Why Was The Ford Scorpio The END Of Big Fords? (1997 2.9 V6 Ultima Road Test)

When Ford's highly regarded Granada made way for the new Scorpio, it didn't go down as well as they had hoped. The somewhat questionable American-inspired styling cloaked what was a very capable car with an unassuming, almost comical facade. Paul took this lovely example for a few laps around Mallory Park to debunk the hate around this luxury car ugly duckling...
Road tests proudly sponsored by Peter Best Insurance - get a quote at: www.peterbestinsurance.co.uk/
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Chapters
0:00 - 30 years of the Scorpio
0:30 - What Went Wrong?
1:02 - Refined Ride and Handling
1:25 - Sinful Styling
2:00 - Great Car Hiding Underneath?
3:00 - Cosworth V6 Impressions
3:30 - Ride Comfort Impressions
4:04 - Historical Opinions
4:30 - This Face-lifted Example
5:12 - Cosworth Engine Overhaul
5:40 - Jaguar XJ6 Comparison
6:18 - Summary
6:41 - Outro

[@RW-bi2rp]

The funny thing is that now in todays age it's actually a good looking car! it's aged like a fine wine!

[@Phil-go8rf]

The reason they stopped making a large saloon with a Ford badge was because they bought Aston Martin, Volvo and Jaguar with the idea of creating a premium brand sector and didn’t see the point in developing a replacement that would directly compete with Volvo and the medeium sized Jaguar.

[@alextoft9199]

I have to say that in today's context as a retro, I really like it. The oddball looks give it character and make it a talking point. Love the refinement and ride comfortable. I'd happily drive it.

[@davidkmatthews]

I always felt that had Ford of Europe been allowed to merely change the design of the headlamps to something closer to that of the Mondeo, the Scorpio may well have been more successful.

[@robsawalker]

I had a dark metallic red one with black leather interior and it was a brilliant car

[@andrewnorth4857]

Whilst, personally, I don't have a problem with the styling, it does make me wonder why Ford thought they could pitch such an odd-looking car to the European market. It's almost as though they were looking for an excuse to stop making it.

[@user-rs5do6ud6b]

Apart from the styling the biggest problem was that Ford was not a prestige marque like BMW, Audi or Mercedes even though the car was built in Germany.

[@dungareesareforfools]

That was never a problem until people started becoming entitled.

[@nigel.w]

I drove a Granada for an afternoon on a nice summer's day in 1994. It was positively memorable. If not for ULEZ I'd be driving either a Granada or an X300 XJ6. IMO, the early 1990s was the heyday of the motorcar.

[@nigelheath7048]

A hugely underrated car. Yes it was fairly ugly,and the smaller engine ones a little under powered but not terrible. But they drove extremely well. When I was trading cars in the early 2000's the trade hated them and I bought dozens of them from auctions and main dealers for a song and they always flew away as they were such good value. The 24v Cosworth was definitely the one to have but everyone I was going to keep for myself I ended up selling as thats what I did.

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

The XJ40 2.9 was long gone when this Scorpio came out. In fact, the then new X300 was out at this time and had the 3.2 litre engine, which was far more smoother and superior to this.

[@edword7195]

They did not even show the the Xj40 but a 1985 XJ6 model which I would much rather have even if its true that a 10 year older Jag had a worse engine which may or may not be the case

[@cbrboy76]

"Gopping" was how james may described the styling at the front. But it has aged very well.

[@manduri1434]

I own two of these and daily them!! A 2.0 16 1994 and the ex police 1996 Cossie! Beautiful cars. And those r my first two cars

[@craigjarvis9489]

These we were great cars, i had an S reg, last of the line, 24v Cosworth estate. It had everything on it, for a 1998 car. Comfortable, powerful and smooth. I also had loads of Mk 2 and 3 Granadas. Inc 3 mk3 Cosworths. Loved all of them.

[@dungareesareforfools]

I think that the design has aged really well. In the early 2000s Mercedes were making cars that looked strikingly similar, and no one was offended by them.

[@vestelmobile5255]

Absolute beautiful car..

[@alseeineye]

park one of these anywhere in britain a banger driver will have it so keep it garaged - used to service these on my school work experience part of a motor project thibg at the time - i am banger fanatic so like them from presective - granadas always celebrated in banger circles

[@ibs5080]

Ah yes I remember those. Reminds me of another Ford model back in my other homeland of Vancouver Canada, as well as across the border in the USA. Namely the Ford Taurus, which for certain model years had what was referred to as a "jelly mould" shape. Here in the Uk we had the "jelly mould" Sierra. Seems that Ford had a whole "jelly mould" era on both sides of the Atlantic.

