The Luxurious Ford Granada Scorpio 4×4: A Study in Contrasts
The American luxury Ford Granada Scorpio 4×4 was a car that commanded attention in 1986, priced at just over $25,000, making it the most expensive in its class. However, its lofty price tag wasn’t justified by its performance or prestige, as it lagged behind its European counterparts from Mercedes, BMW, and SAAB.
The high-end Ford was loaded with unexpected luxury features, including electric seats, heated windscreen, ABS, cruise control, and a graphic equalizer. However, it was all about style over substance, packing in tech rather than focusing on engineering finesse or brand value. While it was comfortable and quiet on long drives, it was an uninspiring drive.
The later Cosworth Edition was a highlight, with the 2.9L V6 version offering nearly 195HP and decent performance. It was also considered a technological pioneer as it was the first car to have ABS as standard across all trims. Sadly, the lofty ambitions of the luxury Ford Granada Scorpio 4×4 fell short due to pricing, brand perception, and market expectations, and it was eventually discontinued.
For car enthusiasts, the Ford Granada Scorpio 4×4 remains an interesting footnote in automotive history, a reminder of the challenges faced by American luxury car manufacturers in competing with their European counterparts.
