1988 Merkur Scorpio | Retro Review

The Merkur Scorpio was Ford's answer to Lincoln Mercury dealers who needed a sportier luxury sedan to compete with the BMW 5-Series and Benz 190E. If only it had been pretty...
Show 625 | Original Airdate 05-19-1987
Want to help keep our weekly Retro Reviews alive? DONATE NOW: mptevents.regf...
Find airdates on your local PBS station HERE: motorweek.org/...
Want to watch full episodes of MotorWeek? Download the PBS video app for FREE or watch here: www.pbs.org/sh...
Stay connected with MotorWeek on social media!
Twitter (X): / motorweek
Facebook: / motorweektv
Instagram: / motorweek
MotorWeek, PBS' award-winning weekly automotive magazine provides unbiased, consumer-oriented car news with feature stories on related topics.
To license this video or any content from MotorWeek, please visit:
www.parsintl.c...

[@VideoAmericanStyle]

Electric REAR reclining seats is a pretty remarkable feature for the time period…or any period, really.

[@palebeachbum]

That caught my attention. It's funny to have that power feature considering the driver's lumbar adjustment was not powered.

[@VideoAmericanStyle]

@@palebeachbum you get to pump! Great workout for the hand. 😂

[@mediocreman2]

Honda Legend had that, but unfortunately did not bring it to the Acura Legend. Such a cool feature.

[@lovefaith1714]

Why would Ford loose that edge by not continuing such an advanced feature even by today's standard ?

[@chrislupson217]

With three kids in the back it was quite often a rough ride to be in the middle seat. His older brother and sister on either side of him would move their seats up and down just to get him mad. Funny memory

[@CS-oz4xc]

For as often as he points it out in these car reviews, I’m beginning to wonder if John had some sort of financial stake in oil pressure & volt meter business. 😂

[@theforgottenorg]

This was before obd2

[@Skyisthelimit4me]

He is correct, John. Every vehicle should have full instrumentation.

[@mrkris8912]

LoL I always anticipate his gauge cluster comment once the camera focuses on the gauges!

[@mrkris8912]

In 1988 you could also buy a Saab 9000 hatch back with all the same luxury but FWD 4cyl Turbo 16valve, making around 165hp. I think I’d prefer the Saab over the Merkur!

[@Skyisthelimit4me]

@@mrkris8912 That 4cyl isn't as smooth or torquey as that 2.9 V6, that's why some people prefer a 6cyl over a 4 pot. No turbo lag with a V6 or annoying vibration while idling at a stop with the transmission in gear lol. Also nothing in the class could top the Scorpio for ride quality. It had an available rear air suspension option that nobody knows about. It's in the brochure. The only real competitor this car had in my eyes was the Sterling 827 5-door liftback (reworked Acura/Rover Legend).

[@tkewrestler2662]

I remember when a friend’s Father had a brand new one of these in black. It was beautiful!

[@jameshastey3058]

Considering that the Scorpio is a rear drive car, just imagine how much fun it could have been with the Taurus SHO's engine or even a 5.0L High Output V8.

[@deanhedin1615]

With a proper A4LD Vulcan bellhousing, a modified oil pan, and a custom exhaust, it is possible to fit the SHO motor into a Scorpio.

[@deanhedin1615]

Because, A) The Cosworth is only available from the UK . B) I am speaking of the early Taurus SHO Yamaha V6 that puts out more than the Cosworth V6 ever did. and C) Factory A/C bolts right up. Obviously MachNixPasstSo you are on the other side of the pond.

[@jameshastey3058]

@MachtNixPasstSo Because the original Yamaha V6 and late 80's vintage 5.0 HO V8's were superior engines to the 2.9 Cosworth. The Yamaha V6 made 28 HP more than the Cosworth and the 5.0 made 33 more horsepower. Now while the Cosworth made 3 lb/ft more torque than the Yamaha motor did, the 5.0 made 97 lb/ft more torque than the Cosworth. Both the Yamaha V6 and 5.0 also have longer lifespans and are easier to work on as well. The 2.9 Cosworth is based on the early 1960's vintage Cologne V6 (which the Cosworth pushed to it's limits) whereas the Yamaha SHO engine was based on the much newer Vulcan V6 that debuted in the mid-80's. The 5.0 may have been an older design but was still newer than the Cologne and had more upgrade potential.

