Hi and thanks for looking at one of my favorite purchases... a very rare 1994 Mercury Capri XR2 Turbo. Ford imported this Australian car (called a Ford Capri in EU and AU) from m/y 1991 to 1994 with limited success, so even though they revamped the car for the 1994 model year, they pulled the plug and it ceased to be right after they addressed a lot of it's first generation issues. Too bad, because by 1994 it was a pretty nice car, a real alternative to the hot selling Miata, since this car for the same money had turbo power and 2 extra seats. Not 6 years prior to this GM did the same thing to their Pontiac Fiero after they fixed all of it's suspension ills in 1988.

What makes the 1994 XR2 so special? Besides being rare (only 366 produced worldwide in 1994), it has many upgrades that make it look quite unique when compared to the other Aussie Capris of 1991 to 1993, and even the 1994 non-turbo. Here's a list of some of the 94 XR2 only parts that help to transform the car from ugly duckling to cool ride...

Exterior:
Besides some cool new paint colors, the XR2 benefitted from a "body kit" of sorts, with lower side skirts and a more attractive rear spoiler. It also got it's own wheels, a 7 spoke unidirectional pattern that was light years better looking than anything previously offered. The car sat lower than previous years, also making it look less econobox-ish. It received a new ZX2 graphic which was attractive, as well as all the other 1994 model year changes including new front and rear bumper designs, new taillamps, new body colored and more rounded mirrors, as well as new parking lamp lenses (4 photos below are not my car).

Interior:
1994 saw the very first year a black interior was offered in the Capri, and the XR2 took it to the next level by making it black leather instead of the non-turbo's cloth seats. Matching leather door panel inserts finished off the look to the freshened 1994 trim of grey face gauges, passenger airbag, relocated window switches, and a center armrest (again, not my car since my seats are a bit ratty).

Suspension:
1. Sway Bars on 1994 XR2's are fitted with heim joint ends as opposed to rubber bushings to improve cornering response.
2. Coil spring rates are increased and ride height was reduced about 1/2".
3. Those 7 spoke alloy wheels mentioned earlier were much lighter than previous offerings so they reduced unsprung weight.

Drivetrain:
No real changes here from previous years, not that anything was wrong with that, but I think they would've done themselves better to offer the car with a slightly more powerful setup and up the boost to put it into premium fuel only status. That could have given them some real bragging rights and good press if the car turned out a little faster than previous years. At the very least, they could've changed the gear ratios a bit, perhaps fitting a longer legged 5th gear and a shorter final drive to improve 0-60 runs without affecting highway fuel economy.

Specifications:
The Capri benefitted from all the trick stuff Japan Inc. was turning out in the early 90's... the list of goodies on this car reads like an exotic car:

Motor: 1.6 liter 4 cylinder, cast iron block, oil cooled piston squirters, DOHC aluminum head, 16 valves, pent roof style combustion chambers, 7.9:1 compression ratio, turbocharged, and air to air intercooled.

Trans: Aluminum case "G" series 5 speed manual front wheel drive, rod operated shifter, ratios - (1st)3.31 (2nd)1.83 (3rd)1.23 (4th)0.97 (5th)0.80 (Reverse)3.17.

Axles: Equal length Ball and Cage Style Drive Axles with carrier and intermediate shaft.

Brakes: Dual Diagonal Hydraulic System with 4 wheels discs and single piston calipers, Rotors - 260mm vented(F) 222 solid(R).

Steering: Power assisted rack and pinion, 3.15 turns lock to lock.

Suspension:: 4 wheel independent Mac Phearson strut with front and rear sway bars.