1982-1987: Research costs - The Mk4. Foreia / Mk2. Klinos (Pre-facelift)
Yep, pretty early for an update, but some markets do need updates if you want to keep them interested. It is the case for sedans and high end cars. 1982, it’s time to sleeken the Foreia.
… No, wait. Let’s do even more.
As you might have noticed from all the effort put in their sports cars, FAAL was really interested in competition. That would result in customers expecting cars to handle like sports cars, or at least have the possibility to do so. And as they were drowning in money and potential money from having more models for sale than ever, it was time to dump something in suspension R&D. Which is why the Foreia features a brand new, very fancy double wishbone all around suspension setup. Boom.
The 1982 Foreia’s design is both modern, and in adequation with the rest of the brand’s lineup and historical choices. It was still a liftback. It still had a sleek aerodynamic front end. There was one problem, though: The car wanted to be so sleek that it ended up being unstable at high speeds despite being FWD, leading 6 months later to a general recall of all Foreias in order to install on all models a spoiler that was originally optional.
Despite having a very fancy suspension, the rest of the car was known tech. Longitudinal engine configuration, FWD with optional TETRA AWD. Out of the three engine choices, only one was new: A stroked and bored Mesaia GTI engine brought to 2 liters of displacement and 115hp. The two other engines were the 1.8L carried over from the old generation of Foreia, gone fuel injected, and the 2.1 five cylinder from the N/A Coupe.
The chassis was galvanized, and the car available in two body styles: Liftback…
… and Wagon. FAAL did tame their design choices for the wagon to allow for as much hatch as possible to open without breaking any light bulbs like the previous generation Foreia wagon did.
Now of course, the extra development costs meant a higher price at the start. Which was compensated by the availability to have the most powerful engine available with the base level trim.
Speaking of trims and engine choices:
Foreia :
- 5 basic seats.
- A steering wheel.
- Somehow, a radio. Only two speakers, though.
- Power steering is optional.
- Power locks and windows optional.
- 185/70R15 tyres on steel wheels covering disc brakes all around, no ABS, not even optional.
- Only available in FWD
- 5 speed manual
- Engine choices: 1.8L 96hp 184S18Mpi, 2.0L 115hp 204R20Mpi, 2.1L 126hp 255R21Mpi (starting 1983)
Foreia GL:
- Plushier seats
*Chrome trim around the windows - Four spoke steering wheel instead of two
- Optional foglights
- Two speakers radio with optional 4 speakers
- Standard power steering
- Standard power lock and front power windows, optional remote locking command and rear power windows
- 195/65R15 tyres on standard alloy wheels. Still the same brakes, but optional ABS starting 1985.
- 2.0L only FWD. 2.1L FWD with optional TETRA
- 5 speed manual, optional 4 speed auto
- Engine choices: 2.0L 115hp 204R20Mpi, 2.1L 126hp 255R21Mpi (starting 1983)
One year after launch, the Klinos saw the same overhaul as the Foreia, and for the same reason: It was still based off of it.
The visual changes include, of course, chrome everywhere, on the side bumper bars, on the B and C pillars, door handles, and on the brand new grilles which is specific to the Klinos. That’s for the front. On the rear, just like the first generation Klinos, the MK2 gets a fancy new four bar taillight arrangement. The whole thing has the same goal as the mk1 Klinos visual overhaul compared to the Mk3 Foreia: Make the car look like a different car to please the upper markets. No RWD this time, every single Klinos gets TETRA.
This boi is only motorized by 5 cylinder engines, and the car retains the fancy double wishbone all around suspension setup, but connects it to the car on FAAL’s trademark high end hydropneumatic suspension, which makes for an incredibly comfy ride, especially with the optional 4 speed automatic. And especially with all the goodies and the interior build quality of the return of the grandaddy of all FAAL luxury cars: The Klinos Excellence.
The most expensive FAAL ever built. But hey, it had everything. Cassette 8 speaker radio, wood trim, heated power operated wool seats… But hey, that’s for the trims and engines part:
Klinos GLS
- Cloth seats, optional wool, optional heated front
- Leather wrapped steering wheel
- Four speakers cassette radio, optional 8 speakers
- Power everything
- Standard foglights
- 5 speed manual, optional 4 speed auto
- 205/55R16 tyres on alloy wheels
- Engine choices: 2.1L 126hp 255R21Mpi, 2.5L 144hp 255R25Mpi, 2.1L turbo 180hp 255R21MpiTE
Klinos Excellence
- Wool seats standard and specific to the Excellence, heated front standard, heated rear optional
- Rear central console with armrest
- 8 speaker radio standard
- 4 speed auto only
- Optional two-tone paint, just like the original 1949 Foreia L
- Engine choice: 2.1L turbo 180hp 255R21MpiTE
Now of course, FAAL kinda lost some money on this much development, which is the reason between them keeping up the Mk2 Plebia (WHICH IS ALREADY 27 GODDAMN YEARS OLD) for another three years, unable to industrialize the otherwise ready replacement yet.
So yeah, next up, Granny retires: The Mk3 Plebia.