First generation (KA/KB; 1981)
| First generation (KA/KB) | |
|---|---|
_Ghia_5-door_hatchback_(22643862523).jpg) Ford Laser (KA) Ghia 5-door | |
| Maklumat | |
| Juga dikenali | Ford Meteor (sedan) |
| Pengeluaran | 1981–1985 (Laser) 1982–1985 (Meteor) |
| Gaya badan | 3-door hatchback 4-door sedan 5-door hatchback |
| Enjin | |
| Penghantaran | 4/5-speed manual 3-speed automatic |
| Berkait | Mazda Familia/323 (BD) |
Laser (KA/KB)
The KA Laser (Australian model code), built under license from Mazda, was introduced in March 1981, replacing the rear-wheel-drive Escort in Australia. The range was available as a hatchback, in both three- and five-door varieties, as well as a four-door sedan badged Ford Meteor. Originally sold only with the 1.3-litre engine, the smaller 1.1-litre engine was never available in Australia. Later, 1.5-litre versions were added, eventually even a turbocharged version. In January 1983, the Laser underwent a facelift to become the KB.[1] Light changes were made to the rear, while the front was redesigned in a more modern style, aligning it with Ford's corporate look of the era.
In Japan this is referred to as the "BE" Laser, which was identical to the Australian KB series. The BE model code relates to the BD model code used for the corresponding Familia/323. The first Lasers went on sale in Japan in late 1982. Fuel-injection and a 115 PS turbocharged model were added in July 1983; these variants were never offered for sale outside Japan.
Aside from being built in Australia and Japan, Lasers were also assembled in New Zealand at Ford's Wiri plant in Auckland, replacing the Mk2 Escort. In New Zealand, the Laser was sold as both a hatchback and sedan, the Meteor name not being used in that market, and was later joined by the Mazda 323 at the renamed Vehicle Assemblers of New Zealand (VANZ) plant in Wiri, Auckland in a joint venture between Ford New Zealand and Mazda. 323s initially had been assembled at the Motor Industries International plant in Otahuhu, subsequently taken over by Mazda New Zealand. New Zealand-built Ford Laser hatchbacks were available with the 1.1-litre (base and Ritz), 1.3-litre (GL), and 1.5-litre (Sport) engines, while the Laser sedan (base, L, Ghia) was available with the 1.1-, 1.3 and 1.5-litre engines respectively, with the Ghia having an automatic transmission option.[2]
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The Laser was also sold in some countries in Latin America, including Argentina.[3] This was identical to the KA version sold in Australia.[4] In Mexico, however, the first-generation Laser had a front end similar to the North American Mazda GLC.[5] In addition, it was sold in right hand drive markets in the Caribbean such as Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, where it was locally assembled.[6]
Assembly of the Laser also occurred in Malaysia and Indonesia (in right hand drive) and in left hand drive for markets like Taiwan and the Philippines. In Taiwan, it was assembled using complete knock-down kits from 1981 via the local joint venture Ford Lio Ho.[7][8]
The Laser was also introduced in Zimbabwe in 1981, the first Ford model to be sold in the country for fourteen years, after the imposition of sanctions on the then Rhodesia after its Unilateral Declaration of Independence.[9] It was assembled at the state-owned Willowvale Motor Industries plant, in Harare, alongside the Mazda 323.[10][11]
- Mazda E1, 41 kW (55 hp) 1.1-litre, carburettor, 8-valve, SOHC (Base/Ritz, trim levels in New Zealand)
- Mazda E3, 49 kW (66 hp) 1.3-litre carburettor, 8-valve, SOHC (L and GL in NZ)
- Mazda E5, 54 kW (72 hp) 1.5-litre carburettor, 8-valve, SOHC (L & GL [Australia] and Ghia [NZ and Australia])
- Mazda E5, 59 kW (79 hp) 1.5-litre twin-carburettor, 8-valve, SOHC (Sport)
- Mazda E5T, 78 kW (105 hp) 1.5-litre carburettor, 8-valve, SOHC, turbocharged (limited edition Turbo trim level, 300 produced)
- Mazda E5T, 85 kW (114 hp) 1.5-litre, electronic fuel injection, 8-valve SOHC, turbocharged (Turbo trim level in Japan)
Meteor (GA/GB)
