2002 Ford Lynx Ghia - Critics said that it was the raise halt that did it in; some claimed it was borrowed underpinnings; some fifty-fifty proclaimed that it was due to having solely i displacement available. Whatever the reason, the Ford Lynx, afterwards making a large splash inwards September 1999, shortly became around extinct inwards the 1.6-liter segment. Despite combining the sporty attributes of the Honda Civic in addition to a flake of luxury in addition to course of report that became the trademark of the Nissan Exalta, it didn’t quite threaten the leaders inwards its class.
In the midst of facelifts in addition to novel production launches from its competitors, the Lynx got stuck inwards a marsh pit along amongst the likes of the Mitsubishi Lancer—a fate it sure as shooting didn’t deserve. This was despite the fact that Ford threw inwards everything but the kitchen sink to sell the Lynx: raise window blinds, a 12-disc CD changer, a 6-speaker system—the works.
Fast forwards to 2002—Ford is finally keen on pouncing on its sleeping Japanese competitors amongst the all-new Lynx. All-new? Well, it’s a relative term inwards this case, hence earlier y'all start lecturing us on how this Lynx isn’t far off from the i sold at the outset of 2000, allow us present y'all the ways…
First of all, the adept news: the Lynx’s overall looks cause got improved ten-fold. The most eye-catching modify is the headlamps. Gone are the clichéd 3D-look lenses in addition to inwards come upwards the ‘multi-compartmentalized’ pattern that has overstep away the in-thing amongst the likes of Audi, Volkswagen, Range Rover in addition to the European Ford machine models.
The unmarried slice headlight eliminates the unsightly gap betwixt caput in addition to signal lamps. The Lynx also receives a dual-bulb headlamp system, pregnant the primary in addition to high-beam clusters cause got been separated promising meliorate dark fourth dimension driving vision.
Of course, the biggest hurrah for Lynx fans is that the raise combination lamps cause got been restyled, shutting upwards potential rear-lamp nitpickers. The previous swooshing pattern has been ditched inwards favor of European-style triangular lamps that expect good proportioned in addition to meliorate than the likes of the Nissan Exalta’s Korean-like rear-end.
The modernization programme was extended to the hood, bumpers in addition to torso to assist uplift the Lynx’s looks. For instance, the forepart bumper removes the smirking confront of the older model. Now it has a to a greater extent than integrated expect amongst Mondeo-style fog lights. The torso lid has been edged upwards in addition to the raise bumper refreshed in addition to given to a greater extent than depth to improve the Lynx’s proportions.
Any bad tidings then? Well, these mightiness live child gripes, but if people shot downwardly the Lynx for its repulsive raise halt before, they mightiness shoot it downwardly over again for these elements. First is the chromed toothy grille. It’s downright cheesy in addition to looks every bit if it were plucked direct from a Korean surplus parts bin. A mesh-grille pattern would cause got worked wonders giving the Lynx a to a greater extent than sporty appearance, or at the rattling to the lowest degree blackening out some of the chrome strips could cause got done to a greater extent than judge to the forepart end.
Second are the novel alloys, which don’t expect quite every bit adept every bit the original. Their luxurious pattern don't seem to jive amongst the car's overall sporty , European-inspired styling. Don’t larn me wrong--the mere fact that they made way for single-piece alloys rather than having a plastic centre cap is a adept improvement; it’s merely that the novel ones don’t cause got the same flair in addition to exuberance every bit the originals. It’s a adept consolation through that the client tin fit the Lynx amongst optional alloys direct from the dealer. Five-spoke alloys, anyone?
Lastly, the Lincoln-like raise garnish is a flake over the edge. Much similar the toothy grille it may live an effort to fissure the executive sedan marketplace position amongst likewise much chrome The chrome strip should cause got been express to the top part piece the opposite lamps should cause got been integrated amongst the raise light cluster. Oh, did I forget to shout out that the raise signal lamps are right away cherry every bit well? Now y'all tin state that indeed the F150 in addition to the Lynx exercise come upwards from the same company—a pace dorsum inwards design.
Inside, the Ford Lynx has received to a greater extent than novel body parts than Robocop. Numerous improvements cause got been made to response by client complaints. For instance, the interior colouring scheme has been changed from a monotone grayish to a combination of shades of chocolate-brown to give the Lynx a to a greater extent than upscale look. It’s non tardily to describe off a classy-looking chocolate-brown interior, but Ford has done it. Moreover, the silvery trimmings cause got been removed in addition to exchanged amongst meliorate looking bronze-shaded materials that integrate good amongst the residual of the interior colouring scheme.
The centre console has been redesigned from the handbrake area, the biggest changes of which resulted inwards meliorate accessibility to the AC controls in addition to meliorate integrated loving cup holders.
The pride-and-joy of this machine is its modular stereo arrangement that gives a buyer a diversity of options. For instance, buyers tin select whether they’d desire a unmarried in-dash CD utilization musician or a 6-disc in-dash CD changer. Moreover, they may select either a tape deck or a mini-disc deck amongst an MP3 choice coming out shortly every bit well.