[@dannyg6592]

I had a Scorpio as my company car in '89. Excellent European touring car, rock solid at triple digit speeds. It was not a success in the US as Lincoln Mercury dealers preferred to sell Lincoln Town Cars to their repeat clients (which required almost no effort to make the sale). They did not want to take the time to learn how to sell this automobile to a very different type of clientele.

[@fernandorocha901]

Beautiful Merkur Scorpio. Very fantastic european car

[@JeffKing310]

Plus the clientele that might be interested in a car like the Scorpio were not likely to wander into a Lincoln dealership

[@BigWheel.]

I hate to be brash, but the continental was a damn nice car. And this just seems like a euro trash pos. Looks like something you'd see on the other side of the Berlin wall if you get what I mean. If it was me back in 88, you couldn't convince me to buy this if you sent your best salesman. And lets not forget audi, bmw, and mercades did exist in our market. If I was shopping for something similar to this, I'd go to one of their dealerships before I set foot in the land of ford.

[@dannyg6592]

I had a '88 Lincoln Continental as a company car before getting the Scorpio in '89. The Continental was an excellent American luxury car, but the Scorpio had far better high speed composure than the Lincoln. The Scorpio was much more composed at 120 than the Continental was at 90.@@BigWheel.

[@DayoftheJakeL]

I miss company cars being a thing.

[@xrmerkur]

Motorweek always brings the classics.

[@marioiacolucci]

This car is like a poor man's Mercedes

[@mattg8369]

I've always liked these and remember when they came out. Local Lincoln-Mercury-Merkur dealership had one out front in center on display.

[@nicholaskennedy1748]

In Britain the standard spec model of the Scorpio was called the Granada. My dad had 2 in the mid/late 90s - a 2 litre 4 cyl GL and a 2.4 V6 Ghia. He loved the 2 litre, hated the 2.4. I remember we were in a heavy rainstorm once and the rear doors used to leak like crazy on the 2.4. These 2.9 engines were reworked in the mid 90s by Cosworth, they were a real powerhouse and collectible engines today.

[@mr.boostang2064]

If Ford had given it the SHO v6 this thing would've been a street legend

[@dohc1067]

Looks like a European Sable or Topaz. Unique, but definitely a different Era for sure.

[@nessuno5403]

Or Ford Scorpio/Granada

[@sutherlandA1]

Fomoco 80s corporate design language

[@happyholiday9440]

That's why dealers kept them at the back of the show room. Hard to justify the price premium of the Scorpio over the similar looking Sable.

[@Nakkisampyla]

European Taurus

[@vertanux1]

My uncle had one of these, he said it was his favorite car of all time and would trade his new Audi (in 2015) for another new Scorpio in a flash.

[@patsyhowse1919]

I'm in the UK, and when I was at school in the early 90s, a friend's Mum had a 2 litre saloon automatic Scorpio saloon, in burgundy with full leather. It felt so posh! I loved how the rear seats reclined with a button too. My first experience with heated seats - I was worried that I either had wet myself or broken wind... 😂 Luckily it was the warm chair lol. Still my dream car... And I adore the gear shifter and pattern! Despite it being a downside on this vid, I like it!

[@mattdavenport533]

Americans were never interested in presumed german luxury fords

[@devinbiz]

It’s more impressive overall than I expected

[@Skynet.Cyberdyne.Systems]

Scorpio & Granada it was called in Europe and it sold like ice cream in sunshine over some years.The later upgraded model with nicer interior was the one to get. It even had a special model called Scorpio Cosworth. That was a fast one for its days with comfort like a bus. I remember mine and the days who sometimes sadly are far gone for that nice car.

[@thijs9301]

Very beautifull car! Our queen (the netherlands) used a Ford Scorpio as State limousine in the 80s and 90s and early 2000

[@davidaubin3902]

2:44 John: BUT THERE ARE NO READOUTS HERE FOR OIL PRESSURE OR VOLTS! LOL

[@JamesSmith-uc8tk]

When I was a kid, one of my neighbors had a bright red XR4Ti. It looked so cool.

[@blisterbrain]

All the squealing tyres and crazy body roll reminded me of a 1970s American TV cop show!

