Premise: The Merkur XR4Ti is a high-performance 3-door hatchback sold in North America from 1985 to 1989. A product of the Ford Motor Company, the car was based on a version of the European Ford Sierra XR4i adapted to US regulations. The XR4Ti and the Merkur brand name were both projects sponsored by Ford vice president Bob Lutz.
Hypothesis: The XR4Ti and the Merkur brand name were not sponsored and it was based on a version of the European Ford Sierra XR4i adapted to US regulations.