SIERRA XR4i

The first of the fast Sierras, the XR4i mixed genuine 130 mph performance with lashings of 1980s style. Here’s what to look for.

Classic Ford

Tasked with adding a bit of excitement to the newly introduced Sierra range and give sales a push, the performance-focused XR4i was launched in May 1983. With car buyers only just starting to come to terms with the Sierra’s ‘jelly mould’ shape, Ford added fuel to the fire with an even more distinctive look for the XR4i. The three-door shell was usually reserved for lower trim levels, so to equip the range-topping XR with it meant that Ford had to go to town on differentiating the styling from base models. That translated to the additions of plastic cladding, a radical two-window design on the rear quarters and twin rear spoilers that harked back to the Probe III concept that provided inspiration for the Sierra. While the bi-plane spoiler was mostly…

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Classic Ford (Digital) - 1 Issue, April 2025

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