[@scharfvehiclemedia]

I just photographed an XR4Ti at a car show. Beautiful machine. So is the Scorpio though. Unfortunate thst Merkur didn't become a household name

[@05gtdriver]

I never understood why Ford decided to bring the Sierra(XR4Ti out here) and Granada-Scorpio knowing that it would take a major investment to modify both vehicles for 1990(air bag) crash standards. Which is why, also due to terrible sales figures, both were discontinued after the 1989 model year. I think a modified Scorpio platform, with the upcoming(1991) Cosworth 24V 2.9L DOHC V6 to build a smaller Lincoln sedan might have worked out better for Ford.

[@williamegler8771]

Because younger buyers were more interested in upscale imports and wouldn't give anything with a Lincoln badge a second look. Ford created a separate sales channel to try and woo Yuppies with a true European luxury/sports sedan. But no matter how much they attempted to make it appealing you can't change a mass-market family sedan into a luxury vehicle.

[@timhiltonsuperstar]

They did. The Lincoln based on the Jaguar chassis.

[@05gtdriver]

@@timhiltonsuperstar Yes, after they bought controlling interest in Jaguar in the 90s.

[@blueridge8992]

Merkur was greenlit for the same reason as every other baffling corporate decision in the ‘80s. Hint: it goes up your nose.

[@markhealey9409]

Driver airbags were not mandated in The USA until 1995,& passenger air bags until 1998. However,from 1990,North American sold cars were required to have those short-lived,stupid automatic seatbelts from 1990,IF they did not have driver's airbags.

[@thetinysideoftiny7625]

One of my favorite cars of all time! The look of this car is timeless. Still looks fresh and exotic…and that interior is so upscale and gorgeous. However, the slalom showed some really sloppy handling. The Scorpio was bouncing and bounding all over the track! Was disappointed to see this along w the 10.2 zero to sixty. Even back in the day, the handing and power seems lower tier.

[@alefgardhero]

I've owned a XR4tI and seen a few more but I've only ever seen ONE Scorpio in passing.

[@justas525]

Back in the 90s in Lihtuania, you could swap a flat for scorpio 😂😂. That's how much it was valued

[@_que]

Crazy how the hatch back sedan didn't catch on, but SUV did...

[@GeeEm1313]

I know, right? I mean, there was the Chrysler LeBaron GTS as well.

[@marcusjosefsson4998]

Saab soldiered on for decades with the hatchbacks, and auto journalists scolded Saab for it all the time. After Saab went bust Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz started making expensive luxury hatchbacks, and auto journalists praised them to high heavens! Weird...

[@mattwolf7698]

Because Americans love pointlessly big cars, really, we have since the 50's though at least those were generally styled good.

[@McBeamer94]

Hatchback Sedans are also called "Liftbacks". But I absolutely agree, there's not a single thing Sedans do worse than SUVs. Even off-roading, which modern SUVs aren't designed for anyway.

[@billybellend1155]

My Dad had one of these exact same colour Ford Scorpio top of the range. I thought I was in a spaceship in the 80’s riding in it. I remember it had rear electric seats and the first car fitted with a duplex heated windscreen.

[@CardboardSliver]

Man those tyres are HOWLING for dear life

[@arminsteinke2301]

The Scorpio wowes the european public. Design progressive, antilockbrakes standart, wide range of engines, from a relaxed 69 PS diesel to a healthy Cosworth V6. It was the dream car for the elderly and pensionists, who couldnt afford a Benz or Audi. And always with a crocheted toiletpaper cap on the hat shelf.

[@mattw8332]

Lower spec versions of this were called the Granada in the UK (top spec ones retaining the Scorpio name). I remember when these were launched in 1985. They looked very futuristic compared to the angular Euro mark 2 Granada it replaced. Never realised that the 2.9 litre V6 engine dated back to 1964! I thought it was an evolution of the 2.8 litre Cologne engine that was a new design in 1977.

[@moejr1974]

The cologne V6 goes back to the 60's. It was a very popular Ford engine used in tons of vehicles. The original Ford Cologne V6 is a series of 60° cast iron block V6 engines produced continuously by the Ford Motor Company in Cologne, Germany, since 1965

[@aston-martin-internationalist]

They were all called Granada, Scorpio was merely a trim option (top spec as you mentioned) and appeared on a nameplate under the Granada decal until Ford redesigned the platform to the 1994 bug eyed design and deleted the Granada name entirely calling the entire model line 'Scorpio'. In continental Europe, Scorpio became the model name for what was the Granada (1984+).

[@Porsche996driver]

Pat Goss at the end! 😢 There was an old joke Ford was going to launch another division: Linköln 😂

[@GeeEm1313]

A friend's father had one of these. I always thought they looked like a melted Taurus. These were Ford Scorpios in England and they weren't well liked there either. I like them!

