Made in RP

Even when new back in 2000, Ford’s Lynx sedan did not sell as well as other cars like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. It could be because of its conservative styling or its Mazda Familia roots. The Lynx is essentially a rebadged Mazda Protege/Familia/Laser and not a "true" Ford like the Expedition, F-150, or the not-available-here Focus.

Or it could be due to the reputation Ford wrought on itself in the turbulent 1980’s when it pulled out of the country and left the problem of supporting the Laser sedan and hatchback in the hands of scores of then-customers. Ever since it broke ground in its Santa Rosa, Laguna plant in 1999, the company has been strongly communicating to the public that the house that Henry Ford built is here to stay this time. In any case, Ford’s recent launching of a thoroughly revised Lynx as part of a bigger regional picture should bode well for the company as far as small sedan sales are concerned.

Beginning March 31, Ford and would-be Ford folk can drive away with an affordable small sedan that gets pseudo-Lincoln treatment. Translation: Appearance and substance changes that add more visual "oomph" and value to a previously conservative-looking but competent product.

Although the car is still essentially on the same platform that was first launched in 2000, the 2002 Lynx sports exterior changes that seek to address those concerns of maybe looking a bit too bland before. The front fascia features a glittering chrome grille flanked by expensive-looking quad projector headlamps and chrome accents on the front bumper. Standard side skirts, clear side repeater lamps, clear combination rear taillamps, chrome beltline, more chrome on the rear bumper, and an all-chrome rear license plate garnish more or less complete the exterior changes.

Ford perhaps went a little overboard in wanting to make the car stand out more, but who knows? Maybe the market really is into chrome and brightwork. Incidentally, "market" here doesn’t mean just the Philippines alone. Ford says the 2002 Lynx was specifically designed for the Asia-Pacific customer. It hopes to sell at least 1,800 units this year for the Philippines, and to initially export over 2,500 units in Thailand and Indonesia. Once Ford’s ambitious export program is underway, the Lynx would be the first locally manufactured car to ever be exported.

Two main variants are offered as before: The "basic" GSi and fully-loaded Ghia. The Ghia includes foglamps, color-keyed door handles, blackout side windows, and a polished tailpipe finisher. Both variants have substantially even more good stuff to offer buyers. Aside from the usual all-power features, an electronic remote trunk release switch and parking sensors have been added for both the GSi and Ghia. Additional insulation and rigidity materials have also been integrated in the body to lower noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) levels.

Ghia models also have power-folding mirrors as before. New are a rear sunshade and power moonroof as factory-installed options. The GSi gets a 1-Din full logic casette stereo system while the Ghia gets a 2-Din system with a 6-CD, in-dash player. Similar to the treatment in the Expedition and F-150, the stereo has been designed to blend in with the dashboard design unlike other OEM stereos that visually stand out in the cockpit,

All-disc, 14-inch brakes are now standard on both GSi and Ghia models, with the Ghia further benefiting from a 4-channel anti-lock braking system and electronic brakeforce distribution. The engine remains the same as before – a DOHC, distributor-less, 16-valve, 1.6-liter producing 118 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 14.8 kg-m of torque at 4,000 rpm.

Automatic-equipped Lynxes come equipped with Direct Electronic Shift Control with Slope Control programming that monitors engine-operating conditions and modulates gearshifts. This will hopefully be more responsive and smoother in operation than before, which tended to hunt for gears and shift harshly in moderate to hard acceleration situations.

Meanwhile, the Lynx rides on with an all-strut suspension using what Ford calls "opti-balance" suspension geometry that’s been retuned to give a plusher ride than before. The power steering has also been refined for a more precise feel. The GSi wears 65-series, 14-inch tires while the Ghia dons 55-series, 15-inchers.

Dual SRS airbags are also standard for the Ghia, while an anti-theft system, side impact beams, first aid kit, and 24-hour emergency roadside assistance are standard for both variants.

As a further incentive to those still skeptical of the car, Ford is keeping its prices down. The manual transmission GSi is P660,000, the automatic GSi is P695,000. The Ghia M/T with cloth seats is P727,000. Add a moonroof and the price is P745,000. Add leather upholstery and it costs P765,000.

Automatic transmission Ghias cost only a little more. The basic Ghia with cloth seats is P760,000. With a moonroof it’s P778,000. With leather and it tops off at P798,000. Comparing prices, the Corolla Altis starts at P692,000 for the GSi-equivalent J variant with manual transmission all the way to P923,000 for the fully-loaded 1.8G. Meanwhile, the Civic starts at P688,000 for the 1.5-liter LXi and goes up to P825,000 for the fully-equipped VTi-S.