[millsnsun@westnet.com.au]

Ford has had a relationship with Mazda since roughly 1972, when they bought a small portion of Toyo Kogyo stock and began rebadging Mazda B-series pickups for American sale as the Ford Courier. Later on, as the fuel crisis challenged American makers to add fuel economy to their vehicles, Ford bought diesel engines from Mazda for use in the Escort/Lynx and Tempo/Topaz lines.

The link grew stronger in 1988 when Ford took a stake in Mazda's recently-opened American assembly plant, creating the shared AutoAlliance factory we know today. In addition, Ford upped its investment in Mazda once again. Further Mazda/Ford collaboration followed in the form of the Ford Probe (the well-known sports coupe based on the MX-6 platform) and the Mercury Tracer (a little-known subcompact based on the 323 chassis). Ford also imported a Korean-built version of the tiny Mazda 121, better known as the Ford Festiva.

More parts sharing followed in the 1990s, most importantly in the 1991-1996 Escort/Tracer line that shared a chassis and one engine option with the Mazda Protege. Mercury also had the Capri convertible, built in Australia on the old 323 platform (like the original Tracer) and using a 1.6-liter Mazda engine. The MX-6/Probe alliance was refreshed during 1993 on an all-new platform, and Mazda replaced its aging B-series pickup with a version of the Ford Ranger for 1994 (a design that continues today).

Then came Asia's economic issues of the late 1990s, which caused much concern in the Japanese auto industry. Mazda was particularly hard hit, having spent much money on new models and the stillborn Amati luxury brand - neither of which ended up bringing much cash into the company. By 1998, Ford saw a unique opportunity and took it, increasing its holdings in Mazda to a controlling (just over 33 percent) share. Mazda was now officially a part of the Ford empire.

In more recent years, Mazda has become a truly integral part of Ford's worldwide operations. New vehicles from Ford and Volvo (the new Euro-market Focus and Volvo S40/V50 lines, specifically) use Mazda platforms underneath, and Mazda engines have found their way into numerous lines.

To Mazda's benefit, Ford's cash infusion has allowed the development of a totally new model line that once again represents the brand's defining spirit - and includes their first new rotary-engined vehicle in years, the RX-8. And Ford's faith in Mazda has been proven by their decision to build the pivotal new Mustang at the industry-leading AutoAlliance plant, right next to the Mazda 6.

-- Duncan M.[/b]