Ford Tempo
| Ford Tempo | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Ford |
| Also called |
|
| Production | 1983–1994 |
| Model years | 1984–1994 |
| Assembly | United States: Claycomo, Missouri (Claycomo Assembly) Canada: Oakville, Ontario (Oakville Assembly) |
| Designer | Jack Telnack |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Compact |
| Platform | Ford CE14 platform |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Ford Fairmont / Mercury Zephyr |
| Successor |
Ford Contour / Mercury Mystique Ford Taurus / Mercury Sable |
| First generation | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Model years | 1984-1987 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | |
| Related | |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission | |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 99.9 in (2,537 mm) |
| Length | 176.7 in (4,488 mm) |
| Width | 68.3 in (1,735 mm) |
| Height | 52.7 in (1,339 mm) |
| Second generation | |
|---|---|
.JPG) |
|
| Overview | |
| Model years | 1988-1994 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 4-door sedan |
| Related | |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission | |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 99.9 in (2,537 mm) |
| Length | 177.0 in (4,496 mm) |
| Width | 68.3 in (1,735 mm) |
| Height | 52.9 in (1,344 mm) |
| Curb weight | 2,723 lb (1,235 kg) |
The Ford Tempo and its twin, the Mercury Topaz, are compact cars that were produced by Ford for model years 1984 to 1994. They were downsized successors to the boxy Ford Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr twins. The Tempo and Topaz were part of a rejuvenation plan by Ford to offer more environmentally friendly, fuel efficient, and more modern styled models to compete with the European and Japanese imports. While the car sold well, its innovation and aerodynamic design paved the way for the even more groundbreaking Ford Taurus. The Tempo and Topaz were replaced in 1995 by the "world car" platform sold in North America as the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique, and also by the larger Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable.
Although built on a different platform, the aerodynamic Ford Sierra was somewhat of a European counterpart to the Tempo. It replaced the boxy, rear-wheel-drive Ford Cortina while the Tempo did the same for the Fairmont in North America. The Sierra too was succeeded by Ford's world car platform in the form of the Ford Mondeo.
The design and life of the Tempo began in the late 1970s as Ford was gearing to build towards a more ergonomic, more efficient, and more aerodynamic design philosophy. The new design philosophy rested in part due to the aging Ford Pinto and Ford Maverick, and two oil embargoes which led to a rise in more fuel-efficient import vehicle sales. Taking note of this, Ford set out to revolutionize the automotive industry, and would later lay the groundwork for three revolutionary vehicles: The 1983 Thunderbird (and its Mercury counterpart, the Cougar), the 1984 Tempo (and its Mercury counterpart, the Topaz), and the yet-to be released Taurus (and its Mercury counterpart, the Sable). The Tempo and Topaz would be based on a stretched version of the front-wheel-drive Ford CE14 platform used on the Ford Escort, but with a radical new body. Being based on the CE14 platform meant the Tempo and Topaz, unlike its Fairmont and Zephyr predecessors, were front-wheel-drive. By making them front-wheel drive, interior space was much larger than if they had been rear-wheel-drive. The transaxle designs also borrowed heavily from the Ford Escort. However, there were few common components due to the Tempo and Topaz's larger size.
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