In 1983 the high-performance XR4i version was introduced. It utilized a tuned version of the 2.8i V6 engine and sported a restyled version of the 3-door Sierra body shell. The double rear spoiler and curious multi-pillared rear windows were considered over-styled by some prospective buyers and the car never achieved the cult status of the smaller Fiesta XR2 and Escort XR3i. A version of the XR4i was sold in the United States as the Merkur XR4Ti, Merkur being Ford's brand name in the US and Canada for German-sourced Ford models. In South Africa, there was a 3.0 litre V6 version, called the XR6; while a limited run of 250 eight-cylinder XR8s was made in South Africa for saloon car racing homologation in 1984.
In 1985 the XR4i was replaced by the XR4x4, which was based on the five-door hatchback, had four-wheel drive and was powered by a 2.8 litre V6 engine. By the end of its production in 1990, 23,540 had been produced. Argentina retained the XR4i for some years after it was deleted in Europe in 1985.   |
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