Concept Car Of The Day: 1980 Ford Probe II - AllCarIndex
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The prototype concept model for a totally new generation of more compact and more fuel efficient North American Ford cars made its public debut at the 1986 Geneva Show. Known as Code-named Probe II, this smooth, aerodynamic prototype design exercise for a possible North American front-wheel-drive family car for the mid-1980s was designed and built at Ford's Dearborn, Michigan Design Centre.
Probe II was a logical 5-door development of the futuristic Probe I design that was first shown in Frankfurt the previous September. Unlike the 'science fiction' Probe I, which had features like an automatically retracting instrument panel and a computerized entertainment center, this latest concept car from Ford's North American Design Centre was a practical, compact front-wheel-drive, 5-door family sedan aimed at the more immediate future.
The use of lightweight materials, a smooth, aerodynamic, low-drag coefficient body shape, and scientific airflow management techniques were all combined to improve the vehicle's performance, high-speed stability, and fuel efficiency. Power was provided by a front-wheel-drive, transverse-mounted, 4-cylinder petrol or diesel engine, which could be turbo-charged.
Probe II was a 5-door, hatchback sedan with a low frontal area, large areas of glass for good all-round visibility, and smooth, aerodynamic flowing lines. It had a wheelbase of 2550 mm (100.4 in), an overall length of 4549 mm (179.1 in), a height of 1334 mm (52.5 in), and an overall width of 1788 mm (70.4 in).
The radiator air intake was positioned below the front bumper, the headlamps were recessed behind clear plastic shields, the door handles were recessed into the bodywork, and the windscreen wipers retracted below the line of the hood when not in operation. An aerodynamic spoiler was fitted to the rear tailgate to smooth out the air flow, while the shapes of the door mirrors and the underside of Probe II were designed to create the minimum of disturbance to the airflow.
Both the front and rear ends of Probe II incorporated impact absorbent plastic sections, while further weight was saved by the use of alloy road wheels and lightweight body panels. The interior was spacious, and conventional electronic instrumentation was used, with ready access to both the front and rear passenger compartments through the wide-opening doors.
