The Ford Scorpio was an executive car produced by Ford Germany from 1985 to 1998, replacing the European Granada line; in the United Kingdom and Ireland, however, it was still badged Granada until 1994. It was aimed at the executive market and competed with Mercedes and BMW.
Ford Scorpio at a glance
| Maker | Ford Germany |
|---|---|
| Production | 1985–1998 |
| Development code | DE-1 |
| Base | a stretched Sierra floorpan |
| First engines | 1.8 and 2.0 Pinto, 2.4 and 2.8 Cologne V6 |
| Later engines | 2.9 V6, 2.0 DOHC |
| British name | Granada until 1994 |
| North American version | Merkur Scorpio, late 1980s |
| Notable equipment | heated windscreen, cruise control, power seats, all-wheel drive |
| Locks | Chubb AVA at launch, Tibbe from about 1987 |
This page is based on English Wikipedia only.
History of the Ford Scorpio
A stretched Sierra
The Scorpio was codenamed DE-1 because it was meant to straddle the European D and E segments. It was heavily based on the Sierra, sitting on a stretched version of its floorpan and using the styling philosophy set by the Sierra and the third-generation Escort. The engines were well-proven units: the Pinto in 1.8 and 2.0 litres and the Cologne V6 in 2.4 and 2.8 litres, the larger V6 later replaced by a 2.9-litre derivative. The slow-selling 2.4 lasted until 1994 but was effectively replaced by the 2.0 DOHC in most markets, and from summer 1989 the Pinto engines began to give way, the eight-valve 2.0 DOHC taking over from the 2.0 Pinto.
Fighting Mercedes and BMW
Ford intended the Scorpio to keep its place in Europe as the main alternative to a Mercedes or BMW for executive buyers, and launched it more than a year ahead of new rivals from Rover and Opel. It built on the already generous specification of the outgoing Granada Mk II — leather seats, air conditioning, an electric sunroof and a trip computer, standard or optional — by adding features unusual on a mass-market car: a heated windscreen, cruise control, electrically adjustable front and rear seats and, later, all-wheel drive. At launch the cars used the Chubb AVA lock barrel, replaced by the Tibbe lock from about 1987.
Two names, two markets
In Britain and Ireland the car kept the Granada name until 1994, so the same model was sold under two names in Europe. A version called the Merkur Scorpio was sold briefly in North America in the late 1980s. Ford kept the Scorpio alongside the similarly sized Taurus because buyers wanted different things: Scorpio customers valued high-speed stability, a tight turning circle and a large rear seat, while American buyers had other priorities. Production ran until 1998.
Design and features
- Sierra base: a stretched floorpan with the same styling language.
- Executive equipment: heated windscreen, cruise control and power seats front and rear.
- Two names: Scorpio in most of Europe, Granada in Britain until 1994.
- Merkur Scorpio: the short-lived North American version.
Ford Scorpio versions
- Scorpio 1.8 and 2.0 (1985): the Pinto-engined models.
- 2.4 and 2.8 V6: the Cologne-engined versions, the larger later a 2.9.
- 2.0 DOHC (1989): the eight-valve engine that replaced the Pinto.
- All-wheel-drive models: offered later in the run.
- Merkur Scorpio: the North American version of the late 1980s.
The Scorpio replaced the Granada and was built on the Sierra platform. More Ford vehicles are in the Ford collection.
Sources
- Ford Scorpio, English Wikipedia: platform, engines, equipment, markets
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