What Mazda cars did Ford make?
Ford Motor Company and Mazda have a long history of collaboration, with Ford owning a significant stake in the Japanese automaker for many years. During this partnership, Ford produced several Mazda-based vehicles for the North American market. Let's explore the key Mazda cars that Ford manufactured.
Ford Probe
The Ford Probe was a sports car produced from 1988 to 1997 that was based on the Mazda G platform. It was designed to replace the Ford Mustang, but ultimately failed to gain the same level of popularity. The Probe shared many components with the Mazda MX-6, including the engine and chassis.
Ford Ranger Pickup
The Ford Ranger compact pickup truck, produced from 1983 to 2011, shared its platform with the Mazda B-Series truck. This allowed Ford to offer a smaller, more fuel-efficient pickup option in the North American market. The Ranger and B-Series were nearly identical, with only minor styling differences.
Mercury Cougar
The Mercury Cougar, produced from 1999 to 2002, was based on the Mazda JC platform, which was also used for the Mazda Millenia. This gave the Cougar a more modern, sporty design compared to its previous iterations. The Cougar shared many components with the Mazda Xedos 6, including the engine and suspension.p>
Mazda-Based SUVs
Ford also produced several SUV models that were based on Mazda platforms, including the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner. These vehicles shared their underpinnings with the Mazda Tribute, allowing Ford to quickly bring new SUV models to market.
In summary, Ford's partnership with Mazda resulted in the production of several Mazda-based vehicles for the North American market, including the Ford Probe, Ford Ranger, Mercury Cougar, and various SUV models. This collaboration allowed Ford to leverage Mazda's engineering expertise and platform designs to expand its product lineup.
