1985 Ford Probe V - AllCarIndex

Official press release:

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 20—Ford Motor Company today unveiled a fiberglass model of an advanced concept car that will be the most aerodynamic driveable car in the world.

Donald F. Kopka, vice president - Design, previewed Probe V for journalists at the company's Design Center here and announced that the car's coefficient of drag (Cd) is only .137. That betters the existing record of .15 held by its predecessor, Probe IV, and even tops the Cd of the F-15 jet fighter aircraft.

John A. Betti, executive vice president - Technical Affairs and Operating Staffs, said that Probe V reflected Ford Motor Company's strategy for the future. "Our strategy," he stated, "is based on two fundamental elements —technology and teamwork. Probe V is one of the finest expressions of both that I have seen in over 30 years in the auto industry,

"The teamwork and technology concepts of Probe V are, in many respects a model for Project Alpha. Let me add quickly and emphatically that Probe V is not the Alpha car, and when the Alpha car comes into being it will not look like Probe V.

However, Probe V is Alpha, the process — or at least that part of the process related to developing, designing and engineering an advanced concept car."

A steel model of the Probe V, fully trimmed inside and out, will be displayed for the first time in October at the Tokyo Auto Show, according to Mr. Kopka. This will be the first time that Ford will have had such an important display at the Tokyo show, where the Japanese manufacturers traditionally unveil high technology concept cars.

"We fully expect to beard the lion in his den," Mr. Kopka said.

A driveable Probe V will be completed next summer. The design and engineering was done at the Design Center, and the fabrication will be done at the company's Ghia Studio in Turin, Italy.

The first sketch of the Probe V was made by David E. Rees, director of International Design, in January, 1983, prior to the completion of Probe IV. Although the final design differs in some respects from Mr. Rees' first sketch, Probe V retains the sliding passenger door and vertical rear stabilizer that Mr. Rees visualized.

A key objective for Probe V was to break the .15 Cd barrier and Mr. Reese gave credit for that achievement to a team concept that was developed in his International Studio. The team concept stimulated creativity and innovation among all the specialists in the studio and removed artificial restraints often found in large organizations.

As examples of the benefits of teamwork, Mr. Rees cited the contributions of designer Darrel P. Behmer and master modeler John C, Jackson.

Mr. Behmer, who began working on Probe V immediately after graduation from the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit, solved some difficult design problems because "he didn’t understand why certain things couldn't be done," according to Mr. Betti. "Often the freshest thoughts are apt to come from minds that are permitted to run free,." he added.

Mr. Jackson was the leader in developing an ergonomics model or space buck that allowed the designers and engineers to test complex ideas simply and quickly during the development program. The ergonomics model, which looks like a full-size skeleton of Probe V, was especially useful during the design and engineering of the interior and insured that the proper relationships were maintained between the driver and the space around him, particularly the control area.

The very low drag coefficient of Probe V is evident, but the car also has maximum sidewind stability. Body surfaces, including the vertical rear stabilizer, or "dorsal fin," were subjected to repeated wind tunnel tests for that purpose.

Probe V is a 2+2 sports specialty car with seating for two adults in front and one adult or two children in the rear.

The engine (a turbocharge four cylinder powerplant is planned) is mounted just ahead of the rear wheels for optimum balance and handling. Modular construction is used, including a space frame and thermoplastic skin.

Other product highlights include fully skirted front and rear wheels, flush glass, fully sculpted underbody surface, swept-away instrument panel with tilt and telescoping instrumentation pod and steering wheel and a "heads-up" display for the digital speedometer and systems check indicator.

Ford is the aerodynamic design leader in the worldwide auto industry and its advances in this area have contributed 1.5 miles per gallon to the company's Corporate Average Fuel Economy. Probe V has so little wind resistance that it can sustain 50 mph with about two aero horsepower.

"What we learn from Probe V will be adapted to production models in the years ahead," Mr. Kopka said. "Probe V is Ford Motor Company's statement for the future."

Engine & performance:

Position: mid-engined

Type: Ford Escort, 4-cylinder, 16-valve

Capacity: 1859 cc

Dimensions:

Length: 4870 mm

Width: 1755 mm

Height: 1195 mm

Wheelbase: 2740 mm