About the Ford TempoThe Ford Tempo, also known as the Topaz, began production in 1984 and lasted for 10 years on the market until the Contour replaced it in 1994. The Tempo was designed with a new aerodynamic body style that would improve fuel economy, which in turn helped the company improve upon future models, such as the Contour and the Taurus. Although Mercury built the Topaz, both models shared the same design.Assembly for the Ford Tempo took place in Claycomo, Missouri and Oakville, Ontario for the entire 10 years of production. It was built on the front-engine, front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive layout, and featured three optional engines with varying horsepower. The largest of the engines available was the 3.0-liter V6 that produced 140 horsepower and 160 foot-pounds of torque. The interior was spacious enough for five people and passengers in the rear had ample legroom. Despite its 10-year production history, the Ford Tempo evolved through two generations of development. The first generation introduced the 60-degree angled front and rear windows, which... View more led to the improved fuel efficiency in the Tempo and the Taurus. The Tempo was sold in both two-door coupe and four-door sedan body styles, which included a 2.0-liter and two 2.3-liter engines. The second generation began in 1988 and had an improved body design, which made the Tempo very similar to the Taurus. New interior features were added, and several trim packages were available with varying power and feature-rich options. The interior of the second generation Ford Tempo includes a new instrument panel with a center gauge and new driver controls. The air-conditioning controls were revamped and new interior panels were installed. A three-bar chrome grille was added to the front fascia, including new body color-matched bumpers. Redesigned taillights fit flush with the back end, which matched the new flush-mounted headlamps and redesigned turn signal housings in the front. Trim levels for the Tempo include L, GL, AWD, LX, and GLS models. Because the Ford Tempo was an innovative automobile, it caught the attention of several reviewers, including IntelliChoice who gave the four-door sedan the Best Deal of the Month Award in the 1991 and 1993 model years. Also in 1993, Kelley Blue Book gave the Ford Tempo a Best Resale Value Award. Unfortunately, time ran out for the Tempo and it was discontinued one year later View less | |||
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