[@artfulbodger..2143]

Very underrated cars.. I owned 2 ultima's both R reg one pre face-lift and one face-lift.. super super smooth and ultra comfy.. seats like armchairs..

[@billyhunt]

I drove a 2lt 1996 Scorpio 2010 - 2014..One of the best cars I've ever had.

[@DrMikeOxgreen]

Love the overall silhouette, the rear end and interior design. Even the front is good looking compared to modern cars

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Yes, true!

[@leonbishop5183]

I had one of these exactly like this one,24valve ultima saloon in dark metallic blue, it was an amazing car and so very different to the Granada 24 valve cosworth i had previously that it replaced, I think it’s the top of the list if I ever had a chance to get one of my old cars back today, beautiful and powerful 😎👍

[@FoodFestTelevision]

I drove the previous Granada 'Scorpio' back in the day and it was superb. Powerful and beautiful. Sad how bad the replacement Scorpio looks.

[@charlybeagrie1119]

Someone told me that the Scorpio had the most comfortable seat that her husband, who had bad back, had ever driven.

[@ivanfernyhough3851]

Allways loved the big fords including these.that one looks a beautie.great colour to.

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

It sure is!

[@DJWerkz]

Had one of these, a Cosworth estate. Amazing ride comfort and way better than the previous Granada (which I have also owned). Only problem was the Cosworth engine, namely the timing chain issue and the effort involved in keeping these engines running at their best. Too many mechanics thought it was 'just another Granada but with stupid looks mate'...but that Cosworth engine was not just another Granada and they need someone who understands that engine. In my own experience I had one shop attempt to replace the timing chains and over torqued bolts in the aluminum heads and everything ripped out on the first drive!!!

[@alexjones3103]

Without a doubt the comfiest front seats I’ve ever sat in.

[@AledPritchard]

I’ve always had a liking for the bug eyed Scorpio. I find its ‘ugly’ looks pretty. The dark front lights in Ultima spec of later models being particularly nicer.

[@markeastwood74]

Agreed. The mild facelift definitely helped improve the looks. One for those who like an underdog (and a bargain).

[@See_more....]

The basic models look can a bit gawky but the Ultima spec with the nicer wheels etc looks good to me.

[@AledPritchard]

@@markeastwood74 I think so too, especially when considering that this review was very favourable with regards to how it drives etc. I’m a fan of the Probe too.

[@AledPritchard]

@@See_more.... It really does, I agree. And for those seeking more practicality, there’s the estate model that has a huge boot.

[@markeastwood74]

@@AledPritchard I had the pre-facelift estate version after having had a few mk3 Granadas. It was every bit as good on the inside, but you had to wear an 'I know something you don't know' look on your face when talking to people.

[@paulc9588]

Quite like these despite the strange styling . . . you got a lot of actually very capable car for a remarkably favourable price. Thanks to the premiumisation of the market the end for big Fords would have come anyway. By the 1990s executive/luxury car buyers wanted a premium brand and no matter how good the Scorpio had been it would not have been enough to overcome the handicap of a mainstream badge. Which is why Toyota came up with Lexus and big Vauxhalls, Rovers, Citroens etc. all disappeared from the market at around the same time.

[@garethjones2746]

Coming back from my first ever motor show, I was shocked when I saw this and talking to my dad on the coach all the way home about how I didn't want him to get one lol. It don't look so bad now.

[@anthonyperkins7556]

It went wrong for Ford with the final Scorpio. The bug eyed lights and American styled rear end didn't get many customers, and it was a hotbed of reliability issues with power steering problems, electrical maladies, gearbox issues etc.

[@billyhunt]

I loved the American styled rear end, one of my favourite aspects of the Scorpio.

[@steve5772]

I had a none-Ultima Scorpio Cosworth for a bit. I think they look great from every side except the front, and they do drive well. As I said at the time - You can't see that when you're driving it, so as long as you park nose in, it's everyone else's problem. 😁 I sold it to a lad who was putting the engine in a Capri.

[@poppyneese1811]

I remember reading car magazines in my junior high library, Aston’s, Lambo’s, Ferrari’s,Jags, Porches Mercedes and BMW’s were so exotic looking compared to what we had in the USA, this Ford’s styling just smacked you in the face, but I thought as ugly as it is being European it’s got to be a good driving car! Apparently I was pretty much right according to this gentleman.

[@dave-si1vq]

Had a mk3 2.9i Granada scorpio and absolutely loved it! Just couldn't accept the mk4 ... it was so ugly!