[@nkt1]

These were Ford Granadas in the UK (not just England). Scorpio was the top trim level. They were very popular and strong sellers for years.

[@Jay-Kay-Em]

Yep, sorry GeeEm, these were well received in the U.K. and European mainland. In the U.K. they were a Ford Granada (make/model) and Scorpio was a top-of-the-line trim level.

[@siwynjones]

@@nkt1They did sell well, but I seem to remember not as well as the previous generation. Big hatchbacks didn’t seem to catch on like they did “on The Continent”. Used ones were omnipresent as taxis in the early 90s.

[@jennydonne8946]

These were in mainland Europe the Ford Scorpio but in the UK it was the Ford Granada where Scorpio was the top of the range trim level

[@nkt1]

@@siwynjones True. But to say they weren’t well liked is way off the mark. There were loads of them around, at a time when there was no shortage of competition from the likes of the Carlton/Senator and big cars from Alfa Romeo, Citroën, Fiat, Honda, Lancia, Peugeot, Renault, Rover, SAAB, Toyota and Volvo. Plus, of course, Audi/BMW/Mercedes.

[@Snake-ms7sj]

Don't know why they just didn't rebrand them with Mercury or Ford badges for the US market. May have sold better.

[@Skyisthelimit4me]

No it wouldn't have sold better. That's like saying Honda and Lexus should have never sold the Legend as an Acura and the LS as a Lexus (forgot the Toyota name for it).

[@ericharrison619]

It would have sold better with a pronounceable name...Oh wait my merkur dried up, should have bought a sharpie.@@Skyisthelimit4me

[@IanDunbar1]

@@Skyisthelimit4me The Scorpio was too low-end for Lincoln and too high-end for Mercury? EDIT: Or just too "European" for Lincoln?

[@theforgottenorg]

"Ford isn't too worried...." I dont think they're EVER worried, even today. I've bought 3 new, no worries here also. I sold each before the warranty expires. 😂

[@SulikTrucker95]

Ford Scorpio liftback, great car in my country, but hated car in the US

[@KenanTurkiye]

I love the '88 Scorpio.

[@KenanTurkiye]

...gorgeous in that color

[@GmanG90]

Man the XR4Ti had one of the best car names ever. I wanted one so bad but I just couldn’t afford one on a E4’s pay grade with a child and wife lol. 😅😅😅😅

[@DCGuy1997]

Lot of nice features. It really looked like a more rugged, souped up Taurus.

[@johndrake2729]

More so Sable than the Taurus.

[@DCGuy1997]

@@johndrake2729 Agreed. I think it would have looked better if it had the Sable front end.

[@johndrake2729]

@@DCGuy1997 Ah, that would have everyone fooled, including me.

[@Liplip40]

A SHO v6 or 302 HO with some nice suspension tuning would have made this legendary

[@user-ny7dg8kc7x]

I had an 88 Scorpio great car and most comfortable seats I ever sat in and I’ve had many luxury card

[@johnj3577]

Agree, I had one too. Remember doing a 400 mile non stop drive in mine and never felt i needed to stop for a rest. It was like sitting in my living room already.

[@ericbritton9346]

The Scoripo was ahead of its time in innovation. I rather have the touring package with a manual or auto all the way with white exterior and black interior. Them seats even look comfortable, especially the back seats with the tilt. The 2.9L V6 is in need of a SOHC turbocharger so it can do 0-60 in 8.2 sec instead of the 10 sec. Also better handling because it have too much body roll, like front and rear strut brace and tighter coil springs.

[@Skyisthelimit4me]

10 sec was brisk at the time. 8sec would require at least 200hp in this car with an automatic. The Ford Scorpio had Cosworth engines that could do it with with a manual transmission though.

[@IVR02]

One of those funky short lived brands of the 80s, right up there with Sterling. Seriously, I think I've only ever seen one of these in the wild. That said, I think they're pretty neat. I dig the look, although I'd dare to say the Euro-market Scorpio looks better, as does the Taurus of the same era.

[@alastairward2774]

In the end the Scorpio/Granada died in Europe when they tried a model that looked more American than anything before. A weird pair of headlights up front that looked like boogly eyes and a low strip of lights across the rear.

[@IVR02]

@@alastairward2774 I feel you on the Mk2 Scorpio. It's quite hideous, especially compared to the Mk1.

