TheFord Scorpiois anexecutive carthat was produced byFord Germanyfrom 1985 to 1998.[1]It was the replacement for theEuropean Ford Granadaline (although in the UK and Ireland the Scorpio was marketed under the Granada name until 1994). Like its predecessor, the Scorpio was targeted at the executive car market. A variant known as theMerkur Scorpiowas sold briefly on the North American market during the late 1980s. While Ford'sTauruswas of a similar size, Ford maintained the need for two parallel cars – while Scorpio buyers valued high-speed stability, a tight turning radius, and a sizable rear seat, American buyers had other requirements.[2]
CodenamedDE-1during its development (since it was intended to straddle the EuropeanDandEsegments), the Scorpio was heavily based on theSierra,sitting on a stretched version of itsfloorpan,and using a similar styling philosophy set by both the Sierra and the third generationEscort.
Under thebonnetwere well proven engines, starting with the venerablePinto engineunit in 1.8 L and 2.0 L capacities, as well as theV6Cologne enginein 2.4 or 2.8-litre displacements. The larger engine was later replaced by a 2.9-litre derivative, and while the slow selling 2.4 remained in production until 1994 it was effectively replaced by the 2.0 DOHC in most markets. By the summer of 1989, the Pinto engines had begun to be gradually replaced, with the eight-valve version of Ford'sDOHC enginereplacing the 2.0 L model.
The Scorpio was intended to maintain Ford's position in Europe as the principal alternative to a Mercedes or BMW for those looking to own an executive car. It was also launched more than a year ahead of new competitors from Rover and Opel/Vauxhall.[1]
To this end Ford built on the already extensive specification available on the outgoing MkII Granada (which for the period, was very well equipped, with features such as leather seats,air conditioning,electric sunroof, and trip computer either standard or available as options) by adding some additional features unusual on a mass market car. Improvements available included: heated windscreen,cruise control,electrically adjustable seats front and rear and laterall-wheel drive.
Initially the Chubb AVA lock barrel was fitted to models at launch, but by around 1987 these were replaced by the Tibbe lock.
The most notable advance was the fitment ofanti-lock braking system,the first time this feature had been made standard across the whole range on a mass-produced car.[3]The car was widely praised as being very comfortable and spacious, particularly in respect of its rear legroom.
Unlike the Granada, it was initially only available as ahatchback,and not as asaloonorestate.This proved to be a mistake for Ford, which later introduced a saloon version in December 1989. An estate version finally appeared in the beginning of 1992, when the whole range underwent a facelift, with new styling which hinted at the newMondeo,which would replace the Sierra a year later. There were few engineering changes over the years, notably the introduction of the DOHC engines in 1989, and theScorpio Cosworthwith a 2.9 L 24 valveCosworthV6 in December 1990.
The Cosworth was both large and fast, which consequently gave it poorfuel consumption.Many owners often commented at the fact that 25 miles per gallon was about as much as you could get out of a car with this engine.[4]Prop-shaftdeterioration over time was also considered to be a problem on early Mark I and II Cosworths.
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, following the initial market resistance towards the Sierra, something which had been attributed to its radical styling, Ford elected to keep the Granada name in those markets, making the Scorpio effectively a Mk III Granada. The "Scorpio" name was instead used as atrim designationrather than the model name, being positioned higher than Ford's traditionalGhiatop of the range model. These models were marketed as "Granada Scorpio", but were badged simply as "Scorpio", with an elongated "Granada" underneath.
The Merkur Scorpio was a North American version of the European Scorpio Mk I. The car was offered at selectLincoln–Mercurydealerships from 1988 to 1989.
1989 Merkur Scorpio
TheMerkurScorpio was only offered with theCologne 2.9LV6 engine with some detail differences from the contemporary Fords. Adapted to meet American emissions requirements, the Merkur version of the Scorpio produced 140 hp (104 kW) when introduced to the North American market in 1988.
