sedan
3-door hatchback
5-door hatchback
Powertrain
Engine 1.8 L I4
1.6 L I4
Fifth generation (KN, KQ)
Ford Laser Lidea Wagon 001.JPG
Ford Laser (KN) Lidea hatchback (Japan)
Overview
Also called Ford Life (hatchback)
Ford Tierra (sedan)
Production 1998–2002
Body and chassis
Body style 4-door sedan
5-door hatchback
Powertrain
Engine 1.8 L
2.0 L
1.6 L

The Ford Laser was a compact car which was sold by Ford in Asia, Oceania, and parts of South America, and Africa. It has generally been available as a sedan or hatchback, although convertible, wagon and pick-up versions have also been available in different markets. The sedan, and briefly station wagon, versions were labelled Ford Meteor in Australia between 1981 and 1987.

The Ford Laser was a restyled version of the Familia/323 models produced by Mazda in Japan from 1980 onwards. Ford had acquired a 25% stake in Mazda in 1979.

Platform and assembly-line sharing with the locally produced Mazda Familia in Japan allowed the Laser in that market to be offered with a plethora of engine, paint and trim configurations not available anywhere else in the world. This was most notably evident during the 1980s with multiple turbocharged variants, unique bodyshells such as the cabriolet, and full-time 4WD models all available years before their debuts in other markets (and in some cases, never making it offshore at all). Along with the Japanese produced Ford Telstar and Ford Festiva, the Laser was sold at special Autorama dealerships.

In Australia and New Zealand, where Ford was seen as a local brand, the locally assembled Laser outsold its Mazda twin, the 323, especially in Australia, where the 323 was imported. According to research carried out by Ford Australia in 1984, a third of Laser buyers were unaware that the Ford model was based on the Mazda 323.

However, in neighbouring Asian markets, such as Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong, as well as Japan itself, the reverse was the case, although pooling resources with Mazda allowed Ford to maintain a foothold in the region. This was also the case in South America, South Africa, and the Caribbean, where the Laser was also sold, in many cases being locally assembled.

The KA Laser (Australian model code), built under license from Mazda, was introduced in March 1981, replacing the rear-wheel-drive Escort in Australia. The range was available as a hatchback, in both three- and five-door varieties, as well as a four-door sedan badged Ford Meteor. Originally sold only with the 1.3-litre engine, the smaller 1.1-litre engine was never available in Australia. Later, 1.5-litre versions were added, eventually even a turbocharged version. In January 1983, the Laser underwent a facelift to become the KB. Light changes were made to the rear, while the front was redesigned in a more modern style, aligning it with Ford's corporate look of the era.


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