[@roddydykes7053]

I’ve only seen one as well

[@theKevronHarris]

The design of the power mirror switch at 2:56 looks similar to the one found in the 2002-05 Ford Explorer and other Ford vehicles.

[@Skyisthelimit4me]

That's a European switch we got first here with the Contour/Mystique

[@silverxstar01]

Definitely bears a resemblance to the Taurus of the time. Imagine seeing one of these on the road today!

[@marknelson9068]

My mom had one of these new, then my dad took it….then my little brother took it when he turned 16. It was a cool car, the interior was very luxe for the time.

[@michaelsimko7694]

2 American Ford products I see share similar design cues with this car are the second gen Taurus and the refreshed design of the first gen American Escort.

[@fernandochaves9665]

Love the big and well equipped Fords. The blue one at the beginning looks great.

[@lukerinderknecht2982]

We had an '88, bought it at a car auction in the late 90's. That car drove great, but super buggy electronics and it went through two flywheels.

[@marshalmagooo3899]

Our local Foreign auto repair loved these cars. Funded his vacation home..... great 2.9 that I had in my Ranger

[@Pyjamarama11]

I own a 2023 Mahindra Scorpio I used to love these Ford Scorpios too, very nice interiors

[@patsyhowse1919]

If I remember, Jaguar's had the same key as a Transit van 😂

[@DanielRuizNYC]

I was 9 when this came out, so I don't remember it. After seeing this video, I want one. Now where is my time machine?

[@dsan2509]

In 1990 I bought a Scorpio. It was a great car and had it for 9 years until the transmission went out after a rebuild. so I was time to move on.

[@spyman3000]

I want one so bad. Already have an XR4Ti, so having one of these would be the whole package.

[@JohnDoe12515]

My uncle from Germany had one. Sold under Ford Scorpio, he always had mechanical issues😂

[@runoflife87]

Well, it's an unusual thing since those cars were mostly reliable and durable.

[@DschoermaenRetrodaddler]

@@runoflife87 But a little rusty at the side skirts.

[@marcusjosefsson4998]

​@@runoflife87Nah... The V6 had some serious issues, and the 2.0 four cylinder wore out camshafts like they were made of wood. And then I haven't even mentioned the rust issues and electrical gremlins...

[@runoflife87]

@@marcusjosefsson4998 never mentioned any big problems with V6-equipped used Scorpios. Yep, there were some places prone to rust, still the car wasn't as bad as Opel Omega. As for electrical gremlins - no serious problems again.

[@marcusjosefsson4998]

@@runoflife87 Cylinder heads, head gaskets, fuel injectors clogging up, exhaust manifolds cracking, alternators failing, manual gearboxes failing prematurely... That's just some of the common issues with the first gen. Scorpio. And of course, here in northern Scandinavia they rusted away faster than you had time to say "rust proofing!" The Opel Omega/Vauxhall Carlton was even worse, especially with rust. But the engines were pretty solid.

[@carwrtr1]

This car deserves more recognition and respect than it had received. The Granada and Sierra were beautiful cars, and the XR4TI was an excellent touring coupe. XR4TI was a better looking and better driving car than Mustang at this time.

[@qmto]

In the neghoborhood over from me there’s 2 rare 80s relic cars. One house has a Scorpio. And another random house has a Sterling. Lol remember Sterling?

[@MPi-KM]

Principal Skinner had one, I think.

[@glx68]

Was an awesome car. Quiet, fast enough and plenty of room!

[@maples328]

I thought 💭 back in the day that they were just trying to fancy up the Mercury name, lol 😂

[@Alexander_Timonin]

They should have named the brand Scorpio. Merkur sounds like a poor attempt at making the name Mercury sound foreign and probably came across as pompous. If this was marketed as "European engineered", potential customers that didn't know any better probably didn't believe it likely just because of the dumb name.

[@billschlafly4107]

The MSRP is outrageous for the time.

[@Skyisthelimit4me]

No it's not that's actually cheap. It's a luxury executive touring vehicle. Lincoln Continental cost more.

[@ericharrison619]

Can you say "luxury executive touring vehicle" and engine from a Ford Ranger with a straight face? America got boned with the sole engine choice and you know it.@@Skyisthelimit4me

[@njhampster]

You could get a Grand Prix or Cutlass for $10k less. And Merkur was a made up name without the upscale status of BMW or Mercedes Benz. It's no wonder these were a flop.