The vast majority were fitted with theA4LDfour speed automatic transmission, and the rest received the T-9 five speed manual transmission. Only automatic versions of the Scorpio were available in Canada. The car was marketed as an upscale,mid-sizeluxury car,but never achieved themarket impactthat the Ford Motor Company hoped for. Ford dropped theMerkurnameplate altogether after 1989.
The model was a facelifted Mark I with changed grille, headlights, rear lights, bonnet and dashboard. It went on sale in March 1992, at the same time that an estate model (first shown in October 1991 at theLondon Motorfair) was added to the range.
The outdatedPeugeot XD3diesel engine was also replaced by a more powerful unit from ItalianVM Motori.This facelift realigned the look of the Granada with the forthcoming Mondeo, and kept styling cues coherent across the model range.
Facelifted Ford Scorpio Mk I saloon
The five-door remained available, though its market share dwindled
Launched at theParis Motor Showin October 1994,[5]the second generation Scorpio was made available in saloon or estate styles only, the hatchback bodystyle having been dropped. It was essentially a comprehensive risk of its predecessor, retaining the same floorpan, as well as all of the same engines that were in use at the end of the first generation's run. Many suspension and handling improvements were made between the first and second generations (including self levelling rear suspension on the estates). It was also radically restyled both inside and outside, with new design of headlights, grille and door handles, which were taken from theFord Crown Victoria.
Despite its controversial styling, the luxury interior, handling and performance were widely praised by reviewers.Edward Stobartpraised the car, andJeremy Clarksondeclared it '[as] equally talented' as theVauxhall Omega,one of the Scorpio's main rivals, and that it was 'well made... extremely well equipped, and considering its size, it was good value for money'.[6]In general however, this praise however was overshadowed by criticism concerning the styling.[7][8]In addition, the "Granada" name, which had been retained in the United Kingdom and Ireland for the MkI Scorpio (AKA MkIII Granada) was finally dropped and the "Scorpio" name – already used elsewhere – was adopted.
In April 1998, it was listed as the third worst N-registered car (August 1995 to July 1996) to own in the United Kingdom from aTop Gearsurvey of 120 cars, receiving a particularly low rating for its reliability. It fared slightly better in the 1999 and 2000 surveys.[9]
In September 1997, the Scorpio was facelifted, with darker headlight surrounds and a more subtle grille, to tone down the front end of the car. The '50s-throwback' 'low-slung wrap-around'[10]rear lights were also revised to make the 'plump' rear-end of the car less bulbous. Despite plans to release a new model in 1998,[5]this was to be the last development for the model, which finished production over the summer of 1998.
Whether or not the car genuinely made Ford's sales expectations, the shifting European car market at the end of the 1990s meant that it was not directly replaced. This was not unusual at the time, with the market trending towards either high-speccedlarge family carsfor executives or towardsmulti-purpose vehiclesfor families, as mainstream brands gradually surrendered the "E" segment to "premium" brands such asBMW,Mercedes-Benz,andAudi.Reflecting this new reality, Ford's ownership ofJaguarandVolvomeant that it now had direct access to the European executive car market with the newly developedJaguar S-TypeandVolvo S80[11]without directly replacing the Scorpio.[12]
TheDutch royal familyused several Scorpios, some stretched ones, and all painted in Royal Blue. There is still a custom-built Scorpiolandauletin the royal stables. After Ford ended the production, theVolvo S80replaced the Ford models.
