Is the Ford Probe a Mazda?
The Ford Probe is not a Mazda model, but it was developed with Mazda as a collaborator. It shares a platform and several engineering aspects with Mazda’s MX-6, yet it was marketed and sold as a Ford car.
Origins and collaboration
The Probe emerged from Ford’s late-1980s effort to deliver a competitive 2+2 sports coupe. To accelerate development and leverage existing expertise, Ford partnered with Mazda, borrowing technical know-how and components from Mazda while keeping the final product under Ford branding. This collaboration produced a car that was technically closely related to Mazda products, particularly the MX-6, but not a Mazda-branded vehicle.
Key facts about how the Ford Probe relates to Mazda:
- Shared platform and many components with Mazda’s MX-6, enabling a Sporty coupe package with similar underpinnings.
- Joint engineering input from Mazda to adapt the platform for Ford’s design goals and market expectations.
- Mazda contributed powertrain options, including V6 configurations that appeared in both brands’ sporty coupes.
- The Probe carried Ford branding, interiors, and marketing; Mazda did not sell the Probe under its own name.
- Sales and distribution were handled by Ford, reinforcing its status as a Ford model with Mazda’s technical kinship.
In summary, while the Probe drew heavily on Mazda engineering and platform knowledge, it remained a Ford product rather than a Mazda.
How it compares to the Mazda MX-6
Even though the two cars share a technical foundation, they were designed and marketed with distinct brand identities and purposes.
- Shared engineering basis and platform, resulting from the Ford–Mazda collaboration.
- Branding and styling follow Ford’s design language for the Probe, contrasting with Mazda’s styling for the MX-6.
- Powertrain options overlap, with Mazda-sourced engines appearing in both models, but tuning and trim levels were tailored to each brand's lineup.
- Interior features and equipment packages reflected Ford’s dealer networks and option philosophies versus Mazda’s approach for the MX-6.
- Market positioning and branding differed, aligning with each company’s regional strategies and customer bases.
These points show a close technical partnership but distinct brand identities for the Ford Probe and the Mazda MX-6.
Production and reception
The Probe’s life spanned the 1990s, with development anchored in the Mazda-derived platform and engineering. It benefited from Mazda’s input but was marketed and sold by Ford, and it faced stiff competition in the sporty coupe segment. Production continued through the mid to late 1990s before Ford phased it out, marking it as a notable example of cross-brand collaboration rather than a Mazda-branded car.
- Late 1980s: Ford and Mazda begin collaboration to develop a competitive 2+2 coupe.
- Early 1990s: The Probe enters production as a Ford model using a Mazda-derived platform.
- 1993–1994: Mid-cycle updates refresh styling and trim levels.
- 1997: Production ends as Ford shifts focus and sales decline.
The Ford Probe stands as a distinctive chapter in Ford–Mazda cooperation: a Ford product with Mazda DNA, rather than a Mazda-branded vehicle.
Summary
In short, the Ford Probe is not a Mazda, but it sits on a shared technical foundation created through a collaboration between Ford and Mazda. It was developed to leverage Mazda’s engineering while carrying Ford’s branding and market strategy, resulting in a unique, Ford-branded sports coupe with Mazda-derived platform elements.
What is the Mazda version of the Probe?
Mazda MX-6
Hi people, the Ford Probe was loosely based on the Mazda MX-6 with a turbocharged 145hp 4cilinder 2.2 litre/ 135c. i driving the front wheels. From 1993 till '97 almost 310.000 were build of this type.
Is Ford Probe a Mazda?
As before, the Probe was to share its under-structure with Mazda's MX-6 and 626. Mazda engineered the engine, transmission, and chassis, while Ford engineered the body and interior. Technically, the second generation Probe is 60% Mazda and 40% Ford.
Is Ford owned by Mazda?
No, Ford does not own Mazda, although they had a significant partnership for decades. Ford began selling its shares in Mazda in 2008 and had completely divested its ownership by 2015, making Mazda a fully independent company. Mazda is now a separate, publicly traded Japanese automaker.
- Past partnership: Ford and Mazda had a long-standing alliance where Ford held a major stake and they shared platforms and technology.
- Divestment: Following the 2008 financial crisis, Ford began selling its shares in Mazda. This process was completed by 2015.
- Current status: Mazda is now an independent company with its ownership dispersed among various shareholders, including Japanese banks and investment companies.
- Strategic alliances: While not owned by Ford, Mazda has formed new alliances, including a strategic partnership with Toyota, which holds a small stake in Mazda.
What is the Ford Probe based on?
Mazda GD platform
The first generation Ford Probe was based on the Mazda GD platform, and was powered by a 2.2 L SOHC 12-valve 4-cylinder Mazda F2 engine.
