What's the connection?

[P5Rydah]

What's the connection between the P5 and a 92-97 Ford Escort? I've noticed in my many searches for parts, or at least a short shifter that i know of, they are cross compatible. Just seems like an odd match.

 

[streetboi]

im pretty sure that ford owns mazda in some way. i know the transmission is exchangeable with the ford probe. i have heard quite a few times from people coming up to me and looking at my car and saying "Oh mazda the ford of japan." im not sure if they meant that mazda to the rest of japanese cars is like ford to north american cars.

 

[Focus]

What's the connection between the P5 and a 92-97 Ford Escort? I've noticed in my many searches for parts, or at least a short shifter that i know of, they are cross compatible. Just seems like an odd match.

The escort would be cross compatible on some parts with the first generation protege and the 323.

 

[BoostedPR5]

From my understanding for a while Ford and Mazda used the same parts in some of their cars. I don't think Ford OWNS Mazda though??? I haven't really looked into it but that's what I thought.

 

[RABID_MP5]

Ford use to own like 1/3 of Mazda. I think it's like 10 percent now since carmakers crashed a couple years ago & they had to sell the Mazda share for cash. See http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/ford-mazda-parting-ways-on-product-development/

 

[bucksatan]

The escort would be cross compatible on some parts with the first generation protege and the 323.

It is mostly suspension parts between the two. From what I know the ford parts tend to be cheaper.

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

IIRC, Ford's stake in Mazda was mostly financial side as far as ownership. Of course there is considerable platform sharing going on....

 

[slavrenz]

I don't know about the escort, but didn't the Probe use the FS-DE engine?

 

[niky]

The Probe is the MX-6 in a different wrapper.

In other countries, earlier generation Familias were sold as Escorts. The BJ Protege was only sold as the Ford Laser/Lynx if I recall properly.

 

[hornsfan10609]

Ford rebadges Mazdas, all car companies do it. It goes both ways too, the B series trucks are obviously Rangers.

 

[niky]

The international B-Series/Ranger are a different product from the US Ranger. More in-line with Japanese compact pick-up classification than the US compact pick-up market.

Both great, successful trucks, though.