| Ford Sierra | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Ford Europe |
| Also called | Merkur XR4Ti (North America, 1985–1989) Ford Sapphire (sedan, South Africa, 1990–1993) |
| Production | 1982–1993 |
| Assembly |
|
| Designer | Uwe Bahnsen Bob Lutz Patrick le Quément |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Mid-size car/Large family car (D) |
| Body style | 3/5-door liftback 4-door saloon 5-door estate 5-door car derived van |
| Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive |
| Related | Ford Scorpio Ford P100 Merkur XR4Ti |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine |
|
| Transmission | 3-speed automatic 4-speed automatic 4-speed manual 5-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,609 mm (102.7 in) |
| Length | 4,531 mm (178.4 in) |
| Width | 1,727 mm (68.0 in) |
| Height | 1,367 mm (53.8 in) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Ford Cortina Mark V Ford Taunus TC3 |
| Successor | Ford Mondeo |
The Ford Sierra is a mid-size/large family car manufactured and marketed by Ford Europe from 1982–1993, designed by Uwe Bahnsen, Robert Lutz and Patrick le Quément — and noted for its aerodynamic styling producing a drag coefficient of 0.34, a significant improvement over its predecessors.
The Sierra had its debut at the 1982 British International Motor Show in Birmingham,[3] shortly followed by the 1982 Paris Salon de l'Automobile.[4] Sales began on 15 October 1982,[5] replacing the Ford Taunus TC3 (UK: Ford Cortina Mark V). Its aerodynamic styling and the absence of a saloon/sedan configuration was such that many conservative buyers (including company car drivers) did not prefer its design.[3] A saloon/sedan model debuted in 1987 with the introduction of the facelifted Sierra.
Designated internally under the "Project Toni" code name, [3] the nameplate Sierra derived from the Spanish word for mountain range. The car was primarily manufactured in Belgium and the United Kingdom, although Sierras were also assembled in Cork, Ireland,[6] Argentina, Venezuela, South Africa, and New Zealand.
- ^ "Facilities | Ford Motor Company Newsroom". Media.ford.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2010. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
- ^ "Highlights of Ford New Zealand". Ford Motor Company Newsroom. Media.ford.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2013.
- ^ a b c Ford Sierra, The Independent, 6 November 2007
- ^ Salon de l'auto, Ina.fr, 27 January 2021
- ^ "Road test". Retrieved 18 June 2011.
- ^ Ford Car Plant to Close 1984, RTÉ Archives