The RS4Ti is a Tasteful Ford Sierra Restomod Capable of 370 kW

JH Restorations displayed what they believe would be the modern rendition of Ford’s Merkur/Sierra dubbed the RS4Ti. 

Looking for your next new or used Ford? Find it here with CARmag.

RS4Ti

Image: Larry Chen

The Ford Mektur was the State-side version of the UK’s Ford Sierra. In the 1980s, Ford Europe’s president wanted to introduce the Sierra into the US market but would later have to invest $50 million ($187 million or R3,4 billion today) to sell the Sierra in the US. Initially, the plan was to introduce the car through a new dealer network, but an unsuccessful integration gave way to the Merkur brand being born. The US-bred rear-wheel drive three-door hatchback began its life in Germany being built by Karmann. Abiding by United States safety and emissions regulations resulted in an increase of roughly 135 kg and 850 additional components. What Ford had hoped would be the messiah of European imports in the US turned into an underwhelming sales performance despite being a competent road-going machine. Decades after its debut, JH Restorations have driven their modern rendition of the XR4Ti model they’ve dubbed the RS 4Ti.

JH Restoration’s 1987 Merkur RS 4Ti is the result of three-and-a-half years of work and answers the question, “What would a modern-day Merkur look like?”.

RS4Ti

Image: Larry Chen

Related: Ford Debuts ORV Package for Ranger as Overlander’s Dream

The “RS4Ti” wears a fully custom body kit created by JH Restorations, which sees the bumper become one piece instead of two undercut by a pronounced front lip, the flank wears emboldened fender flares, and the rear characterised by the by-plane rear spoiler with its upper-wing “whale-tail”.

Accentuating the striking bodywork is the Ford Area 51 Blue paint, Yellow accents and American Racing multi-spoke wheels.

RS4Ti

Image: Larry Chen

Unlike the standard Merkur XR4Ti, which relied on a 2,3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine instead of the UK variant’s 2,8-litre Cologne V6, this model returns to the realm of six-cylinder powerplants. The RS4Ti, which is four inches and 10,6 cm wider (by way of the fender flares) than the original model, is powered by a Ford 2,3-litre EcoBosst crate engine, which has upgraded lower rotating assembly, more specifically upgraded, connecting rods, pistons, cylinder heads, camshafts throttle bodies and a bigger Ford turbo which Ford calls its “EcoBeast”. The 2,3-litre powerplant is said to be capable of an output of up to 370 kW.

RS4Ti

Image: Larry Chen

A fully-fleshed-out interior with era-correct Recaro seats, a fully rebounded dashboard, and an analogue driver display with a digital screen.

Has JH Restorations ruined this Sierra or improved it?

Browse over 26 000 new and used cars here with CARmag. 

The post The RS4Ti is a Tasteful Ford Sierra Restomod Capable of 370 kW appeared first on CAR Magazine.


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