Mercury Tracer

Mercury Tracer

Manufacturer	Ford Motor Company Mazda
Production	1988–1999
Predecessor	Mercury Lynx
Successor	Ford Focus (Mexico)
Layout	FF layout

The Mercury Tracer is a compact car that was sold by the Mercury division of Ford Motor Company. It was based on the platform of the Mazda 323, replacing the European-derived Mercury Lynx. The 1991 and newer car is the Mercury version of the Ford Escort.

1987–1989

First generation

Production	1987–1989
Assembly	Hermosillo, Mexico Hiroshima, Japan
Class	Subcompact
Body style	3-door hatchback 5-door station wagon 5-door hatchback
Engine	1.6 L Mazda B6 I4
Transmission	5-speed manual 3-speed Mazda F3A automatic
Wheelbase	94.7 in (2,410 mm)
Length	Hatchback: 162.0 in (4,110 mm) Wagon: 169.7 in (4,310 mm)
Width	65.2 in (1,660 mm)
Height	Hatchback: 53.0 in (1,350 mm) Wagon: 53.7 in (1,364 mm)
Related	Ford Laser Mazda 323

Mercury Tracer 5-door

Mercury Tracer wagon

The Tracer was introduced in 1987 for the 1988 model year. It was a rebadged version of the Ford Laser model already sold in Asia and Australia, which was itself a restyled Mazda 323. The 5-door hatchbacks were built in Hermosillo, Mexico, and the 3-door hatchbacks were assembled (along with the Mazda 323) in Hiroshima, Japan. This was the only generation of the Mercury Tracer sold in Canada.

Engines

• 1.6 L B6 I4, 82 horsepower (61 kW)/92 ft·lbf (125 N·m)

1991–1996

Second generation

Production	1991–1996
Assembly	Hermosillo, Mexico
Class	Compact
Body style	4-door sedan 4-door station wagon
Engine	1.9 L CVH I4 1.8 L Mazda BP I4
Transmission	5-speed M5 manual 4-speed F-4EAT automatic
Wheelbase	98.4 in (2500 mm)
Length	Wagon: 171.3 in (4,351 mm) Sedan: 170.9 in (4,341 mm)
Width	66.7 in (1,690 mm)
Height	Wagon: 52.7 in (1,340 mm) Wagon: 53.6 in (1,361 mm)
Curb weight	2498 lb (1133 kg)
Related	Ford Escort Mazda 323 Mazda Protegé

Ford replaced the hatchback-only Tracer in 1991 with a twin of the Ford Escort, based on the Mazda 323's B platform. The Tracer LTS (which used the more powerful 1.8L Mazda engine) was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1991.

Engines

• 1.9 L (1,859 cc) CVH I4, 88 hp (66 kW) 108 ft·lbf (146 N·m)
• 1.8 L (1,839 cc) BP I4, 127 hp (95 kW) 114 ft·lbf (154 N·m) LTS

Trim levels

Sedan

• base • 1991–1996
• LTS • 1991–1994

Wagon

• base • 1991–1996

1997–1999

Third generation

Production	1997–1999
Assembly	Wayne, Michigan
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door station wagon
Engine	2.0 L SPI 2000 I4
Transmission	5-speed IB5 manual 4-speed F-4EAT automatic
Wheelbase	98.4 in (2,500 mm)
Length	Wagon: 172.7 in (4,387 mm) Sedan: 174.7 in (4,440 mm)
Width	67.0 in (1,700 mm)
Height	Sedan: 53.3 in (1,350 mm) Wagon: 53.9 in (1,369 mm)
Related	Ford Escort Mazda Protegé

Mercury Tracer wagon

The Tracer and Escort were updated in 1997 with a redesigned exterior and interior, and a new engine. The platform remained the same as before.

The Tracer wagon largely retained the same body style, gaining only the new interior, front end & fascia, side-view mirrors, door handles, badging, and slightly restyled taillamps & reflectors.

All Tracer models were discontinued in 1999 along with the Escort wagon. Mercury sold 23,146 Tracers in its last model year.

Trim levels were base (sometimes called GS) and LS, and there was also a Trio appearance package as well (as with the 91-96 model), sold between 1998 and 1999. The LS was the luxury model, offering some options not common in a compact model such as leather interior, key-less entry, power windows/door locks, etc. LS models also had tachometers, alloy wheels, etc. that were not on the base model.

Trim levels

Sedan

• GS • 1997–1999
• LS • 1997–1999

Wagon

• LS • 1997–1999

Engines

• 2.0 L (1986 cc) SPI 2000 I4, 110 hp

Proposed 2011 revival

Mercury had announced that the new Ford Focus-based compact Mercury would be called the Tracer. This model of the Tracer would have started production and been sold as a 2011 model. The Tracer was cancelled along with the cancellation of the Mercury brand in 2010. The Tracer will be replaced by a Focus based Lincoln. Reports suggest this model may be the production version of the C concept shown in 2008.