The Ford Telstar was an automobile sold by Ford in Asia, Australasia and Africa, comparable in size to the European Sierra and the North American Tempo. It was progressively replaced by the Mondeo and named after the Telstar communications satellite.
Ford Telstar at a glance
| Maker | Ford, built by Mazda in Japan and assembled in Australia |
|---|---|
| Launched in Japan | October 1982 |
| Australian launch | May 1983 |
| Base | Mazda Capella / 626 |
| Bodies | four-door sedan, five-door hatchback (TX5) |
| First generation | AR and AS series, 1982–1987 |
| Restyling | by Ford Australia, part of an A$150 million programme |
| Drag coefficient | 0.36 for the AR hatchback |
| Replaced | the Cortina in Australia |
| Taiwan | assembled from knock-down kits by Ford Lio Ho from 1983 |
| Later | replaced by the Ford Mondeo |
This page is based on English Wikipedia only.
History of the Ford Telstar
A Mazda with Ford styling
Like the smaller Laser, the Telstar was based on a model built by Mazda in Japan, sharing its platform with the Mazda Capella and 626; the differences were confined to some styling, engine sizes and specification. The first model was launched in Japan in 1982. Ford introduced the AR series sedan and hatchback to the Japanese market in October 1982 as a rebadged and lightly restyled version of the then-new front-wheel-drive Mazda 626 GC, both made at Mazda’s Hōfu production line. The restyling relative to the Mazda was done by Ford Australia as part of the A$150 million the company spent on the Telstar, including new local production facilities; the AR hatchback had a drag coefficient of 0.36.
Replacing the Cortina in Australia
The Telstar filled the gap in Ford Australia’s range left by the TF Cortina in 1981: the Ford Meteor sedan had only been a stop-gap, sitting in the segment below. The AR Telstar reached Australia in May 1983 in GL, S and Ghia sedans plus TX5 and TX5 Ghia hatchbacks, assembled at Broadmeadows from complete knock-down kits. To free capacity at the plant for the Falcon XF, production of the TX5 switched to Japan, with the first shipments reaching dealers in February 1985.
Wider sales
Unlike the Cortina, the Telstar was usually sold only as a four-door sedan or five-door hatchback, although after 1988 a Telstar version of the 626 estate was sold in Japan and New Zealand. In Taiwan it was assembled in left-hand drive from knock-down kits from 1983 by the local Ford Lio Ho joint venture, and it stayed in production in Malaysia until early 2001; it was also sold in Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Cyprus and the Philippines. The Mondeo took over its role.
Design and features
- Mazda base: the Capella and 626 platform with Ford styling.
- Ford Australia restyle: part of a A$150 million programme.
- TX5 hatchback: the five-door version of the AR series.
- Wide reach: sold from Japan and Australia to Taiwan and Malaysia.
Ford Telstar versions
- AR series (1982–1987): the first generation sedan and TX5 hatchback.
- GL, S and Ghia: the Australian trim levels.
- TX5 and TX5 Ghia: the hatchback versions.
- AS update: the revised first generation.
- Taiwanese Telstar: assembled by Ford Lio Ho from 1983.
The Telstar replaced the Cortina in Australia and was sold alongside the Laser, before the Mondeo took over. More Ford vehicles are in the Ford collection.
Sources
- Ford Telstar, English Wikipedia: origins, AR series, Australian production, markets
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