The new Scorpio was the first ever Ford design developed entirely using aCAD/CAMcomputer system,[13]and inside the car were new armchair style seats and improved interior quality, but outside the new 'Americanised' look was controversial. The car sported bulbous 'globular' headlights and its tail lights were arranged in a thin line just above the bumper (described as a 'gratuitously narrow... ill-chosen necklace... resembling a giant cushion'). Unusually, Ford never released the name of the designer and maintain to this day that the car outsold its expected figures (although they never released what those figures actually were),[7]however it has been noted that the unknown designer was 'very proud' of their work.[14]
...there's no way [Ford] could raise additional funds by flogging posters of the [Scorpio] to teenagers.[7]
The bulging headlights and wide grille were defended as 'bold', 'quirky', 'a design statement', 'dramatic',[8]and provided 'refreshing lines',[8]but the public and press reaction to the design was largely negative. Contemporary reviewers wrote that the car had a 'stupid grin', 'gormless mouth',[6]'droopy nose', 'daft' 'humpedboot',[8]'dopey eyes', 'revolting' 'stupid headlights',[6]a 'fish-mouth grille opening',[5]'fat flanks', a 'reptilian gurn', and that it looked 'mixed up', 'boxy yet curvy', 'gargoyle-ugly' and 'bug eyed', it 'resembled something thatDavid Attenboroughmight reveal from a dank cave inBorneo',[15]and 'driving amilk floatwould score more cred points in a traffic jam'.[10]
The styling was so controversial that several months before the release of the vehicle to the public, Ford set up a focus group involving large sections of the automotive press at their engineering and design centre inCologne,comparing the distinctive 'smiling mouth' grille to historic designs such as those fromJaguar,Alfa Romeo,andAustin-Healey.The acknowledgement by Ford of good design from other manufacturers was praised by the press; however, the design of the Scorpio itself received universal condemnation, and the focus group failed to placate the media regarding the car's appearance, who would later go on to viciously attack the styling on release.[15]
Ford Scorpio Mk II saloonFord Scorpio MK II estate
On release, the styling was immediately criticised in both the automotive press and the non-automotive mainstream media, with entire pages in the latter attacking the aesthetics.Tony MasonofTop Geardisliked the front, saying that the headlamps looked out of place and the car looked incomplete,Edward Stobartdescribed the car as 'the ugliest car in Britain', particularly disliking the 'featureless' rear, saying that it did not look as good as theBMW 7-Series,while Ken Greenley of theRoyal College of Art(designer of theSsangYong MussoandRodius) disliked the entire design philosophy. Described as 'just plain ugly', 'like one of those fairground cars with a silly face on the front', 'like something out ofWalt Disney,someone has gone onacidand tripped to the Seventies for the front', and 'designed by a committee of people in sunglasses sitting in the dark'. Other reviewers were even more scathing, one saying that 'it doesn't have much of a personality... the front of the car is like a face with a huge beaming smile... it looks a bit ridiculous really', another describing the front end as 'look[ing] like someone's just rammed a banana up its bottom',[16]and another remarking 'I wouldn't feel proud of this... it's the ugliest car going'.[8]
After release, the criticism became even more intense, journalists describing it as 'much unloved', 'Britain's most unpopular car', a 'poor relation' to its rivals,[17]'styled like aguppy',[18]with 'the looks of a smiling frog', and 'the ugliest manmade vehicle of all time'.[19]
Described as a 'goppinghideous monstrosity',Jeremy Clarksonwrote inThe Timesat the time that this car had "village idiot features" and a "loopy face".[20]He elaborated later on that the Scorpio ended any argument as to which car was the ugliest on the road,[16]that the car "resemble[s] an extra fromFinding Nemo",and that it had 'a face of such unparalleled awfulness' and would 'make... children cry'.[6]Richard HammondandJames Maydescribed it as 'gopping',[21]while May additionally described it as 'not Ford's finest styling',[22]and in Richard Porter's 2004 bookCrap Carsthe Scorpio Mark II was listed as number 49 (of 50) on looks alone.
On the DVD specialClarkson: Heaven and Hell,Jeremy Clarkson set up ajoustingcontest between a Scorpio – which he described as "a wide mouthed frog" – and aTriumph TR7,eventually destroying both cars via head-on collision.
In Germany, the satirical magazineTitanicnoted the Scorpio's front's similarity to the facial features of politicianGünter Verheugen,who would go on to become EU Commissioner.[23]
The Scorpio Mark II was available in the following levels oftrim(each one being available as a saloon or an estate and with any engine). Regardless of the trim level, any car with a 2.9 Cosworth engine was fitted withtraction control,cruise controland anautomatic gearboxas standard (a manual gearbox could not be specified at all). All other engines could be fitted with either a manual or automatic transmission although, in practice, the vast majority of Scorpios were automatic.
