Changes: Ford Contour

Revision as of 19:58, 26 August 2019

Ford's all-new front-drive, compact 4-door sedan, the Ford Contour, was known as the "world car" in 1994. With minor variations, it was sold in the United States, Europe and Asia. With a longer wheelbase but shorter overall length and lower price than the Taurus, Contour went up against such tough competition as Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Maxima, Dodge Intrepid and Pontiac Grand Prix.

Year-to-year changes

1995	1998	1999	Discontinued
GL 4DR Sedan	Base 4DR Sedan	N/A	1998
GL 4DR Sedan	GL 4DR Sedan	N/A	1998
LX 4DR Sedan			1999
SE 4DR Sedan			2000

1995

Contour came in three trim levels: base GL, midlevel LX and sporty SE. Standard engine for GL and LX was a new "Zetec" 2.0-liter dohc Four rated at 125 horsepower. An optional 170-horsepower, 2.5-liter dohc "Duratec" V6 aws available, and this engine came standard on the SE. The all-aluminum V6 was one of the smallest and lightest such engines available.

Platinum-tipped spark plugs kept maintenance to a minimum for 100,000 miles. The Duratec V6 option also included 4-wheel disc brakes, larger tires and sport-tuned suspension. Both engines were used to mate with one of two all-new transaxles, a 5-speed manual or optional 4-speed automatic.

Standard features on all Contours included full solar glass, passenger "safety cell" body construction, dual airbags and an interior air filtration system. LX and SE came with foglights and trunk-located fold-down seatback releases. SE also included 15-inch alloy wheels, front bucket seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Significant options included antilock brakes, all-speed traction control with throttle and brake intervention, a/c, leather seats for LX and SE and a variety of premium sound systems.

Retail prices

As of July 20, 1994:

$13,310 (1995 Ford Contour GL)
$13,995 (1995 Ford Contour LX)
$15,695 (1995 Ford Contour SE)

As of June 15, 1995:

$13,785 (1996 Ford Contour GL)
$14,470 (1996 Ford Contour LX)
$16,170 (1996 Ford Contour SE)

As of May 19, 1997:

$13,460 (1997-1998 Ford Contour)
$14,285 (1997 Ford Contour GL)
$14,915 (1997 Ford Contour LX)
$16,615 (1997 Ford Contour SE)
$14,645 (1998 Ford Contour GL)
$15,195 (1998 Ford Contour LX)
$17,535 (1998 Ford Contour SE)
$22,365 (1998 Ford Contour SVT)

