Merkur Scorpio
Encyclopedia
The Merkur
Scorpio is a modified European Ford Scorpio
with 4 doors and lift gate (hatch) which was manufactured and sold as 1988 and 1989 models. It was unsuccessful in the American market, which contemporary observers attributed to poor marketing.
, was developed from two of Ford's European executive cars: the Ford Scorpio Mark I and the Ford Sierra
, respectively. They were manufactured in Germany
and sold in North America
as captive imports.
The XR4Ti only came as a 2 door vehicle with liftgate, and the Scorpio only came as a 4 door with a lift gate. Unlike the popularity the European Fords enjoyed, both the Merkur Scorpio and the XR4Ti fell prey to several different issues that led to Merkur name being discontinued in North America.
s, Mercedes-Benz
, Honda Accord
and also has similarities with Mercury Sable
, but has more of a sporty appearance.
The Merkur logo is featured on the front as a flush mounted hood ornament
, and also on the standard alloy wheels and steering wheel. The rear left side says "Scorpio" and the right side says "Merkur", leading a few to believe that have seen the car for the first time thinking it is called "Scorpio Merkur". Some restored vehicles might have the make and model signs incorrectly reversed. The antenna is also flush mounted beside the rear window. The top half of the car is one color and the bottom half is another color. The main grille opening is narrow with a plastic border. Sometimes this border falls off causing the radiator fan
to become easily visible.
The instrument panel includes a speedometer that reads up to 150 miles per hour and 240 kilometers per hour. Canadian model Scorpios have speedometers that have this reversed, making kilometers per hour the primary speedometer reading. It has a tachometer on the left side of the speedometer, and on the right side is a fuel gauge and engine temperature gauge. Beside that is a door ajar
alert that is drawn as an aerial view of the car.
To the right side of the steering wheel is a digital automatic climate control system. There are several digital readings throughout the dash board. One is indoor temperature and climate control setting. Another is the radio station frequency. Near the rear view mirror is a clock, timer, compass, and outdoor temperature. The cars also feature large trunks with similar "Sto-N-Go" back seats. This connects the back seat passenger section with the trunk for additional cargo storage. The rear seats also have the seat belt connections attached to the backrest instead of between the two seat sections, making them impossible to get "lost".
Since most Merkur Scorpios have moon roofs, there are two dome lights and a set of map lights—one for the front seat and one for the rear seat. Interior colors are usually tan or black.
s and Volvo
s.
The 2.9 L Cologne V6 offered reasonable performance for the period from its 144 horsepower, but again, when compared to other vehicles in its class, such as the 185 hp Saab 9000
, the product was merely average.
5 speed manual transmission, similar to the one installed in the XR4Ti), the prices were usually $27,063.00 and up. They were sold at Lincoln-Mercury Dealerships as they were performance executive sporty luxury cars that were imported.
The Scorpio used a high security design called a Tibbe key in the ignition; this design is still used on European Fords and most Jaguar cars, but they are relatively uncommon in the US. There are few unused blank keys for replacements in the states, and most have to be sourced from Ford of Europe.
Merkur
Merkur , Mercury) was an automobile brand which was briefly marketed by Ford Motor Company in the United States and Canada from 1985 to 1989...
Scorpio is a modified European Ford Scorpio
Ford Scorpio
The Ford Scorpio is an automobile that was produced by the Ford Motor Company from 1985 through to 1998.It was the replacement for the European Ford Granada line...
with 4 doors and lift gate (hatch) which was manufactured and sold as 1988 and 1989 models. It was unsuccessful in the American market, which contemporary observers attributed to poor marketing.
Inspiration
The Merkur Scorpio, along with the Merkur XR4TiMerkur XR4Ti
The Merkur XR4Ti was a short-lived United States and Canada-market version of the European Ford Sierra XR4i. It was the brainchild of then Ford Vice President Bob Lutz. It was sold in the US from 1985 to 1989. It was the first vehicle of Ford's Merkur range, followed in 1988 by the Merkur Scorpio...
, was developed from two of Ford's European executive cars: the Ford Scorpio Mark I and the Ford Sierra
Ford Sierra
The Ford Sierra is a large family car that was built by Ford Europe from 1982 until 1993. It was designed by Uwe Bahnsen, Robert Lutz and Patrick le Quément. The code used during development was "Project Toni"....
, respectively. They were manufactured in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and sold in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
as captive imports.
The XR4Ti only came as a 2 door vehicle with liftgate, and the Scorpio only came as a 4 door with a lift gate. Unlike the popularity the European Fords enjoyed, both the Merkur Scorpio and the XR4Ti fell prey to several different issues that led to Merkur name being discontinued in North America.
| Year | Units |
|---|---|
| 1989 | 8,765 |
Appearance
Like many vehicles of the 1980s, the Merkur Scorpio has a similar design to VolvoVolvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
s, Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
, Honda Accord
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a series of compact, mid-size and full-size automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1976, and sold in a majority of automotive markets throughout the world....
and also has similarities with Mercury Sable
Mercury Sable
The Sable was a very important sedan for both Mercury and the American auto industry.Ford had lagged in introducing mid-size front wheel drive cars to compete against General Motors' Chevrolet Citation and its best-selling Chevrolet Celebrity/Pontiac 6000/Oldsmobile Cutlass/Buick Century quartet as...
, but has more of a sporty appearance.
