Ford Laser, the Telstar was, in fact, based on a model produced by Mazda in Japan. It shared its platform with the Mazda Capella/626, the differences being confined to some styling, engine sizes, and specification. The first model was launched in 1983, replacing the Ford Cortina. Unlike the Cortina, or its Sierra successor, the Telstar was usually only available as a sedan or hatchback (known as the TX5). However, a Telstar version of the 626 wagon was sold in Japan and also New Zealand.

Japan

In Japan, The Telstar was introduced in 1983 on the new front wheel drive Mazda GC platform. This model was replaced in 1987 with a refreshed version on the Mazda GD platform. A station wagon appeared in 1990 on the old GD-based GV platform, while the sedan was updated the next year with the newer GE platform. This Telstar was replaced in 1997 by an updated Telstar on the GF platform. From 1994 through 1996, a special Telstar II was produced alongside the Japan-only Mazda Capella on the CG platform. The Telstar was dropped by Ford of Japan in 1999, as the company sought to differentiate itself from Mazda by concentrating on European and US Ford models. Telstars were briefly available with Mazda's four-wheel steering.

Australia

In Australia, local assembly of the Telstar was short-lived, and for a while the model was almost replaced by the Ford Corsair, which was simply a facelifted version of the Nissan Pintara. The two sold side by side in the Ford range for a few years, with the Telstar only available as the high-performance TX5 hatchback. Later when Nissan ended manufacturing in Australia, the Corsair was dropped and the Telstar, fully imported from Japan, once again became Ford's offering in the medium size segment of the market, until 1995, when it was replaced by the Mondeo.

New Zealand

In New Zealand, the Telstar, like the Laser, was assembled locally up to 1997, at the Ford/Mazda joint venture plant in Auckland called Vehicle Assemblers of New Zealand (VANZ). This included the Telstar Orion, which was simply the previous model sedan and wagon, offered as an entry-level model. When the first Mondeos were sold abroad, New Zealand offered a Telstar Contour and a Telstar Mystique (named after the US Ford and Mercury versions of the Mondeo respectively). A high performance V6 version, known as the Telstar Radisich after the New Zealand racing driver Paul Radisich, was also sold locally. The plant closed in 1997 and all of Ford New Zealand's product offerings are now fully imported.

South Africa

In South Africa, the Telstar replaced the Ford Sierra in 1993, being assembled by Samcor alongside the Mazda 626. In 1998, the Telstar was replaced by the Mondeo, which is now fully imported.

See also

• Ford Festiva
• Ford Laser
• Ford Meteor
• Ford Escort
• Ford Falcon

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