Shipping prices

$495 (early 1995 models)
$510 (1995 and early 1996 models)
$535 (1997-1998 models)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Vehicle
+|title=Ford Contour
+|image=[[File:96contour.jpg]]
+|classification=Mid-size car
+|bodystyle=4DR Sedan
+|transmission=5-speed manual<br>4-speed automatic
+|cylinders=4<br>6
+|enginesize=2.0 liters<br>2.5 liters
+|horsepower=125<br>170
+|drive=Front-wheel drive
+|mpg=24/35 (base)<br>21/29 (SE)
+}}[[Ford]]'s all-new front-drive, compact 4-door [[sedan]], the [[Ford Contour]], was known as the "world car" in 1994. With minor variations, it was sold in the United States, Europe and Asia. With a longer wheelbase but shorter overall length and lower price than the [[Ford Taurus|Taurus]], Contour went up against such tough competition as [[Honda Accord]], [[Toyota Camry]], [[Nissan Maxima]], [[Dodge Monaco/Intrepid|Dodge Intrepid]] and [[Pontiac Grand Prix]].
 ==Year-to-year changes==
+{| class="wikitable"
-===1991===
+!1995
-In the early '90s, while Ford was developing the Contour, the Ford Tempo was currently on sale as a 2-door coupe or a 4-door sedan. The 2-door coupe was available in GL, GLS and L models, while the 4-door sedan had GL, GLS, L and LX models. This was the last model year for the L.
+!1996
-===1992===
+!1997
-was the last model year for the GLS.
+!1998
-===1994===
+!1999
-Production for the Ford Tempo ended in Spring 1994, with only more than 110,000 cars sold for the 1994 model year.
+!Discontinued
+|-
+| rowspan="2" colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|GL 4DR Sedan
+| colspan="1" style="text-align:center;"|Base 4DR Sedan
+| bgcolor="red" rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|N/A
+| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|1998
+|-
+| colspan="1" style="text-align:center;"|GL 4DR Sedan
+|-
+| colspan="5" style="text-align:center;"|LX 4DR Sedan
+| style="text-align:center;"|1999
+|-
+| colspan="5" style="text-align:center;"|SE 4DR Sedan
+| style="text-align:center;"|2000
+|}
 ===1995===
-Ford's all-new front-drive, compact 4-door sedan is being called the "world car." With minor variations, it can be sold in the United States, Europe and Asia. With a longer wheelbase but shorter overall length and lower price than the Taurus, Contour goes up against such tough competition as Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Maxima, Dodge Intrepid and Pontiac Grand Prix. Contour comes in three trim levels: base GL, midlevel LX and sporty SE. Standard engine for GL and LX is a new "Zetec" 2.0-liter dohc Four rated at 125 horsepower. An optional 170-horsepower, 2.5-liter dohc "Duratec" V6 is available, and this engine comes standard on the SE. The all-aluminum V6 is one of the smallest and lightest such engines available. Platinum-tipped spark plugs keep maintenance to a minimum for 100,000 miles. The Duratec V6 option also includes 4-wheel disc brakes, larger tires and sport-tuned suspension. Both engines can be mated with one of two all-new transaxles, a 5-speed manual or optional 4-speed automatic. Standard features on all Contours include full solar glass, passenger "safety cell" body construction, dual airbags and an interior air filtration system. LX and SE come with foglights and trunk-located fold-down seatback releases. SE also includes 15-in. alloy wheels, front bucket seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Significant options include antilock brakes, all-speed traction control with throttle and brake intervention, a/c, leather seats for LX and SE and a variety of premium sound systems.
+Contour came in three trim levels: base GL, midlevel LX and sporty SE. Standard engine for GL and LX was a new "Zetec" 2.0-liter dohc Four rated at 125 horsepower. An optional 170-horsepower, 2.5-liter dohc "Duratec" V6 aws available, and this engine came standard on the SE. The all-aluminum V6 was one of the smallest and lightest such engines available.
+Platinum-tipped spark plugs kept maintenance to a minimum for 100,000 miles. The Duratec V6 option also included 4-wheel disc brakes, larger tires and sport-tuned suspension. Both engines were used to mate with one of two all-new transaxles, a 5-speed manual or optional 4-speed automatic.
+Standard features on all Contours included full solar glass, passenger "safety cell" body construction, dual airbags and an interior air filtration system. LX and SE came with foglights and trunk-located fold-down seatback releases. SE also included 15-inch alloy wheels, front bucket seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Significant options included antilock brakes, all-speed traction control with throttle and brake intervention, a/c, leather seats for LX and SE and a variety of premium sound systems.
 ==Retail prices==
 As of July 20, 1994:
@@ Line 17: / Line 50: @@
 *'''$14,470 '''(1996 Ford Contour LX)
 *'''$16,170 '''(1996 Ford Contour SE)
+As of May 19, 1997:
+*'''$13,460 '''(1997-1998 Ford Contour)
+*'''$14,285 '''(1997 Ford Contour GL)
+*'''$14,915 '''(1997 Ford Contour LX)
+*'''$16,615 '''(1997 Ford Contour SE)
+*'''$14,645 '''(1998 Ford Contour GL)
+*'''$15,195 '''(1998 Ford Contour LX)
+*'''$17,535 '''(1998 Ford Contour SE)
+*'''$22,365 '''(1998 Ford Contour SVT)
 ==Shipping prices==
-*'''$485 '''(1993 models)
+*'''$495 '''(early 1995 models)
-*'''$495 '''(1994 and early 1995 models)
 *'''$510 '''(1995 and early 1996 models)
+*'''$535 '''(1997-1998 models)
-==Specifications==
-{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:16px;line-height:26px;"
-|- style="font-style:inherit;font-weight:inherit;"
-!Model year
-!Trim level
-!Transmission
-!Cylinders
-!Engine Size
-!Drive
-!MPG
-!Horsepower
-|-
-| style="text-align:center;"|1995
-| style="text-align:center;"|GL
-| style="text-align:center;"|5-speed manual
-| style="text-align:center;"|4-cylinder
-| style="text-align:center;"|2.0L
-| style="text-align:center;"|FWD
-| style="text-align:center;"|24 City/35 Highway
-| style="text-align:center;"|125
-|-
-| style="text-align:center;"|1995
-| style="text-align:center;"|LX
-| style="text-align:center;"|5-speed manual
-| style="text-align:center;"|4-cylinder
-| style="text-align:center;"|2.0L
-| style="text-align:center;"|FWD
-| style="text-align:center;"|24 City/35 Highway
-| style="text-align:center;"|125
-|-
-| style="text-align:center;"|1995
-| style="text-align:center;"|SE
-| style="text-align:center;"|5-speed manual
-| style="text-align:center;"|V6
-| style="text-align:center;"|2.5L
-| style="text-align:center;"|FWD
-| style="text-align:center;"|21 City/29 Highway
-| style="text-align:center;"|170
-|}
 ==Gallery==
 <gallery>
-tempogls.jpg|1991-1992 Ford Tempo GLS 4-door sedan
-tempo.jpg|1993-1994 Ford Tempo GL 4-door sedan
 contour.jpg|1995 Ford Contour 4-door sedan
 contour2.jpg|A red 1995 Ford Contour sedan
@@ Line 71: / Line 72: @@
 </gallery>
 [[Category:Ford]]
-[[Category:2-door coupes]]
 [[Category:4-door sedans]]
+[[Category:4-cylinder vehicles]]
+[[Category:6-cylinder vehicles]]
+[[Category:1994 introductions]]
+[[Category:Discontinued in 2000]]
+[[Category:Mid-size cars]]
+[[Category:Front-wheel drive vehicles]]