La Forza
Encyclopedia
Laforza was an American
automobile manufacturer. The company sold an Italian-built military and police body and chassis designed by Tom Tjaarda
, fitted with Italian leather interior and a fuel injected Ford Windsor engine
. It was marketed as a "luxury 4x4", competing with the Range Rover
. The vehicle was refreshed in 1998 with a "new" design to include more modern amenities, but used the same basic body and drivetrain.
The origin of the Laforza was the Rayton Fissore Magnum 4x4 presented at the Turin Motor Show in 1985. This vehicle was based on an Iveco
military 4x4 VM90 (40-10 frame) that was shortened and lowered. The front and rear differentials, suspension, and brakes were carried over from the Iveco truck.
The body shell added additional strength to the chassis
through a construction technique developed by Rayton Fissore called “UNIVIS”. The body consisted of a square tubular structure bolted to the “C” frame with 10 rubber mounts (silent block).
The first Laforza arrived in the United States between 1988-89 with some modifications to the Magnum 4x4 base frame. The major differences included: reinforced and modified cross members, (transmission) and other details to use the 302 cu in (5 l) Ford V8
(more commonly known as the 5.0 Liter) EFI engine and the AOD transmission, coupled with a "2wd high, 4wd high, 4wd low" Newprocess 229 transfer case (select-track).
The body underwent some minor restyling, bumpers and tail lights were different, as well as the headlights and grille.
The Magnum 4x4's leather interior was retained in the american version, but upgraded with a new type of dash and seats as well as the center tunnel and the door panels.
Some of the vehicle's design innovations included the composite integrated bumpers painted in the same color of the body, smooth roof lines without rain gutters, and a more rounded body shape pioneering modern SUV design futures.
Engine: Ford 5.0 EFI V8 (truck version, speed density) with automatic over drive transmission (AOD) and high/low gears transfer case (Newprocess model 229)
Engine: Ford V8 5.0 SEFI V8 (from the 5.0 used in Mustang GT, mass air) and few V8 5.8 SEFI (truck version), same transmission and transfer case as above. Some of these versions have been supercharged with Kennebell as optional.
Engine: Ford V8 5.0 SEFI (found on Explorer from 1998 up) and an automatic electronic transmission (AODE) and a full time 4WD transfer case (without low gears) with an Eaton Supercharger as optional.
Engines:
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United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
automobile manufacturer. The company sold an Italian-built military and police body and chassis designed by Tom Tjaarda
Tom Tjaarda
Tom Tjaarda , born July 23, 1934, is an American automobile designer of Dutch origin. He is the son of the Dutch-American auto designer Joop Tjaarda van Starkenberg , who renamed himself John Tjaarda on coming to the U.S. in 1923...
, fitted with Italian leather interior and a fuel injected Ford Windsor engine
Ford Windsor engine
The Windsor is a 90-degree small-block V8 engine from Ford Motor Company. It was introduced in 1962, replacing the previous Ford Y-block engine. Though not all of the engines in this family were produced at the Windsor, Ontario engine plant , the name stuck...
. It was marketed as a "luxury 4x4", competing with the Range Rover
Range Rover
The Range Rover is a large luxury four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle produced by British car maker Land Rover. The model, launched in 1970, is now in its third generation...
. The vehicle was refreshed in 1998 with a "new" design to include more modern amenities, but used the same basic body and drivetrain.
The origin of the Laforza was the Rayton Fissore Magnum 4x4 presented at the Turin Motor Show in 1985. This vehicle was based on an Iveco
Iveco
Iveco, an acronym for Industrial Vehicle Corporation, originally an alliance of European commercial vehicle manufacturers such as Fiat , Unic and Magirus. Iveco is now an Italian truck, bus, and diesel engine manufacturer, based in Turin...
military 4x4 VM90 (40-10 frame) that was shortened and lowered. The front and rear differentials, suspension, and brakes were carried over from the Iveco truck.
The body shell added additional strength to the chassis
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
through a construction technique developed by Rayton Fissore called “UNIVIS”. The body consisted of a square tubular structure bolted to the “C” frame with 10 rubber mounts (silent block).
The first Laforza arrived in the United States between 1988-89 with some modifications to the Magnum 4x4 base frame. The major differences included: reinforced and modified cross members, (transmission) and other details to use the 302 cu in (5 l) Ford V8
Ford Windsor engine
The Windsor is a 90-degree small-block V8 engine from Ford Motor Company. It was introduced in 1962, replacing the previous Ford Y-block engine. Though not all of the engines in this family were produced at the Windsor, Ontario engine plant , the name stuck...
(more commonly known as the 5.0 Liter) EFI engine and the AOD transmission, coupled with a "2wd high, 4wd high, 4wd low" Newprocess 229 transfer case (select-track).
The body underwent some minor restyling, bumpers and tail lights were different, as well as the headlights and grille.
The Magnum 4x4's leather interior was retained in the american version, but upgraded with a new type of dash and seats as well as the center tunnel and the door panels.
Some of the vehicle's design innovations included the composite integrated bumpers painted in the same color of the body, smooth roof lines without rain gutters, and a more rounded body shape pioneering modern SUV design futures.
1989 to 1993
Laforza 5 literEngine: Ford 5.0 EFI V8 (truck version, speed density) with automatic over drive transmission (AOD) and high/low gears transfer case (Newprocess model 229)
1995 to 1998
Laforza GTEngine: Ford V8 5.0 SEFI V8 (from the 5.0 used in Mustang GT, mass air) and few V8 5.8 SEFI (truck version), same transmission and transfer case as above. Some of these versions have been supercharged with Kennebell as optional.
1998 to 2001
Laforza PrimaEngine: Ford V8 5.0 SEFI (found on Explorer from 1998 up) and an automatic electronic transmission (AODE) and a full time 4WD transfer case (without low gears) with an Eaton Supercharger as optional.
1999 to 2003
Laforza Magnum editionEngines:
- Ford V8 5.0 SEFI with Eaton supercharger and automatic transmission (same as the Prima model).
- GM Vortec 6.0 V8 with Eaton supercharger and a 4-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission (Hydra-Matic 4L65-E) coupled with a 2wd/4wd high/4wd low transfer case.
Sources
- David Burgess Wise, The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Automobiles.
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