Ford Scorpio Ultima 24v version 1.0

This is the first release of what was my first project for Racer, the car which was once crowned as the ugliest Ford ever produced, 'bugeye', 'frightened frog' and also the best sub 30k executive car on the market, here is your chance to actually get behind the wheel and drive it. The model isn't low poly, total around 13.5k with wheels but a a lot of work has gone into reporducing the overly curved styling. This has been developed on Racer version 0.53B16, I will try my best to rectify any problems encountered on other versions.

This model is based on the 1996 24v Ultima, body colour Ivory white with Pumice leather and 16" 'soft effect' 12 spoke alloys with 225/50ZR16 tyres. These are not race cars, even in Cosworth form but high speed long distance cruisers, they will not take kindly to abuse on corners but will hug the tarmac like glue at high speeds.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to my thread on RSC and to Racer in general, namely:

-Ruud, for creating Racer

-Shmelby Racing, who's Ford Taunus this project started life as

-Ryan T for the zmodeler tutorial among others

-Oleg for creating zmodeler

-IH8COPS for the Racer Wiki reference which helped me greatly

-The people who kindly run and maintain the RSC forums so car nuts like me have somewhere to rant on.

-stecki@quakerally.com http://stecki.racesimcentral.com for the male driver.

Many others who I have doubtless forgotten...

Some history on the car:

Ford Scorpio

Ford had always been leading the way with car design, the company's designs often being ridiculed and soon abandoned only to be picked up and used by someone else.  The Scorpio was no different.

Its launch in November 1994 was controversial to say the least.

The Scorpio was marketed as a replacement for the Mk3 Granada and was aimed at the executive car market, models in the first production year ranging from 19,000 to 28,000.  Ford had spent Millions on the car's development, with very little of the old Granada remaining.  

Much criticism was made of the car's Polyellipsoid headlamps, oval grille and 'Americanised' styling, masking the fact that this car was one of Ford Europe's most advanced technical designs, arguably the best road car they had produced. 

The original model lineup included 5 engines and 4 trim levels, ranging from the (by then) elderly 8 valve 2 litre Executive through the 2.5TD Ghia to the 24 valve 2.9 Cosworth Ultima.  In late 1997, the range was given a facelift and by the time production ended, there were only three trim levels and three engines available,  the 2 litre engines having been replaced by Fords' brand new 2.3 16v unit and the 12 valve V6 Cologne being superceded by the Cosworth, an end of an era for an engine which started life in the Sierra XR4i and the Capri 2.8 Injection.

Production was ended on 30th June 1998 with a total of 94,000 cars produced, perhaps something to do with Jaguar's introduction of the X and S Type executive saloons soon after (Jaguar being wholly owned by Ford since 1988).

There is an entire website dedicated to the 1994-1998 Scorpio, www.fordscorpio.co.uk

Some performance data taken from the model:

0-60mph (0-100kmh) = 7.8 seconds

1/4 mile (0.4km) = 14.8 seconds

top speed = 142mph (229kmh) @ 5375rpm

mph/1000rpm in top gear = 26.4mph (42.5kmh)

Please post any comments/bug reports/suggestions on the RSC forum thread as this will help us progress.

Best regards, TiberiuS.
