Ford Motor Company introduced its 2nd front wheel drive model in 1984. It was sold as the Ford Tempo and Mercury Topaz. The new compacts replaced the aging Ford Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr. In actuality, the Fairmont/Zephyr were restyled and moved a bit more upmarket as the Ford LTD and the Mercury Marquis, still based on the Fox platform. The Tempo/Topaz was available with a 2.3L overhead valve (OHV) High-Swirl Combustion (HSC) engine rated at 96 horsepower and 124 lb-ft of torque. The engine came equipped with an electronic feedback carburetor. The transmission choices were a 4-speed manual, a 5-speed manual, and a 3-speed automatic. The suspension was an independant MacPherson strut front suspension with a stablizer bar, along with a multi-link rear suspension. Body styles were limited to a 4-door sedan and a 2-door sedan. The Tempo was available in L, GL, and GLX trim levels in both body styles. The Topaz was available in GS and LS levels, both available in 2- and 4-door.
1985 was esentially a carry-over year for the Tempo and Topaz. The carburetor was replaced with a Central Fuel Injection system. Also, the 4-speed manual was dropped.
Both cars recieved a slight redesign this year, which also resulted in model redesignation. Both cars recieved new aero-style flush headlamps. Along with the new front lights, the rear taillights on all models were redesigned. The bumper system was changed on both cars. The formed steel bumpers were replaced with strength-optimized steel or aluminum bumpers. The Topaz had a more integrated bumper look with plastic bumper covers. Along with the redesign, the Tempo had a few model redesignations. The L model was dropped, and the GLX was replaced with the LX model. The Sport Sedan models became avaiable this year model. They were available in both 2-door and 4-door models, in the Tempo GL and Topaz GS guise. Just discovered: From the pages of www.ford.com, the 1986 Ford Tempo and Mercury Topaz were the first US Manufactured cars to have an available driver's side airbag. The driver's side airbag was only available in Government issued cars used in the Washington DC area. This was due to the fact that the airbag system was an experiement. Guess it worked... look how many airbags there are today.
The AWD model first came available in both 2- and 4-door LX configurations. The Sport Sedan continued on this year, for both 2- and 4-door configurations in Tempo and Topaz names. The LS 2-door model was droppped, and the AWD model was not available in Mercury guise. In Canada, the AWD drive model was available in 2-door models as well, automatic only. This was available all the way up until 1994.
Big year for the Tempo and Topaz, the beginning of what some call the 2nd generation. The big news was the new look. For the four door models, the look was a big change. All new body panels consisted of new headlamps, grille, hood, bumpers (front and rear), new doors, a new roof profile, trunk, taillights. From head to tail, all the body panels were changed. For the two door models, the look wasn't as drastic. The cars recieved the same front body work as the 4-door models, which included the hood, headlights, grille and bumpers. The only other distinguishing feature about the new 2-door models were the restyled taillights and the rear bumper. The remainder of the car was unchanged. For both 2- and 4-doors, the inside was changed as well. A new, driver-oriented instrument panel with easily read guages, a new center console, and new door panels. For the higher end models, power window and power lock switches were moved from the center console to the door panels. Front seat passengers were treated to new automatic shoulder belts and a manual lap belt. This was due to the fact that the government wanted all cars to have some sort of "passive" restraining system. Under the hood, there were more changes. The Central Fuel Injection system was revamped and replaced with a MAP (manifold absolute pressure) speed density Mutli-Point Fuel Injection system. Also available for the first time was the High Output engine (HO). By the use of a higher lift valvetrain, the 2.3L HO engine produced 99 horsepower and 135 ft-lb of torque. For the Tempo, the models available were a GL sedan in 2- and 4-door, a GLS sedan in 2- and 4-door (replaced the GL Sport Sedan of 1987). New this year, the LX was only available on the 4-door model, as well as the AWD system. For the Topaz, the GS sedan remained for both 2- and 4-door models. Like the LX Tempo, the LS Topaz was only available as a 4-door. Replacing the GS Sport Sedan of 1987 were the XR5 2-door and the LTS 4-door models. Again, according to Kelly Blue Book OnLine, there was no Topaz AWD model. However, I have seen at least two Topaz LS AWD 4-doors in Albuquerque, New Mexico and one in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
This was a carryover year.
Again, this was a carryover year.
This was again a carryover year, with a small exception. The low cost Tempo L returned, for both 2- and 4-door models.
Big news in the power department. V6 is finally available. To counter the new V6 egines available in the competion, Ford shoehorns in the Vulcan 3.0L V6 from the Taurus. The engine produces 130 HP and 150 ft-lb of torque. This was a much needed insurgance of power for the Tempo and Topaz. Along with the new V6, the 2.3L and 2.3L HO 4 cylinder engine got a new Mutli-Point MAF (Mass Air Flow) Fuel Injection System. Along with a boost of power, the cars got a slight redesign. They both got new grilles, redesigned side trim, and new taillights. For the Tempo, the L model was dropped. Available were the GL 2- and 4-door sedan, the LX 4-door sedan, and the GLS 2- and 4-door sedans. The GLS sedans featured new ground effects with integrated driving lights in the front bumper. Along with thew new ground effects, the GLS model got a stiffer, sport-tuned suspension, 15" alloy wheels (from the 1986-1990 Escort GT) with 195/60R15 tires. Some sources have said that the GLS also got a different axle ratio, but I don't know for sure. For the Topaz, the models remained the same. The XR5 and LTS models both recieved the same ground effects package and suspension upgrades that the Tempo GLS did. The AWD model made its disappearance this model year, except for Canadian 2-door models. New in the interior was the available driver's side air bag on the 4-door models. If you got the optional airbag, the driver's side automatic seatbelt was replaced with a manual 3-point belt, where as the passenger still had the motorized seatbelts.
This was a sad year for the Tempo and Topaz. It was the beginning of the end. The sporty GLS, XR5 and LTS models were dropped. The Tempo had just the GL model (2- and 4-door) and the LX model (4-door). The Topaz had only the GS model for both 2- and 4-door.
This was the last year for the Tempo and Topaz. Nothing changed between 1993 and 1994. The Tempo and Topaz slipped into history as they were replaced by Ford's new world car, the Modeo/Contour/Mystique.
