Merkur cars for sale

Overview

Merkur was Ford’s attempt to sell European Fords to American buyers who wanted a German executive car — a "captive import" brand that lasted five model years. The name is German for Mercury, the planet and the god.

History

Announced in November 1983 for the 1985 model year. The XR4Ti was a Ford Sierra XR4i with a 2.3-litre turbocharged four producing 175 horsepower; the Scorpio, added for 1988, was a long-wheelbase 2.9-litre V6 sedan.

Ford projected 15,000 to 20,000 sales a year and managed 26,000 XR4Tis in total, with volumes halving by 1987. An unfavourable dollar–Deutsche Mark exchange rate, a lack of airbag compliance for 1990, and dealers who moved one or two cars a year finished it. The brand ended on 16 September 1989.