Our examination unit of measurement has a high-tech 2-DIN in-dash 6-disc CD changer that requires NO magazine whatsoever. Although the loading functioning is sluggish, in i trial loaded it industrial plant well, giving the Lynx a feeling of tech in addition to course of report specially considering that the Lynx has a 6-speaker arrangement every bit standard. Moreover, at that spot is an choice of adding 2 additional speakers at the raise putting the grand total of speaker count to 8! And finally, somebody thoughtful plenty to include a large book knob!
Other improvements include an electronic torso unloose machinery removing the quest to curvature downwardly inwards opening the torso lid, every bit good every bit improved instrumentation.
In addition, those who complained nearly hapless spot back upwards may live glad that fifty-fifty those who don’t cause got Jennifer Lopez-sized behinds may discovery the Lynx a to a greater extent than comfortable ride. The seats cause got been redesigned amongst additional cushioning in addition to padding. Moreover, the leather appointments cause got ditched the perforated expect amongst high character leather sourced from Nippon for a reduced leather scent in addition to meliorate texture.
Unfortunately, the calorie-free in addition to wiper stalks cause got been carried over from the previous Lynx in addition to quest improvement inwards switch feel, every bit exercise the window switches in addition to secondary controls.
On a adept note, Ford introduces the concept of multiple options package. For instance, this machine has the choice for Luna roof, no Luna roof; leather seats or velour seats; automatic transmission or manual—these touches give to a greater extent than ability to the client in addition to give the Lynx a to a greater extent than dynamic hit that allows it to battle the entire hit of the Corolla Altis amongst merely 2 model lines (Ghia in addition to GSi).
Admittedly, the driving experience is the most under-appreciated strong signal of the Ford Lynx. Although it is nevertheless no Honda Civic, the 2002 Lynx has been improved inwards everyway to choose it closer to the treatment of its Tochigi competitor. For instance, the McPherson Strut / Dual Strut arrangement has been retuned to give a sportier experience. Handling is apartment in addition to stable through whatever sort of corner piece the body curl is almost nonexistent in addition to the machine squats less, giving the Lynx to a greater extent than driver confidence than the would the Toyota Corolla Altis or the Nissan Exalta.
The Mazda-sourced 1.6-liter engine has been retuned, although on newspaper it nevertheless has 118-bhp at 5,500 rpm in addition to 148 Nm at 4,000 rpm. On the plus side, fifty-fifty without VTEC or VVTi, the rev happy in addition to strong nature of the engine is nevertheless rattling much live in addition to kicking. However, though powerful on long straights in addition to quick-burst acceleration, the ability constitute lacks the modern smoothness of the Honda or Toyota engines in addition to at the same time, it lacks the seize amongst teeth below the 3,500-rpm range. Moreover, fifty-fifty amongst the improved engine insulation, the engine tin nevertheless brand its baritone vocalization heard within the cabin.
On the other hand, Ford realized that their 4-speed automatic needed extensive recalibration, an expanse of improvement rattling much addressed on the novel Lynx every bit at that spot is right away less shift-shock during difficult acceleration in addition to high-speed tape attempts on C5. Unfortunately, when taken inwards connectedness amongst a weak depression rev range, the Lynx tin larn confused when going uphill specially amongst a total gear upwards of occupants. During our test, the Lynx had the vogue of shifting dorsum in addition to forth betwixt maiden of all in addition to minute gear trying to compensate for the loss of ability when going uphill.
On the negative side, the ride character of the Lynx hasn’t improved dramatically over the previous version. In fact, it tin nevertheless live every bit rigid every bit a Popsicle specially on slightly uneven roads.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 welcome improvement is the presence of raise back-up sensors—something that fifty-fifty Toyota forgot to popular into its top-range Corolla Altis. Although non every bit high-tech every bit the Nissan Exalta’s (which tells y'all the exact distance inwards mm), the Lynx’s sensors operate merely every bit good providing an accurate beeping tone that agency excuses of hapless raise visibility merely won’t operate anymore.
As an overall car, the 2002 Ford Lynx is non merely a revised, confront lifted model. Rather the updates are done inwards a rattling convincing manner; it turns out that this machine is to a greater extent than inwardness than cosmetics afterwards all. In fact, this has to a greater extent than improvements in addition to modifications compared to the Nissan Sentra when it was transformed into the maiden of all e'er Exalta model.
The rattling fact that Ford is offering a broad array of choices compared to the Japanese makes it a adept alternative. In addition, all the gizmos in addition to features available every bit measure makes the Lynx a much meliorate purchase given the high-priced bare-look interior of the Honda Civic.
With the add-on of improved driving dynamics, heavily redesigned outside in addition to adept dealer / service experience, the Ford Lynx may good live able to catapult itself out of the league of secondary stringers inwards this segment. Can it larn into into the realm of the large cats? Only fourth dimension volition tell. However, definitely this machine tin easily trammel by the Mitsubishi Lancer in addition to perchance grab upwards amongst the Nissan Exalta. In terms of excitement in addition to driver involvement, this machine places a closed minute to the Honda Civic. With specifications closely matching the Nissan Exalta in addition to Toyota Corolla Altis, the 2002 Ford Lynx comes out every bit a swell bargain for a machine that’s every bit dynamic every bit it is adept looking.
Car Review - 2002 Ford Lynx Ghia Features & Specifications
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