| Merkur Scorpio | |
|---|---|
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Ford of Germany (Ford of Europe) |
| Production | 1987-1989 |
| Model years | 1988-1989 |
| Assembly | West Germany: Cologne (Cologne Body & Assembly) [1] |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Mid-size luxury / Executive car |
| Body style | 5-door hatchback |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | Ford DE-1 platform |
| Related | |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2.9 L Cologne V6 |
| Transmission | 5-speed Type 9 manual 4-speed A4LD automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 108.7 in (2,761 mm)[2] |
| Length | 186.4 in (4,735 mm) |
| Width | 69.5 in (1,765 mm) |
| Height | 54.6 in (1,387 mm) |
The Merkur Scorpio is a mid-size luxury car that was marketed by the Lincoln-Mercury division of Ford for the 1988 and 1989 model years through its Merkur sub-brand. Marketed above the Merkur XR4Ti in the model line, the Scorpio served as the brand's flagship. As a captive import from Ford of Europe, selected Lincoln-Mercury dealers marketed the Scorpio in the United States and Canada.[3]
A near-direct counterpart of the Ford Scorpio Mk I (Ford Granada Mk III in the United Kingdom), the Merkur Scorpio was developed to give Lincoln-Mercury a competitor against European executive cars sold in North America, including the Audi 100, BMW 5-series, Mercedes-Benz 190E, Saab 9000, Sterling 827, and Volvo 740/760.[4]
Following the 1989 model year, Ford ended imports of the Scorpio, closing down the Merkur brand. Lasting only for two model years, the Merkur Scorpio is among the shortest-lived Ford Motor Company nameplates in modern history. Along with unstable pricing due to fluctuating exchange rates and insufficient sales figures, the model line would have required a costly redesign to remain in compliance with upcoming American safety regulations.
The Scorpio was manufactured in Cologne, West Germany by Ford of Germany (Cologne Body & Assembly). In total, 22,010 examples were imported.[5]
- ^ "Facilities | Ford Motor Company Newsroom". Archived from the original on 2010-09-02. Retrieved 2016-11-13.
- ^ "Ford Scorpio Merkur"
- ^ "1988 Merkur Brochure". oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
- ^ "History_4_Scorpio". www.merkurclub.net. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
- ^ "History_5_Facts". www.merkurclub.net. Retrieved 2019-05-11.