[@dungareesareforfools]

The mk3 is a very handsome car.

[@northseawolf]

Easy credit and finance on cars killed the executive motors from 'non premium' brands like Ford. All of a sudden people could drive cars they can't afford. I balk when junior colleagues at work tell me they drove £70k cars for a monthly sum approaching half their net wage. Each to their own I guess

[@robertusga]

Had 2.8 Granada, then similar Scorpio. Moved to the States and have been driving 4.6 V8 Lincoln Town Car ever since 😃 Ford knows its comfy cruiser stuff.

[@271chrissy]

I think its a really smart car....love the long body.Remember when Ford changed their game with the Puma..Ka...and the new Focus.

[@HunkumSpunkum]

The headlights of the previous model Octavia also come to mind. Not as bad as the Scorpio, but nonetheless slightly 'awkward' with lines that don't 'flow' into each other.......

[@DolleHengst]

Fun fact: if you look close enough at the fake wood, you can actually see the printing dot pattern.

[@mickapps3153]

Having owned and driven 100s of cars this drove so well.

[@thetruth7633]

When I got my drivers license in 1995 my dad owned a 1987 2.9 Ghia, it was a joy to drive, a bit thirsty for a 18 year old male his right foot 😀 The new model.. the wagon version was ok, the sedan.............

[@shakedlevi5686]

I love this car’s styling

[@-DC-]

Amazing that no one at Ford stood back and said OMG it's hideout let's try again lol Compared to the previous Granadas it was unforgivable.

[@fontana6394]

I quite liked it at the time and still do 👍👍

[@LOTPOR0402]

Back end looks like an airbus beluga

[@hadrianbird2645]

The scorpio had a face like a fart in a tin can

[@willswheels283]

Great review, if you can look past the front end looks and the overall American styling these cars were nice, lovely interiors and good engines. Ford won’t be doing anymore luxury saloons(sedans) as they’r too wrapped up in building EV’s and SUV’s.

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

I genuinely can't understand why Ford gave the new Ford Scorpio, 4 studs on the hubs when the previous generation had 5, it limited the range of alloys wheels you could use.

[@ruk2023--]

Not really a big problem really.

[@dungareesareforfools]

Eh? They didn't!

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

@dungareesareforfools Yes they did

[@dungareesareforfools]

@paulie-Gualtieri. apologies, you're correct it seems... well I learnt something new! That's bizarre after nearly 30 years of Zephyrs and Granadas with that 5 stud pattern. I wonder whether it's because they'd made 4 stud wheels for e.g. the Mondeo, which were suitable for heavier cars, by that point?

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

​@dungareesareforfools It's strange I heard it was something to do with the Sierra too, probably never know as to why.

[@garydavis1528]

Was a great comfortable car, only the US styling let it down. Maybe the US wanted to kill it off as Ford had premium brands that didn’t want it to compete with.

[@a.m.9357]

Man, you should have showed a bit more of the interior and discussed those. I actually always liked this car. The designs and looks, I dare say, is nice in the sense that it's like absolutely nothing else on the road. Something different.

[@paulrreed5235]

I had one and I loved it even the look?

[@arthurdardalis]

I’ve always thought it looked good, on the road it is really, really good.its quiet, steers well, has a ton of equipment. This is a facelift, I prefer the all red rear lights of the pre-facelift

[@seancooke7332]

I loved the Scorpio especially in Ultima trim. The Granada before it was a great drive so any improvement on that met my approval. Let's face it, most Manufacturers released an ugly duckling at some point, though it would be childish to name names, Dodge Calibre. That car didn't handle in any way, shape or form.

[@zaamuro8408]

Those alloys are very similar to the launch AU Falcon!

[@yeoldegamer5112]

My 2 cents not backed up by any research ;) The time when some manufacturers went for Americanese (amreican/Japanese) styling aka "organic" Plenty of people don't care much for how a car looks unless it raises questions like "why does it look so weird?" or "what is that?" The European market Toyota Corolla (E110) of that era went blobby and probably lost a few sales because of it. The weird thing is the US market Corollas had more traditional front ends and looked better for it.

[@robertp.wainman4094]

Too many brand concious snobs nowadays!

[@frankhilgers3811]

Do you consider the Mondeo a small car?

[@fasthracing]

A very VERY strange styling exercise by Ford.

[@ruk2023--]

Not when you look at contemporary American cars.

[@chappy2121]

I think it was for something sold in Europe. But Ford have done some clangers in the past, the Probe and the original Taurus they sold in the US, spring to mind

[@damilolaakanni]

​@chappy2121 the original Taurus wasn't bad looking, it was the "third generation" (in quotes because the second generation was more of a refresh of the first than a complete redesign) that was the ugly one. They were trying to go all in on the round styling trend of the late 90's and that didn't end well for them.

