Wheres the monedo?

[focalBlur]

under the listing of ford cars there are some missing such as the monedo the falcon and them Aspire

there are others too if you would like I can send a list, it seems with teh exception of teh Aspire all the cars missing are car not on US shores, perhaps we should add the european fords too

[Hudson]

Before someone adds the thread....it's spelled Mondeo.

[Jimmy]

I think it would be a good idea to post the european cars, because they are designed different when it comes to the engines in them. They were ment to be more economical than the models manufactured for the us. The american models have bigger hp outputs and more extras, on the other hand the european models have engines that are more sophisticated so they can run on lesser fuel. Since i own a ford, i know more about them than other brands. And the german made ford sierra is the one i know most about, since that's the model i have. When it came out, they made them with different engines. 1,6l 8 valve pinto engine, 2,0l pinto engine, and another 2.0l 8 valve injecton, 2,3l v6 engine, 2,8l v6, and the allmighty 2.0l 16 valve turbo engine produced by cosworth, the same engine that was used in the touring cars. And these engines can be tuned to over 600 bhp, the rs 500 block can withstand up to 800 bhp where it will brake. So think 2.0l 16valve 4 cylinder turbo engine tuned to over 600 bhp put in a sierra that has the total unstripped weight of 1060 kg. That's a road rocket, and it will keep up with a ferrari!

so why not post the european models as well?

[Hudson]

Why stop there? There were editions of the Sierra sold in South Africa that were powered by the 4.9L OHV V8.

As for the general statement that European Ford are substantially different from their American counterparts, I beg to differ. The Contour and Mondeo were very similar cars. They both had the Zetec 2.0L four and Duratec 2.5L V6, but I believe you could get a diesel in Europe. The gas engines (2.0L and 2.5L) were quite similar on both sides of the pond.

The Sierra was sold in the US as a specialty model and, for that reason, was not offered with a variety of engines. Same with the Scorpio, Capri, Fiesta, and the handful of other Ford products sold on both sides of the Atlantic.

[Jimmy]

Well to start with, Africa is not in europe! and have you seen a sierra with a v8 in it? then you must be thinking of the american pickup with the same name? The european german made ford, had one model they shipped over the pond, and it was named the merkur xr4ti, and it came with the 2,3l 8 valve tubocharged pinto block. The newer cars might have quite the similar engines.

[Hudson]

Jimmy:

I know the car. I'm not talking about the GMC Sierra pickup, I'm talking about the Ford Sierra. It was offered with a V8 in certain markets.

Yes, in the US it was called the Merkur XR4Ti (along with the Scorpio...or, as it was known in Europe, the Granada) came with a 2.3L 8-valve, SOHC turbocharged four-cylinder. It produced 175hp with a 5-speed manual and 145hp with a 3-speed automatic.

[Lizard King]

I believe that it was only called the Granada in the UK. It had the Scorpio name in Europe.

[Hudson]

I believe the Scorpio was the top-of-the-line version of the Granada in Europe...until they restyled it and dropped the Granada name altogether.

[Heep]

We had the Merkur XR4ti, that was the Sierra. Also we had the Merkur Scorpio, is that the same as the Ford Scorpio?

[Hudson]

As was explained before, yes.

[Lizard King]

The UK had the Granada Ghia as the top model (with a Ghia X as the very top), I think the Scorpio was the 4X4 version.

[Hudson]

The European Scorpio was offered in 2wd.

[Thunda Downunda]

Interesting to note the Scorpio (which I think was based on a stretched Sierra RWD platform) featured such outre styling it killed the model. Similarly the ovoid Taurus was much criticised for overstyling. Later, like a train wreck looming, the current aussie Falcon debuted in a similar design theme, to a similar reduction of market share. Everyone could see it coming, the pattern repeating ... except Ford.

This global design inertia within Ford swept them to a reduced market-share on three continents, and I look upon Cadillacs unfortunate new styling theme with pity for the inevitable gloom ahead.

[Hudson]

The Sierra and Scorpio sold well. The Taurus was boosted by fleet sales and didn't lose too much volume.

Ford has new designers and signs are showing for their recovery. The Focus is selling well in many markets (becoming the world's top selling nameplate). The restyled Taurus is doing better. And the other upcoming additions seem to be in the right direction..

As for Cadillac...I don't like their current direction. My attitude toward styling is not usually in synch with the rest of the world, but I can't imagine cars like the CTS and Escalade selling on styling.

[Thunda Downunda]

Right you are Hudson that the Sierra sold well, it was market leader in its segment for many years.

But may I gently re-correct your correction regarding your view that "the Scorpio sold well"?

Indeed the Scorpio, the final UK-badged model with the bloated fish-eye headlights and tail lights set way low on the vehicle was an unmitigated sales disaster, hence the 'final' model, such a poor seller that Ford no longer produces a domestic (European manufactured) large car.

Almost every mention I've read of the above vehicle cites its 'controversial' styling - read plain ugly and out of tune with the market - as the principal reason for the models demise. The buying public didn't like it and it just didn't sell ... although I will concede it was quite popular with Funeral Directors, after conversion to hearses (these people can see death a'coming!)

Perhaps you are thinking of the previous generation shape, sold briefly in America under the Merkur label, which was a reasonable seller in its home country.