Ford Granada (Europe)

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Ford Granada
Manufacturer	Ford Motor Company
Production	1972-1985 (for mainland Europe) 1972-1994 (for the UK)

The Ford Granada was an executive car manufactured by Ford Europe at both its German factory in Köln (Cologne) and its British factory in Dagenham from 1972 until 1976 when production switched entirely to Germany. From 1985–94 the Granada name was used in the UK only, for a model sold in other European markets as the Ford Scorpio.

[edit] Ford Granada Mark I (1972–77)

Ford Granada Mark I
Manufacturer	Ford Motor Company
Production	1972-1977
Predecessor	Ford Zephyr & Zodiac Ford Taunus 20M/26M
Successor	Ford Granada Mark II
Body style(s)	4-door saloon 5-door estate car 2-door coupé
Engine(s)	1699 cc V4 not UK 1996 cc V4 UK only 1993 cc I4 2293 cc V6 not UK 2494 cc V6 UK only 2994 cc V6
Wheelbase	107 in (2718 mm) [1]
Length	180 in (4572 mm)
Width	70.5 in (1791 mm)
Curb weight	1190 kg (2624 lb) - 1430 kg (3153 lb)

The March 1972 released Granada succeeded the British Ford Zephyr, and the German Ford Taunus, as Ford's European executive car offering. At first, lower models in the range were called the Ford Consul, but from 1975 on they were all called Granadas. The car soon became popular for taxi, fleet and police usage. It was also converted into limousine and hearse versions by the British companies Coleman Milne and Woodall Nicholson.

European Ford Consul, 2 door saloon: the lesser equipped version was initially badged as a Ford Consul, but from 1975 the entire range carried the Granada name.

European Ford Granada Mark I coupé

Mechanically, the European Granada conformed to Ford convention, the initial range using the Ford Essex V4 unit in 2.0 L displacement, and the "Essex" V6 engine in 2.5 and 3.0 L capacities. German models employed a Ford Taunus V4 engine in 1.7 L displacement, or the 3.0L Essex V6, or, more commonly the "Cologne" V6 in 2.0, 2.3 or 2.6 L capacities. The V4 was later replaced by the Pinto unit. The car generally followed mechanical layout of its predecessors Ford Zephyr/Zodiac, utilizing a coil sprung independent rear end, although front McPherson struts were replaced by double wishbones, introduced 18 months earlier in smaller TC Cortina and Taunus. On the other hand the Granada – like Ford 17M/20M/26M – featured drum brakes at rear, as opposed to the Ford Zephyr/Zodiac rear disc brakes.

The cars were available as two- and four-door saloons, a five-door estate (Turnier) and two-door fastback coupé. The early (1972-73) coupé had slightly different sheet metal; a more pronounced coke bottle styling. In 1974 the coupé was revised, with more straight lines. The "coke-bottle" coupé was unsuccessful in the UK. A revised coupé was sold only in Ghia-trim in the UK; elsewhere in all trims with all engines available. This was the reverse of the situation with the TC Cortina and Taunus, where the British model had the "coke-bottle" styling.

In South Africa, the Granada Perana V8, built by Basil Green Motors, was available through Ford dealers with the 302 in³ Windsor V8 engine, developing 220 DIN HP.

[edit] Ford Granada Mark II (1977–85)

European Ford 1980 Granada 2 door

European Ford 1981 Granada Estate: the design of the rear portion was carried over from the Mark I Granada estate

The square and straight-lined Granada '78 appeared in August 1977 and was produced until April 1985 following a mild facelift and attention to drivetrain NVH in 1982. It was a development of the previous car, the main differences being the "Cologne" V6 engine in 2.3 L and 2.8 L forms replacing the older "Essex" unit (which had never been offerered in the Cologne built Granadas), and the introduction of features such as air conditioning and fuel-injection. Internally within Ford, the "Cologne" 2.3 and 2.8 units were the latest derivatives of the 'V-Taunus' range of engines.

The coupé was discontinued when the new model began production, although there was a 2-door saloon version in certain European markets. A relatively low number of vehicles were also produced with the Peugeot 504 / 505 four-cylinder diesel engine in 1.9, 2.1 and 2.5 litre capacities. Most of these went to taxi operators and few survive.

As the range matured another two models were introduced. A sports based Granada was introduced as the Granada 2.8 Injection which had white alloy wheels and a rather odd looking black bootlid spoiler. This model borrowed the 2.8i "injected" engine from the Ghia model range. Towards the end of its production run, the introduction of the 2.0 and 2.3 LX saloon and estate UK marketing packs provided versions with a slightly higher specification than the "base" L models.

A special Ford of Britain only marketing pack edition of the Ghia X model was later introduced as the "Ford Granada Ghia X Executive" which standardised luxury appointments such as the high grade Connolly Leather interior that had previously been an optional fitment. There was also a special "Taxi" edition, available only in black, which included a foot-operated "panic button" in the drivers' footwell which would operate the alarm system. In addition to these two models the range was complemented by estate models which reflected the same appointment levels as the entire saloon range including the Ghia X, but not the Ghia X Executive model.

Ford subcontracted assembly to Hyundai Motor Company in South Korea for export of this model to Southeast Asian countries.

[edit] Ford Granada Mark III (1985–94)

Main article: Ford Scorpio

Ford Granada Mark III

In April 1985 the third-generation car arrived, which was essentially a rebadged Ford Scorpio, the Granada name being used in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland only, with the Scorpio badge (which covered the whole range in Continental Europe) being reserved for the top-range versions. The Mark III Granada was unique in being the first European volume production model with anti-lock brakes fitted as standard across the range.

Engine options included the familiar SOHC Pinto engine, in either tax-barrier undercutting 1.8 L form, or a more powerful 2 litre version with fuel injection available. The Cologne V6 engines were carried over from the previous range in short-lived (and not much more powerful than the 2 L Pinto) 2.4 L, and 2.8 L (later 2.9 L) capacities. In 1991 A new range-topping vehicle was introduced, the Scorpio 24-valve. It featured a 2.9 L Cologne engine that had been extensively re-worked by Cosworth Engineering and featured quad camshafts and 24 valves, enough for 200 bhp (150 kW). According to Ford this gave a 0-60 mph time of 8.1 seconds and top speed of 140 mph (230 km/h).

This version of the Granada continued the "Ford family" styling concept from the previous versions; this time the car superficially resembled a larger version of the Cortina's successor, the Ford Sierra.

[edit] References

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