The Merkur logo is featured on the front as a flush mounted hood ornament
Hood ornament
A hood/bonnet ornament, or radiator cap, or car mascot is a specially crafted model of something which symbolizes a car company like a badge, located on the front center portion of the hood...
, and also on the standard alloy wheels and steering wheel. The rear left side says "Scorpio" and the right side says "Merkur", leading a few to believe that have seen the car for the first time thinking it is called "Scorpio Merkur". Some restored vehicles might have the make and model signs incorrectly reversed. The antenna is also flush mounted beside the rear window. The top half of the car is one color and the bottom half is another color. The main grille opening is narrow with a plastic border. Sometimes this border falls off causing the radiator fan
Fan (mechanical)
A mechanical fan is a machine used to create flow within a fluid, typically a gas such as air.A fan consists of a rotating arrangement of vanes or blades which act on the air. Usually, it is contained within some form of housing or case. This may direct the airflow or increase safety by preventing...
to become easily visible.
The instrument panel includes a speedometer that reads up to 150 miles per hour and 240 kilometers per hour. Canadian model Scorpios have speedometers that have this reversed, making kilometers per hour the primary speedometer reading. It has a tachometer on the left side of the speedometer, and on the right side is a fuel gauge and engine temperature gauge. Beside that is a door ajar
Ajar
Ajar may refer to:* Ajar, Afghanistan* Ajar, Mauritania* Ajar people, an ethnographic group of Georgians...
alert that is drawn as an aerial view of the car.
To the right side of the steering wheel is a digital automatic climate control system. There are several digital readings throughout the dash board. One is indoor temperature and climate control setting. Another is the radio station frequency. Near the rear view mirror is a clock, timer, compass, and outdoor temperature. The cars also feature large trunks with similar "Sto-N-Go" back seats. This connects the back seat passenger section with the trunk for additional cargo storage. The rear seats also have the seat belt connections attached to the backrest instead of between the two seat sections, making them impossible to get "lost".
Since most Merkur Scorpios have moon roofs, there are two dome lights and a set of map lights—one for the front seat and one for the rear seat. Interior colors are usually tan or black.
Performance
With a modern suspension designed originally to be competitive in a tough European marketplace, the Merkur Scorpio handled decently according to press accounts at the time of its launch. Unfortunately, the combination of a basic design that was middle of the pack in Europe, a slightly softer retuning for US road conditions and preferences and, finally, all season tires left the Scorpio an inferior performer compared to similarly sized and priced European products, such as SaabSaab
Saab AB is a Swedish aerospace and defence company, founded in 1937. From 1947 to 1990 it was the parent company of automobile manufacturer Saab Automobile, and between 1968 and 1995 the company was in a merger with commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania, known as Saab-Scania.-History:"Svenska...
s and Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
s.
The 2.9 L Cologne V6 offered reasonable performance for the period from its 144 horsepower, but again, when compared to other vehicles in its class, such as the 185 hp Saab 9000
Saab 9000
The Saab 9000 is an automobile that was produced by the Swedish company Saab from 1984 to 1997. The 9000 was replaced by the 9-5 in the late 1997....
, the product was merely average.
Prices
Original suggested retail prices for "standard" features is $24,048.00 with $3,015 in options. Since most vehicles include the all options including Automatic Transmission (some estimate figures at less than 60 North American Scorpios came equipped with a T-9Ford Type 9 transmission
Type 9 is a gearbox from Ford that was used in Ford Capri 1.6, 2.0 1984 onwards, Capri 2.8 1985 onwards, Ford Sierra 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, Sierra XR4i,Sierra XR4x4 2.8 and the Scorpio 4x4 as well as the US market Merkur XR4Ti.The Type 9 was Ford's first five-speed, rear-wheel-drive gearbox, and it is...
5 speed manual transmission, similar to the one installed in the XR4Ti), the prices were usually $27,063.00 and up. They were sold at Lincoln-Mercury Dealerships as they were performance executive sporty luxury cars that were imported.
Discontinuation
The Merkur Scorpio was expensive to many customers, and was also confusing to some for how to maintain them. There were small electrical problems (the locks locking and unlocking by themselves for example). Importing the vehicles was expensive, and several other problems resulted in the failure to be recognized as a high quality affordable luxury performance vehicle. Additional failure for the Merkur line to be successful was also caused by not introducing the same line of Sierra Cosworth, which remain very popular and sought after to this day.Parts
Most of the parts for Merkur Scorpios are widely available. Certain custom features are not, however. There are still some available but some parts have to be found in Europe and shipped internationally. Some people purchase used Merkur Scorpios, both functional or having minor or major problems only to have them completely scrapped for parts to be sold.The Scorpio used a high security design called a Tibbe key in the ignition; this design is still used on European Fords and most Jaguar cars, but they are relatively uncommon in the US. There are few unused blank keys for replacements in the states, and most have to be sourced from Ford of Europe.
See also
- MerkurMerkurMerkur , Mercury) was an automobile brand which was briefly marketed by Ford Motor Company in the United States and Canada from 1985 to 1989...
- Ford ScorpioFord ScorpioThe Ford Scorpio is an automobile that was produced by the Ford Motor Company from 1985 through to 1998.It was the replacement for the European Ford Granada line...
(Europe) and Ford GranadaFord Granada (Europe)The March 1972 released Granada succeeded the British Ford Zephyr, and the German P7-series as Ford's European executive car offering. At first, lower models in the range were called the Ford Consul, but from 1975 on they were all called Granadas. The car soon became popular for taxi, fleet and...
(Mk III in UK)