Information AboutFord Exp |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT FORD EXP | |
| ford vehicles | |
| exp | |
| front wheel drive vehicles | |
| compact cars | |
| hatchbacks | |
| 1980s automobiles | |
| sports cars | |
| front wheel drive sports cars | |
First shown at the Chicago Auto Show and introduced in April 1981 as an early 1982 model, the Ford EXP and ''' Mercury LN7''' were the first two-seaters that Ford offered in 25 years. Comparing the EXP to the original Thunderbird , Ford Division General Manager Louis E. Latalf said: "We’re introducing another two-seater with the same flair, but the EXP will be a very affordable, very fuel efficient car matched to the lifestyles of the eighties." Ford's marketing strategy at the time was based on their perception of American lifestyle in the early 1980s. Ford felt that the growing number of one and two person households, combined with the lifestyle of the younger target audience who desired a small sporty car, led them to the conclusion that Americans wanted a "lively little car that is dependable, efficient, and good-looking". Ford's feeling was that if a customer wanted room for four or five passengers, they would buy an Escort or a Fairmont . The whole marketing philosophy behind the EXP was rather like that of a European Grand Tourer ; a personal vehicle for two, with a shotgun seat for emergency transport of a third. The designation of EXP, reflected this philosophy. NAME ORIGIN For a long time, some were adamant that the letters stood for “EXPerimental"; others said that Ford marketing executives just thought it was a cool combination of letters and wasn't intended to really mean anything. However, according to an article published in Popular Mechanics (March 1981), the letters EXP are supposed to stand for Erika Project Personal car (Project cars are designated X). The "Erika" came from the codename from the European Escort. FIRST GENERATION (1982-1985)
The EXP's rakish non-boxy body rode on the Escort's 94.2 inch wheelbase, with that car's front-wheel drive running gear, four-wheel independent suspension, and dashboard. The EXP was longer, lower, and sportier than the Escort. Performance wasn't the cars strong suit however, since the EXP weighed about 200 pounds more than Escort but carried the same small 1.6 L '' CVH '' I4 engine rated at 70 hp (52 kW) and a standard 4-speed IB4 manual transaxle. Both the Ford EXP and the Mercury LN7 had a sharply-sloped windshield, wheel arches with prominent lips, and wide body side moldings not far below the top of the wheel well. The biggest difference was the rear fascia. The EXP was a notchback with a lift-up hatch, while the LN7 used a big “bubbleback” back window. The EXP's minimalist grille consisted merely of twin horizontal slats on the sloped front panel (the LN7 had ten). Priced considerably higher than the Escort, the EXP carried an ample list of standard equipment. It included power brakes, tachometer, engine gauges, full carpeting, electric back window defroster, power hatchback release, a digital clock, and a cargo area security shade. Models with a manual transmission had a sport-tuned exhaust. Automatic models had a wide-open throttle cutout switch for the optional air conditioning compressor clutch. As the full 1982 model year began, Ford offered an optional (at no extra cost) 4.05:1 final drive for better performance. Later came a close-ratio transmission with 3.59:1 final drive ratio intended for the same purpose. Finally, in March 1982, an 80 hp (59 KW ) version of the CVH engine became available. It had higher (9.0:1) compression, a larger air cleaner intake, lower-restriction exhaust, a dual-outlet exhaust manifold, larger carburetor venturis, and a higher-lift camshaft. The two-seater LN7 never had found an adequate number of customers and dropped out after 1983 due to sluggish sales. Many of the LN7's distinct styling characteristics, such as the "bubbleback" window, were later adopted to the EXP's design. EXP Turbo Coupe By 1984, Ford was trying hard to conquer the youth market, especially the affluent young motorist with offerings such as the Mustang SVO, Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, and the new EXP Turbo Coupe. The turbocharged 1.6 L '' CVH '' engine, available for the Escort and EXP, featured a high-lift camshaft and EEC-IV electronic controls. It delivered boost up to 8 psi, raising power to 120 hp (89 kW), a gain of some 35 percent over the naturally-aspirated models. The Turbo Coupe had a unique front air dam and rear decklid spoiler, with a taped "Turbo" badge on the rear bumper. It also had two-tone paint with a black lower section, a unique C-pillar appliqué featuring the EXP lettering, black wheel flares, and black rocker panel moldings. RETURN OF THE EXP By the mid 1980s, two-seaters were all the rage. Cars such as the Pontiac Fiero and Toyota MR2 were so popular that even Cadillac was considering producing one. Yet despite their popularity, Ford EXP sales were sluggish. Its styling was stale, and for a sports car, its performance was generally regarded as less than adequate. When news of the EXP's planned demise reached Ford's Wayne, Michigan assembly plant, there was a revolution of sorts. Losing an entire model line sent visions of layoffs through the plant. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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