From: tedebear@leland.Stanford.EDU (Theodore Chen)
Subject: Sierra RS Cosworth (WAS Re: Mustang SVO)
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 92 14:14:08 GMT

In article <16onoeINNjf@seven-up.East.Sun.COM> jfox@hooksett.East.Sun.COM writes:
>In article 17AUG199212113842@tm0006.lerc.nasa.gov, rmc1862@tm0006.lerc.nasa.gov (Rodger M. Cliff) writes:
[Somebody wrote:]
>> >Real Mustang enthusiasts would never go for this for turbos tarnish 
>> >its muscle car image
>> I hate to agree with you, but I think you're right; the Mustang SVO 
>> proves the point.  The SVO was superior to the GT, except in
>> acceleration.  We see which one is still available today.  What 
>> Ford needs to do is bring back an updated version of the
>> Merkur XR4TI (RWD!) and shoehorn in the SHO motor.  The price 
>> would be much higher than the Mustang, but it could go up against
>> a BMW 325 with a better price and more performance.

i think the real problem was that the SVO was slower and more expensive
than the GT, not that it had a turbo.  if the SVO had the power of a
Buick GNX, it would've been more popular.

>What you describe Ford already produces(ed). I was in England in late 87 and
>had the pleasure of riding in (owner wouldn't let me drive) a Cosworth Sierra.
>The Sierra is basically the same as (identical to?) an XR4ti (which ain't
>that different that what a 2-door Taurus would be). Anyway, this Cosworth
>FLEW! I was so astounded I didn't even get details on the engine, but it had
>some serious hp - especially for that day.
>I like to think the SHO is the americanized attempt of that wonderful car.

the european Ford Sierra was imported as the Merkur XR4Ti.  i believe GM
was threatening action if Ford imported it as the Sierra, since there was
the possibility of confusion with the GMC Sierra and the Olds Cutlass Ciera.
(of course, only a lamebrain would confuse a pickup with a Sierra Cosworth.)
i think there's substantial difference between a Sierra and a Taurus, most
notably in that the Sierra is RWD and the Taurus is FWD.  but if you mean
conceptually... i'll buy that.  placid family car turns into a barnstormer.

wish i could remember better, but here goes.  the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
was a homologation for the Touring Car races.  its primary competition
was the BMW M3, and as i remember, the Sierra did a creditable job of
thrashing the M3.  the Sierra RS Cosworth had a turbo 4 producing slightly
over 200 bhp.  don't remember if it was a multivalve head, but Cosworth did
the work on the engine.  i think it was a 2.0 liter.  0-60 was a bit under 
6 seconds.  of course, too much is not enough.  BMW produced the M3 evolution
and Ford produced the Sierra Cosworth RS500.  same engine, but with bigger
turbos.  0-60 dropped to low 5s (would've been even lower, but the larger
turbos resulted in more turbo lag).  the most distinctive feature of this 
car was a biplane rear spoiler.  and we're not talking about a half-hearted
attempt like on the Merkur XR4Ti.  this one was big.  you'd never mistake 
an RS500 for anything else except maybe a Merkur XR4Ti.  there was a 4-dr. 
Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth.  i think there might also have been an AWD
version, too.  maybe somebody on the other side of the ocean can tell us
more.

the Cosworth versions never made it to the U.S. because certification was
too costly.  sigh.

-teddy