Ford EXP
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ford EXP | |
| Manufacturer: | Ford Motor Company |
|---|---|
| Production: | 1982-1988 |
| Successor: | Ford Probe |
| Class: | Sport compact |
| Body style: | 3-door hatchback |
| Platform: | FF CE14 |
| Related: | Ford Escort Ford Tempo Mercury LN7 Mercury Topaz |
| Similar: | Dodge Charger Honda CRX Nissan Pulsar Toyota Celica |
| Ford EXP | |
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| Also called: | Mercury LN7 |
|---|---|
| Production: | 1982-1985 |
| Engine: | 1.6 L CVH I4 |
| Transmission: | 4-speed IB4 manual 5-speed MTX-III manual 3-speed ATX/FLC automatic |
| Ford Escort EXP | |
| Production: | 1986½-1988 |
|---|---|
| Engine: | 1.9 L CVH I4 |
| Transmission: | 4-speed IB4 manual 5-speed MTX-III manual 3-speed ATX/FLC automatic |
The Ford EXP and the similar Mercury LN7 were three-door hatchbacks based on the Ford Escort and Mercury Lynx.
[edit] First generation (1982-1985)
Both the EXP and LN7 were introduced as separate models from the Escort and Lynx in spring 1981 as early 1982 models (becoming Ford's first entry in the sport compact game) and used a 1.6 L CVH I4 engine rated at 70 hp (52 kW), later upped to 80 hp (59 kW). The EXP was also Ford's first two-seater since the 1957 Ford Thunderbird. There was a 4-speed IB4 manual and 5-speed MTX-III manual transmission offered with a 3-speed ATX/FLC automatic as an option.
The EXP lasted until mid-1988, but the LN7 was gone after the 1983 model year. The only difference between the two was that the LN7 had a 10-slat grille while the EXP's grille had 2 slats. The LN7's hatchback also featured a compound rear window while the EXP had a notchback-style hatchback. After the LN7 was discontinued, the EXP received the LN7's compound rear window.
In 1984, the Turbo Coupe was introduced and came with a turbocharged version of the 1.6 L CVH engine, rated at 120 hp (89 kW).
[edit] Second generation (1986½-1988)
The EXP was briefly discontinued from April 1985 to mid-1986 due to its unpopular styling and less than adequate performance. In mid-1986, the redesigned EXP appeared with flush-mounted headlights instead of the "frog-eye" headlights the original EXP had, and was now known as the Ford Escort EXP.
Sport Coupes came with a 1.9 L CVH engine rated at 106 hp (79 kW), while Luxury Coupes had a throttle-body injected version of the 1.9 L engine rated at 90 hp (67 kW). The last Sport Coupe was produced in 1987 and featured a multi-port fuel injected version. That increased the Sport Coupe's power rating to 115 hp (85 kW).
The EXP was discontinued in October 1988 to make way for the upcoming Ford Probe.
