Ford Sierra XR 4: Fatal Attraction

A little over four decades ago, one of the most attractive examples of the European Ford debuted. This is the Sierra XR 4 – the most powerful and fastest version of the model, which is distinguished by a much sportier character and a more spectacular appearance. The ahead-of-its-time design, designed by French stylist Patrick Le Kemen, stands out with some unconventional elements, the most characteristic of which is the double spoiler mounted on the lower part of the tailgate. It is borrowed from the experimental Ford Probe III and, without limiting visibility, significantly contributes both to improving aerodynamics and increasing stability at high speeds. When designing the Sierra XR 4, the drag coefficient was reduced from 0.34 to 0.32, which made it the most aerodynamic production Ford of its time, with the only two cars that then surpassed it in this indicator being the Porsche 924 and the Citroën GS.

Ford Sierra XR 4: Fatal Attraction

The basic concept of the rear-wheel drive Sierra XR 4, however, continues to adhere to the conservative philosophy of the company. The engine used is a modernized version of the gasoline V6 with a working volume of 2792 cc. The cylinders are located at an angle of 60 degrees, the valves are overhead and are driven by a central camshaft, which in turn is rotated by the crankshaft through gears. The engine operates with indirect mechanical injection into the intake manifolds. The compression ratio is 9.2:1, and the maximum power reaches 110 kW at 5700 rpm. The ignition system is a transistor of a non-contact type.

The main instruments are located in close proximity to the steering wheel, and the middle part of the dashboard is turned towards the driver, similar to BMW. Standard equipment includes two exterior mirrors that are automatically adjusted, an electrically heated rear window and a wiper with a nozzle, anatomical front seats, the driver's seat can also be repositioned in the vertical direction, adjustable headrests on all seats and an electric lock on the tailgate.

The body is self-supporting, and the four-wheel suspension is independent. On the front and rear axles there is one torsion stabilizer of transverse oscillations with a diameter of 26 and 10 mm, respectively. The steering is with a rack and pinion and can be equipped with a power steering if desired. The steering shaft is secured using a hinge and a telescopic device. The volume of the luggage compartment is 0.41 cubic meters, but by removing one or both rear seat backrests it can be increased to 0.8 and 1.20 cubic meters, respectively.

The maximum speed of the Ford Sierra XR 4 reaches 210 km/h, and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 8.4 seconds. Fuel consumption in three main modes (90 km/h, 120 km/h and urban traffic) is 7.6, 9.6 and 15.5 l per 100 km, respectively.

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The basic concept of the rear-wheel drive Sierra XR 4, however, continues to adhere to the conservative philosophy of the company

The main instruments are located in close proximity to the steering wheel, and the middle part of the dashboard is turned towards the driver, similar to BMW