2001-2012 Ford, Mazda Sedans, SUVs with Spectre Performance Air Filters Stay Road-Worthy
- May 13, 2016
The new millennium in the automotive industry was populated by a proliferation of SUVs. Nearly every manufacturer brought something new to market and among them were Ford's Escape and Maverick (for Europe and China), Mazda's Tribute, and Mercury's Mariner. Sharing engineering, design, and manufacturing best practices as part of their 20+ year collaboration, Ford (owned a 33 percent stake in Mazda at the time) and Mazda took on Toyota and Honda with their small, fun-to-drive utes. Car-like road manners, comfortable interiors, and power choices over the years between 2L, 2.3L 4-cyl, and 3.0L V6, then 2.5L 4-cyl for the Escape and Mariner made these SUVs likeable and serviceable for a decade. Tribute's 2.3L and 3.0L 4-cyl power plants coupled with MacPherson strut and rear multi-link suspension were Mazda innovations that earned the vehicle accolades for its sports-car feel. Holding the course and fulfilling the mid-size to full-size family sedan segment for Ford were the Taurus and Mercury Sable. Redesigned in 1996 in a distinctive oval shape, the third-generation Taurus was the first sedan to be approved for NASCAR competition, winning the then-titled Winston Cup with Dale Jarrett driving. The Sable was praised for its sporty performance in its own right and was popular for its comfort and affordability. The pair got another redesign, and a power upgrade with the 3.0L Duratec engine in 2000, as Ford actively worked to regain Taurus's stature as the best-selling car in America (which it had held between 1992 and 1996). Staples of the U.S. automotive economy for another six years, they are still ferrying families and commuters on their daily rounds as survivors of the millennium. Dependability and solid performance form the bottom line among these competent machines, and keeping them road-worthy requires they have a well-maintained air filtration system. Spectre Performance makes that maintenance requirement easy to fulfill with a panel-shaped replacement air filter that precisely fits the stock Duratec air box. The HPR8997 goes one step further by being washable and reusable, and is backed by a limited warranty against workmanship and materials. Constructed of a pre-dyed synthetic non-woven media, reinforced with steel mesh and held in a durable polyurethane frame, this filter is designed to trap more dust and particles than stock or other disposable paper replacement filters. It is engineered to have a greater surface area in the same dimensions, which increases its efficiency. When it's time for a filter service (at least once a year, or about every 12,000 miles, depending on driving conditions), the HPR8997 can be easily removed, sprayed with the Spectre Performance filter cleaner, rinsed, and dried. After checking the air box for larger pieces of road debris and another spray with the Spectre Performance refresher spray, the filter can be replaced and the job is done. It is an affordable alternative to buying and disposing of paper filters and can extend the life of your Ford or Mazda SUV or sedan. It's a simple investment that will provide clean, fresh air for the engine and peace of mind for the owner. The following vehicles can be fitted with a Spectre Performance HPR8997 Replacement Air Filter: You can view all the Spectre Performance products for any vehicle by using the Search by Vehicle tool and you can find a local Spectre retailer by plugging your location into the Spectre Dealer Search as well. |
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