Merkur

Merkur, a short-lived car brand from the American auto giant Ford, served as a bridge to bring European engineering and design aesthetics to American audiences in the mid-to-late 80s. In its 85-89 heyday, an era of technological disruption and stylish advancement, Merkur offered innovative vehicles such as the XR4Ti, a coupe based on the European Ford Sierra. It was Ford's attempt to bridge the gap between continents by building distinctive European performance and handling in a form tailored to the US market. Despite technology and a good approach to marketing and design, Merkur was never able to leave a strong footprint in the North American car market.