[@runoflife87]

Both car were FWD bricks by that time.

[@nickb3968]

Too bad Ford didn't put the 1st gen SHO engine in this.

[@DschoermaenRetrodaddler]

Why? The 2.8 and 2.9 Cosworth engines were as good as that.

[@marcusjosefsson4998]

​@@DschoermaenRetrodaddlerThe Cosworth V6 is a lot better than the SHO.

[@nickb3968]

@@DschoermaenRetrodaddler The SHO engine had 220HP(more than the Cosworth's) and was more reliable. (not accounting for induction versions)

[@nickb3968]

@@marcusjosefsson4998 How so?

[@nickb3968]

@JDns-we4fw Yeah, probably....but I would have loved to have had RWD...I had a Gen 2 SHO, great car....but the FWD let it down under spirited curvy driving. It was a great highway bomber though.

[@severinjohn]

The similarity of styling to the Mercury Sable, but at a price $10k higher, killed the Scorpio from Day 1. Merkur was always paired with Lincoln-Mercury dealerships and the Scorpio was side by side with the Sable on the showroom floor.

[@jamesbyun8571]

Named after the great Hank Scorpio of course.

[@boss12]

I still like this car a lot.

[@KartKing4ever]

I love how part of Ford's pitch was that you can sell it for decent money later.

[@rushmatic]

Ford loves making bad branding choices Edsel, Merkur eventually the Mercury division and maybe next the Mustang division (Mach-E that is… if you’re as confused by it as I am)

[@kevinmcadams805]

Yes Ford does!! Well observed, think if this would’ve been badged a regular Mercury it would’ve sold well.

[@marcusjosefsson4998]

Remember the Ford Premier Automotive Group, PAG? Lincoln, Mercury, Jaguar, Aston-Martin. And Volvo...

[@mattwolf7698]

The Mach E is selling well but it shouldn't have the Mustang name.

[@Skyisthelimit4me]

This was not a bad branding choice. What the hell is wrong with you people? Honda sold rebadged Hondas as Acuras Toyota sells rebadged Toyotas as Lexus and noone complained. Ford does the same thing with Merkur and it's a problem. Wtf?

[@milfordcivic6755]

Taurus with different front and rear

[@marcusjosefsson4998]

Not even close...

[@MPMeterman]

An American FWD sedan and a RWD European sedan…not even close.

[@cliffordbruber2791]

My brother-in-law owned one of these at one time right when they were introduced. Gosh, I remember it like it was yesterday. The Merkur Scorpio. Cool looking car.

[@spider_hoss]

I’be never seen a sphygmomanometer used for lumbar support before.

[@lab1042]

I've seen several Xr4ti's over the years, but I don't think I've ever seen a Scorpio.

[@bobbydavenport8941]

I know of a pastor that has one of these sitting his driveway I've always been curious about it and now thanks to you I have some knowledge about this car now I really want to ask him if he would be interested in selling it 😊

[@akshonclip]

This was an experiment that is now common. The Fusion for instance is just a rebadged European Mondeo.

[@islanddon865]

We had a XR4Ti and a Scorpio. We all preferred the "little guy".

[@iluvcamaros1912]

This was a really nice car. They should have just sold it as a Lincoln or Mercury. 1988 Lincoln Zephyr.

[@sleeksilver]

The XR4Ti was the only Merkur worth your attention.

[@davidpistek6241]

Caddy did the same thing with the catera, mercur had a bad naming scheme for the xr4ti should have kept Sierra, Scorpio is a great name though

[@dubdaze68]

"Merkur" was a marketing flop, and put sporty European cars in showrooms that would never get the correct eyes on them. Ford did the same hairbrained thing with the Pantera.

[@Skyisthelimit4me]

It's not a flop. You need to look up the definition of a flop. A flop is the TC by Chrysler or the Allante by Cadillac.

[@pilskadden]

The weird name Merkur probably didn't help sales. Why not just sell it with a Ford badge. They probably ended up being too expensive in the US due to the required modifications and import taxes, plus they were underpowered for a large luxury sedan so I'm not surprised they didn't sell well.

[@Skyisthelimit4me]

Same reason why Honda came up with Acura & Toyota came up with Lexus. Idk why people pay extra for an Acura or Lexus badge but they did. At least the Merkur didn't cost more than it's European Ford badged sister car.

