smxi
05-25-2006, 06:54 PM
Second generation (19941998)
The second generation Scorpio was made available in saloon or estate styles only, and had largely the same floorpan as its predecessor as well as all of the same engines that were in use at the end of the first generation's run. Many suspension and handling improvements were made between the first and second generations (including self-levelling rear suspension on the estates). It was also radically re-styled both inside and outside, with new design of headlights, grille and door handles. Unlike the previous generation Scorpio models, there was no five-door hatchback body style in this line-up.
In addition, the "Granada" name, which had been retained in the UK and Ireland for the MkI Scorpio (AKA MkIII Granada) was finally dropped and the "Scorpio" name already used elsewhere was adopted.
Inside the car were new arm-chair style seats and improved interior quality, but outside the new look was controversial. The car sported bulbous headlights and its tail lights were arranged in a thin line just above the bumper. Unusually, Ford never released the name of the designer and maintain to this day that the car outsold its expected figures (although they never released what those figures actually were).
Jeremy Clarkson wrote in The Times at the time that this car ended any argument as to which was the ugliest on the road. In Richard Porter's 2004 book Crap Cars the Scorpio Mark II was listed as number 49 (of 50) on looks alone. Quentin Willson said in a 1997 Top Gear episode that the "sad-eyed Scorpio is so heroically ugly, it was obviously designed by Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder.". On the DVD special Clarkson: Heaven and Hell, Clarkson set up a jousting contest between a Scorpio which he described as "a wide-mouthed frog" and a Triumph TR7, eventually destroying both cars via head-on collision.
In Germany, the satirical magazine Titanic noted the Scorpio's front's similarity to the facial features of politician Gόnter Verheugen, who would go on to become EU commissioner.
In 1998, it was listed as the third worst N-registered car (August 1995-July 1996) to own in United Kingdom from a Top Gear survey of 120 cars.
In early 1998 the Scorpio was facelifted, with darker headlight surrounds and a more subtle grille, to tone down the front end of the car. The rear lights were also revised to make the rear of the car less bulbous. This was to be the last development for the model, which finished production over the summer of 1998.
Whether or not the car genuinely made Ford's sales expectations, the shifting European car market at the end of the 1990s meant that it was not directly replaced. This was not unusual at the time, with the market trending towards either high-spec large family cars for executives or towards multi-purpose vehicles for families. Also, at that time Ford's owning Jaguar and Volvo made the Scorpio unnecessary.
The Dutch Royal Family used several Scorpios - some stretched ones, and all painted in Royal Blue. There is still a custom build Scorpio landaulet in the royal stables. After Ford ended the production, the Volvo S80 replaced the Ford models.
Info:wikipedia.org
The second generation Scorpio was made available in saloon or estate styles only, and had largely the same floorpan as its predecessor as well as all of the same engines that were in use at the end of the first generation's run. Many suspension and handling improvements were made between the first and second generations (including self-levelling rear suspension on the estates). It was also radically re-styled both inside and outside, with new design of headlights, grille and door handles. Unlike the previous generation Scorpio models, there was no five-door hatchback body style in this line-up.
In addition, the "Granada" name, which had been retained in the UK and Ireland for the MkI Scorpio (AKA MkIII Granada) was finally dropped and the "Scorpio" name already used elsewhere was adopted.
Inside the car were new arm-chair style seats and improved interior quality, but outside the new look was controversial. The car sported bulbous headlights and its tail lights were arranged in a thin line just above the bumper. Unusually, Ford never released the name of the designer and maintain to this day that the car outsold its expected figures (although they never released what those figures actually were).
Jeremy Clarkson wrote in The Times at the time that this car ended any argument as to which was the ugliest on the road. In Richard Porter's 2004 book Crap Cars the Scorpio Mark II was listed as number 49 (of 50) on looks alone. Quentin Willson said in a 1997 Top Gear episode that the "sad-eyed Scorpio is so heroically ugly, it was obviously designed by Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder.". On the DVD special Clarkson: Heaven and Hell, Clarkson set up a jousting contest between a Scorpio which he described as "a wide-mouthed frog" and a Triumph TR7, eventually destroying both cars via head-on collision.
In Germany, the satirical magazine Titanic noted the Scorpio's front's similarity to the facial features of politician Gόnter Verheugen, who would go on to become EU commissioner.
In 1998, it was listed as the third worst N-registered car (August 1995-July 1996) to own in United Kingdom from a Top Gear survey of 120 cars.
In early 1998 the Scorpio was facelifted, with darker headlight surrounds and a more subtle grille, to tone down the front end of the car. The rear lights were also revised to make the rear of the car less bulbous. This was to be the last development for the model, which finished production over the summer of 1998.
Whether or not the car genuinely made Ford's sales expectations, the shifting European car market at the end of the 1990s meant that it was not directly replaced. This was not unusual at the time, with the market trending towards either high-spec large family cars for executives or towards multi-purpose vehicles for families. Also, at that time Ford's owning Jaguar and Volvo made the Scorpio unnecessary.
The Dutch Royal Family used several Scorpios - some stretched ones, and all painted in Royal Blue. There is still a custom build Scorpio landaulet in the royal stables. After Ford ended the production, the Volvo S80 replaced the Ford models.
Info:wikipedia.org