Ford : Granada Mk3

Model Introduction

The Ford Granada Mk3, launched in 1985, was a bold reinvention of Ford’s executive car and the first to be sold across Europe as the Ford Scorpio (though it retained the Granada name in the UK). It was Ford’s most aerodynamic production car to date, with a sleek, rounded design that stood in stark contrast to the boxy Mk2. Styled in-house under the direction of Patrick Le Quément, the Mk3 introduced flush glazing, integrated bumpers and smoothed-out surfaces that gave it a drag coefficient of just 0.34 which was impressive for a large saloon in the mid-1980s. Built on a new rear-wheel-drive platform, it featured semi-trailing arm independent rear suspension and a more rigid bodyshell, improving refinement, safety, and handling across the range.

The Mk3 was packed with innovation for its class, becoming the first European production car to offer anti-lock brakes (ABS) as standard across the entire range - an industry first that helped set a new safety benchmark. Engines ranged from the familiar 2.0-litre Pinto and later DOHC units, to the 2.4-, 2.8-, and eventually 2.9-litre Cologne V6s, many paired with fuel injection and either manual or smooth-shifting automatic transmissions. Trim levels included L, GL, Ghia, and the high-spec Ghia X, which brought luxury features like leather upholstery, air conditioning, electric everything, and even heated windscreens. A five-door hatchback body replaced the traditional saloon layout at launch - another unusual move in the executive class - while a traditional four-door saloon and estate followed in later updates.

While its progressive styling was divisive at the time the Granada Mk3 proved a capable, comfortable, and technologically advanced cruiser. It appealed to company car fleets, private buyers, and government fleets alike, and remained a strong seller throughout its life. In 1994, Ford dropped the Granada name entirely and rebadged the facelifted version as simply the Ford Scorpio across all markets, a move that coincided with even more controversial styling decisions. Today, the Mk3 is appreciated for its refined V6 engines, relaxed long-distance manners, and its role as a transitional car between Ford’s pragmatic past and its more high-tech, design-led future. Survivors, especially high-spec Ghia or Cosworth-developed Scorpio 24V models, are increasingly valued as honest, luxurious, and historically significant examples of Ford’s ambition in the 1980s executive market.