Introduced in April 1982,[12] Ford Meteor was the name given to the sedan version of the Laser.[13] Designated as the GA series,[14] the Meteor featured conventional three-box styling with a 60/40 folding rear seat to increase luggage capacity that was already considered "very large for the class".[13] Compared to the Laser, the front seats could be moved back a little further at the expense of rear seat passengers.[13] To further improve practicality, the Meteor's spare wheel could be relocated from the floor to an upright position to increase boot depth from 410 hingga 585 milimeter (16.1 hingga 23.0 in).[13] The additional length of 195 milimeter (7.7 in) over the Laser hatchback was used by Ford Australia to justify the Meteor as replacement to the TF Cortina.[13] In Australia, the Meteor was only available with the 1.5-litre engine and five-speed manual transmission or optional three-speed automatic.[13] Consequently, the Meteor had a difficult undertaking replacing the Cortina, which offered engine displacements from 2.0 litres for the inline-four, up to a 4.1-litre inline-six, plus a station wagon option.[14][15] However, the Meteor's pitch as the Cortina replacement was merely a temporary measure prior to the introduction of the Telstar mid-sized sedan and hatchback in May 1983.[14][15][16][17][18] In Australia, the Meteor directly competed against the Holden Camira.[13]
The Meteor's front styling and grille differed from the corresponding Laser.[13] The Meteor styling was based on the Japanese market Mazda Familia (BD) sedan.[19] Lighting changes included the replacement of the Laser's amber front turn signals with clear lenses, plus the fitment of larger, flush headlamps over the Laser's smaller lights that were "sunken" into an enclosure.[14] The Meteor grille had more of an "eggcrate" pattern than the plain black slats of the Laser.[14] Suspension was fully independent with coil springs.[13]
Trim levels in Australia comprised the entry-level GL and upmarket Ghia, both available with an optional "S" pack that added full instrumentation and upgraded tyres.[13] Steel wheels with bright metal trim rings differentiated the GL from the Ghia with its alloy wheels and deep side protection mouldings.[13]
The mid-term facelifted model of May 1983, coded GB, brought the range closer together, though Meteors continued as a separate and slightly more premium line.
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Ford Meteor (GA) GL sedan -
Ford Meteor (GA) GL sedan -
Ford Meteor (GB) Ghia sedan -
Ford Meteor (GB) GL sedan
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- ^ Mastrostefano, Raffaele, penyunting (1985). Quattroruote: Tutte le Auto del Mondo 1985 (dalam bahasa Itali). Milan: Editoriale Domus S.p.A. m/s. 371. ISBN 88-7212-012-8.
- ^ Tutte le Auto del Mondo 1985, p. 424
- ^ The Review of the River Plate, 1981, page 476
- ^ "1981 Ford Laser (Argentina)". October 4, 2010 – melalui Flickr.
- ^ "1981 Ford KA Laser Brochure - Mexico". January 17, 2014 – melalui Flickr.
- ^ Charles McEnearney and Ford A 94-year partnership, Trinidad Guardian, September 8, 2013
- ^ "Plant Information". Ford. Diarkibkan daripada yang asal pada 2009-09-18.
- ^ Japanese Motor Business. Economist Intelligence Unit. 1994. m/s. 56.
Ford's Taiwanese affiliate, Ford Lio Ho, has been involved in the alliance. Ford Lio Ho makes the Ford Festiva (based on the previous generation Mazda 121), the Ford Laser and the Ford Telstar, as well as commercial vehicles based on the Mazda Bongo.
- ^ Automotive News, Issues 4883-4895, 1981, page 116
- ^ Ralat petik: Tag
<ref>tidak sah; tiada teks disediakan bagi rujukan yang bernamabooks.google.co.uk - ^ Sub-Saharan Africa Report, Issues 2536-2541,Foreign Broadcast Information Service., 1981
- ^ de Fraga, Christopher (24 April 1982). "Mazdas being built by robots". The Age. m/s. 115.
Ford has just shown its Meteor to the Press
. - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Davis, Pedr (31 August 1982). "Ford puts in the boot: Japanese design a good decision". Canberra Times. m/s. 18. Dicapai pada 26 July 2016.
- ^ a b c d e "Ford Laser, Meteor and Telstar Reviews and Road Tests". Unique Cars and Parts. Dicapai pada 26 July 2016.
- ^ a b Stopford, William (12 May 2015). "1981–85 Ford KA/KB Laser – A Beam of Light". Curbside Classics. Dicapai pada 26 July 2016.
- ^ de Fraga, Christopher (14 June 1983). "Telstar should keep Ford on top". The Age. m/s. 15.
The Telstar is really Ford's Cortina replacement
. - ^ "Ford Telstar – Used Car Research". GoAuto. Diarkibkan daripada yang asal pada 25 April 2015. Dicapai pada 22 July 2016.
- ^ "Ford Telstar (AR Telstar)". GoAuto. Diarkibkan daripada yang asal pada 14 September 2016. Dicapai pada 22 July 2016.
- ^ "Mazda Familia (BD) 1300 and 1500 saloon (Japanese brochure)" (dalam bahasa Jepun). Mazda. 1981. Dicapai pada 26 July 2016.