[@travisbashore]

​@@Skyisthelimit4meits*

[@mumwifeteacher]

The guy testing the car looks like Jon goodmans stunt double from the big labuski

[@jlcii]

I never understood America's distain for hatchbacks, wagons, or any from a five-door car. What does America have against a car that has versatility, and often some pretty good looks, in the event that it doesn't have a traditional three-box sedan shape?

[@Skyisthelimit4me]

They like em now they just like em lifted (suvs).

[@mediocreman2]

That's not why this car failed. The Honda hatchbacks of the '80s and '90s were huge successes in the US.

[@asdatesco2594]

It's a bit strange that Ford wanted a sporty, upmarket German brand in the US, and decided to name it 'Merkur' - not only did the name have no market presence, it was also barely decipherable from one of Ford's own marques which had existed for decades up to that point. Why devise a whole new brand that just conjures up images of 1949 lead sleds, or the new Sable that already looks pretty similar to your fancy Euro import? The second mistake was taking mass-market European Fords and marketing them as Mercedes or BMW competitors - the Sierra/XR4Ti and Scorpio were worthy cars that sold well in Europe, but they were never premium, aspirational cars in the way a 190E or 5-Series would've been. Cadillac made the same mistake a decade later when they sold the Vauxhall/Opel Omega as a Catera - it would've been fine as a Chevrolet or Pontiac, but just wasn't special enough to be Caddy's BMW-beater.

[@mrjasonwhite73]

It's too bad the Merkur offerings never took off in America. Two of Ford's best products at the time.

[@marcusjosefsson4998]

No oil pressure or volts? Totally a deal breaker...

[@MPi-KM]

Almost bought one about 10 years ago. I probably would have but it had a blown head gasket and I didn't want to deal with that. They might have sold better maybe if they had put the 5.0 liter Mustang engine in it.

[@RoyalDudeness]

They sold a 24-valve version in europe. The engine was build by COSWORTH. 0-60 little over 8 sec and 1/4 mile low 14 sec

[@DschoermaenRetrodaddler]

That's typical Murican. Put a anachronistic V8 in every car and Muricans buy it.

[@DschoermaenRetrodaddler]

@@RoyalDudeness The 2.8 and 2.9 Cosworth is a BLAST! Especially with a manual gearbox in the estate/wagon.

[@MPi-KM]

@@DschoermaenRetrodaddler All they offered was the 3.6 liter V6 with 4 speed auto. Not very fast or exciting. We didn't get the cool European engines in 'Murica.

[@DschoermaenRetrodaddler]

@@MPi-KM Too bad, hmmm? No 1.6-2.0 or any other Cossa, no Fiestas or REAL Escorts ... even the most import cars were watered down and softer somehow.

[@chadakoin1]

Hey, car jackers coming in through the trunk was a thing in the 80's.

[@baggierols73]

This and the XR4ti were cars Ford hated so much they called them Merkurs instead of Fords, just to make sure they failed 😞

[@jamiedriscoll9781]

The constant bickering of no oil pressure and volt every time 😅

[@VocalVirgo]

This is so funny, this is almost exactly the same engine as the Bronco II of the era, which is why it is rear wheel drive.

[@rekleif]

Oh how i would like to import this back to Europe...

[@paul33207]

My mom had one of these (same color), those back seats were like lazy-boys haha, but it was always in the shop after it turned 4yrs old

[@xxxpensive1415]

Ah the evolution of the folding back seat😍

[@explorinjenkins349]

I found one of these in a rural Minnesota junkyard. If that car could talk...

[@rodmunch69]

A hideous looking car on the outside, but that interior looks great for 1988.

[@arthurhu2290]

I had 1987 Acura Legend 150 V8 for $22,000. I heard of this car, but it sold even less than the XR4ti, Merkur is remembered as a failed brand today. It didn't look like a BMW or Audi.

[@HC-cb4yp]

They probably should have sold them as Lincoln models.

[@albertbekassy2709]

There was no Scorpio station wagon in the beginning, so Ford imported the Taurus to Europe as a substitute. Only the Taurus station wagon.

[@NALTOHQ]

Merkur… now that is a brand that didn’t really get its time to shine.

[@ianshippen279]

Strange that the XR4ti was not sold in the USA with this engine as it was the engine in the XR4 in Europe

[@SnarkyRC]

Adjustable rear seats? Thats badass.

[@johnjmcknightiii2964]

Reminds me of a Mazda 626 hatchback