[@clivet3252]

I guess they had a bit of a dilemma. They needed to smooth out the styling to make it more contemporary but they didn't want it to just look like a bigger Mondeo. It made it more unique and exclusive even if it was just because no one wanted to buy it because it was so ugly.

[@CurtF94]

You know what,now it’s old I quite like it

[@Medge2sc]

Does the front have a look of the American thunderbird?

[@WeveGotBush]

Best rear legroom the Scorpio had.

[@Agrajak]

If only it looked as good as it drove.

[@lesklower7281]

The Ford Scorpio looks OK coming but not the best going that rear end is terrible but apart from the styling the Scorpio looks like a very good car as for the dash board magnificent the front end was similar to the Subaru Impezza but park it next to a Nissan Juke then it wouldn't look so ugly and we never got them in Australia

[@kieranwhite6647]

Still the comfiest seats I've ever sat in, like armchairs

[@pb5x5]

A lot of new cars are far uglier than the Scorpio, just look at the new BMW 7 Series......

[@michaelbacon561]

Yes, but this Scorpio was the first ugly mug to appear; BMWs and many other makes became hideous afterwards so that seeing this Scorpio again, it doesn't look quite so bad. Ford's styling has never been so on the button as the days of the MK3 Escort, MK4 Cortina and MK2 Granada.

[@adzy166]

Well said. Some absolute shockers around today. Makes even the Lancia Thesis look like a coherent piece of automotive art

[@tcvicesquad]

Look at the new BMW anything!

[@stevedickson5853]

BMWs also have has a problem with the engines going bang

[@ashtondimovski7074]

Or as Jeremy Clarkson once said “the BMW…range.”

[@andybowie8590]

Think you knew as soon as you said it but the jag v12 and the 2.9 aj6 engine weren't related in any way. I think what killed the big ford's, and the vauxhall/opel senator too was the narrowing gap in price between them and what were perceived as better "luxury" brands like bmw mercedes and jaguar, the way most people thought, and still do is that you'd be better spending your money on a bmw than a ford. Whether we admit it or not image matters to a lot of car buyers, especially at the executive saloon level. The fact that the scorpio is butt ugly by any measure definitely didn't help.

[@colindowd9756]

I think personally that the Scorpio has aged well ❤

[@carfella7994]

I think its a nice looking car.

[@Braddaz-ke5jz]

I know this car. Lovely on the top but the underside is like a teabag 🤣

[@MatthewSimon-ri6xp]

Not now put sills on it car was solid apart from the years of shit repairs on the sills

[@ruk2023--]

Ford was not the problem with sales. We're a nation of snobs especially when it comes to car brands and the late 90's / 00's brought along a raft of financing options that allowed more people to get into a prestige badge instead of a blue oval. That's really what killed the big Fords, Citroens, Vauxhalls etc.

[@shiftfocus1]

For what it’s worth, the oval styling theme didn’t work for Ford in North America either. Though no example was as hideous as this.

[@jarlrise]

Oh yes, look at the Ford Taurus (third generation), from 1996 to 1998, it was even more hideous than the last Scorpio! I had 2 of the last generation Scorpios, both estates, the 2.0 and the 2.3, great cars, but there were some reliability problems. Mine were company cars, so I did not have to pay for the repairs :)

[@shiftfocus1]

@@jarlrise maybe familiarity helps. I didn’t get to see an example of the 2nd gen Scorpio until a trip to Europe in 1998…and I was horrified. It didn’t help that I first saw it from behind.

[@ajames8237]

Looks good from a distance. A quarter of a mile car.

[@rickjames6867]

Camry from an alternate universe.

[@davidvanhansen]

A rhetorical question...😂

[@roberttucker805]

Well at least it's different. However the more conservative styled Omega were far better selling cars. It seemed Ford didn't learn from the Probe v Calibra fiasco and was the final nail in the coffin for the big Fords.

[@geoffclarke3796]

A car with decent dynamics and a pretty good engine but my god is it ugly.

[@abc33944]

It was an interesting era … the Capri, mk4 xr3i and xr2 Had just finished the glory days Then this monstrosity of the revised version of the Granada came out And the party was over

[@sr20trx]

One of the few cars to make the original AU Falcon look..well..ok.

[@AndyQuinton]

Gopping

[@CortinasAndClassics]

why does the it sound like you are in a tunnel? I never liked this cars styling apart from the tail lights, those I do like.