Stretched Ford Scorpio Mk II used by the Dutch royal family
Facelifted Ford Scorpio Mk II SaloonExecutive: The base model, although even this had a high level of specification including electric windows,ABS,PASas well as an alarm and immobiliser.
Ghia:This level added air conditioning, alloy wheels, front fog lights and electric mirrors as well as a variety of minor additions.
Ultima: The highest level added a CD autochanger, climate control, leather seats,cruise controland an automatically dimming mirror, and electrically operated seats as well as a variety of other minor improvements.
Some Ultima versions were fitted with a VM Motori 2.5 litre turbo diesel engine. The VM halves the fuel bills but suffered fromturbo lagand a tendency to all-or-nothing acceleration.
Unusually trim levels and engine sizes were not liveried on the backs of the cars. Rather the trim levels were liveried on the sides of the cars by the Scorpio badges on the rear window frames as such. The Executive had no badge, simply the word "Scorpio". Each other model had the model name under the badge, for example "Scorpio Ultima."
Engine sizes were also on the sides of the cars towards the front just above the auxiliary indicator lights as such:
2.0 L: no badge (on older cars the two litre 8 valve had no badge but the two litre sixteen valve bore had the badge "2.0 16v" )
2.3 L: "2.3" (on older cars "2.3 16v" )
2.9 L: "2.9" (on older cars "2.9 12v" )
2.9 L: Cosworth "24v"
Unlike the Mark I Scorpio, the word "Cosworth" did not appear anywhere on the outside of cars fitted with such an engine (possibly in an attempt to reduce the likelihood of vehicle theft) although it is in evidence across the top of the engine. However, on the 1998 facelift, the Cosworth badge is clearly visible on the trunk lid. The output of the Cosworth V6 had also been increased from 195 hp (145 kW) to 207 hp (154 kW) for the second generation.[5]
^Johansson, Claes, ed. (7 March 1991). "Allt om bilen: PS" [All about cars: PS].Teknikens Värld(in Swedish). Vol. 43, no. 5. Stockholm, Sweden: Specialtidningsförlaget AB. p. 15.
^abcd"Ford Scorpio".Motor Trend.Vol. 47, no. 1. Los Angeles: Petersen Publishing Company. January 1995. p. 18.ISSN0027-2094.
^abcdClarkson, Jeremy (2 November 2009).Clarkson: Duel(DVD). United Kingdom:2 Entertain Video.Event occurs at 45.In many ways the Scorpio wasn't a bad car. It was well made, it was extremely well equipped, and considering its size, it was good value for money. But, for some reason, it went on sale with a face of such unparalleled awfulness, that very few people ever actually bought one. Why would you? Why would anybody deliberately buy a car that they knew would make their children cry? We've had cars styled to look like jaguars and sharks in the past, but never, until this came along, had one ever been styled to look like a frog... but with its gormless mouth and its stupid headlights, this was a first. If you were going to run a competition to find the world's ugliest car, this would probably win it. So it's not a good looking car...
^"Top Gear".19.Series 19. Episode SP-Pt1.3 March 2013. 13 minutes in. BBC. BBC Two.Retrieved16 August2017.I've always liked the Scorpio... You have not! You know that word you like, James, 'gopping'? It is gopping! That was invented... Nothing has ever been more gopping than that!
^"Top Gear".22.Series 22. Episode 3.8 February 2015. 6 minutes in. BBC. BBC Two.Retrieved28 October2017.But there's a bit of an elephant in the room. Yes, I knew you were going to say that, it's not Ford's finest styling, I know...
Facelifted Ford Scorpio Mk I saloon
The five-door remained available, though its market share dwindled
Scorpio station wagon ( "Turnier"; rear)
