Merkur XR4Ti
The Merkur XR4Ti (eXperimental Racing, 4 series, Turbo, advanced Injection system) was a short-lived United States and Canadian-market version of the European Ford Sierra XR4i. It was the brainchild of then Ford vice president Bob Lutz. It was sold in the US from 1985 to 1989. It was the first vehicle sold by Merkur, followed in 1988 by the Merkur Scorpio.
History
The cars were hand assembled and built entirely by Karmann Coachworks in Rheine, Germany. Unlike with the Scorpio, the XR4Ti did not carry over the Sierra badge from Europe, since at the time it was also being used by General Motors in North America for two completely different vehicles: the GMC C/K Sierra and the similar sounding Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera. When first introduced, the XR4Ti had a starting price of US$16,503 which is equal to about $37,589 today.
The XR4Ti was distinguished mechanically by its turbocharged Ford Lima 2.3 L four-cylinder SOHC engine and independent rear suspension, and stylistically by its large wind tunnel-derived biplane spoiler (replaced on the 1988-89 models with a single rear spoiler). It came with either the C3 three-speed automatic transmission or the Ford Type 9 five-speed manual transmission. Mechanically, it differed from the European Ford Sierra XR4i, which had a 2.8 L Ford Cologne V6. Airbag legislation for the 1990 model years and weak sales as are frequently cited as the cause for the Merkur range to be discontinued.