[@snbala]

Ford have a tendency to do something wild like this and then go back to reality with something normal. Whoever signed this one off needs sitting down and questioning. Though with the current crop of ugly modern cars, this isn’t that bad as it once was. What I don’t understand is why didn’t Ford completely change the styling with the facelift like fiat did with the facelifted multipla.

[@kevthedynamo]

This example is not as ugly as the other Scorpios, but I think you said that it was a face lifted version.

[@Seminal_Ideas]

A major styling error leaving a well engineered car looking goofy. This would i imagine have lead to rather heated management discussions similar to Fords Edsel debacle. Rather than Scorpio, it could've been named the Edsel 2.

[@paulelverstone8677]

If Ford 30yrs ago wanted to build a luxury car then they could've done a lot worse than to take a leaf out of Toyota's book and introduced a marque that separated it from the blue oval. I believe that a lot of it was badge snobbery. And Ford weren't alone. The Carlton GSI3000 24v was reputedly (by some magazines) a better car than the E34 M5, The Rover 800 coupe equal to the W124 CE. Ford bought Aston and Jaguar. Effectively they had their 'brand' and ISTR that it was Ford's money that gave us the X300/308 so I don't have so much sympathy for the Ford cars...

[@lewis72]

They did. Ford launched the Merkur brand in the US for the Granada Scorpio but it didn't last long. As Ford had bought Jaguar and Volvo, I guess there was no need for a premium Ford.

[@ruk2023--]

Lincoln here. Reporting for duty.

[@Nakkisampyla]

Mercury

[@deanstevenson6527]

🥝✔️

[@Treviscoe]

I always liked the styling of the Scorpio, though I accept I'm in a minority in that.

[@snoopy10411]

BMW seem to be repeating these styling mistakes which are quirky and probably loved by die hard fans but just don't appeal to the mass market who just think they look gawky, which usually leads to poor sales. Most of the current range of BMW seem to be going for the buck teeth look with huge grilles including their electric cars like the i3 and iX being particularly ugly. Not sure why car brands do it? Maybe trying to push boundaries so they don't seem boring or to be copying everyone else but Surely they know what works and what doesn't from a sales perspective. I can't even remember the last time I saw an i3 but think they would have sold like hotcakes if they didn't look so weird.

[@davidhayes4814]

Not wise to compare this car with any Jag, even with the engine removed. A bit like comparing a luxury guppy with an entry level shark.

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

And comparing to the wrong Jaguar too the 2.9 was long gone when this was new.

[@ivanfernyhough3851]

​@@paulie-Gualtieri.True and i love jags,owned many and still have 2 but these top spec scorpios really could hold there own against the x300 hundreds for refinement if not so much against the super smooth xj8.

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

@ivanfernyhough3851 Oh yeah, not knowing the Scorpio, it was a decent car.

[@project9320]

I had both. The Scorpio was vastly superior.

[@ngshinong9812]

Landsail tyres lol

[@Dan_druft]

Yeah its always been pig ugly after the magnificent mk2 2.8i Ghia X

[@chrispenn715]

There was no excuse for this - Ford ruined a good car with hideous looks

[@abc33944]

Designers missed there Spec savers appointment with this one

[@ivanfernyhough3851]

​@@abc33944nope,great looking car,just very different.the over bloated junk on the roads today is properly ugly compared to this.

[@andrewmeadows2596]

Mk 4 and 5 mondeos were as big 20yrs later. That Scorpio was not the end at all.

[@richarddriscoll5201]

At the time I thought like everyone else this car was ugly…. 30 years later i think it actually looks stunning, like many fine wines they get better with time 😊

[@jonathanhindson4580]

The brand. Why spend the same on a big Ford as you would on a Merc. Same with Vauxhall, Fiat, and ANY French brand

[@heckmacbuff]

How could such a ridiculous looking car ever have got further than the drawing board?

[@elelegidosf9707]

My God that thing is hideous.

[@nigelbond4056]

It does seem that BMW has been able to get away with ugly designs for a fair few years but Ford have never really been able to. Mind, the Scorpio did have a clown face and a more than ample bottom 🫣

[@mfitzy100]

Was just never a fan of these. They were dreadful. The previous models were solid and conservative

[@Mook303]

Looked awful then. Looks awful now.

[@AnthonyStafford-qx5hx]

A designed by Ray Charles car. God awful....truly ugly ... Fundamentally sound but very American queen Vic ish.

[@HunkumSpunkum]

Designed by Stevie Wonder....🤣

[@adriandeb2710]

Worst looking car ever made, the fake wood looks terrible, the one before was so nice