ANDAt a time when classics such as the Ford Falcon, the Renault 12 or the Peugeot 504 continued to have a high level of sales but already showed their origins decades ago, the arrival of the Sierra revolutionized the local automotive industry and the vehicle fleet of that country. moment, with its modern design, equipment and features unprecedented for the time. Produced at the General Pacheco plant since 1984, Ford Argentina celebrated the 40th anniversary of this brand icon.
Together with the Ford Sierra Fans Club and other owners of the sedan, the oval brand held a meeting at the industrial complex to review its history and the importance it had for the company at a local level, both in the market and at a sporting level and with its complete range of 5-door, rural and XR4 coupe versions.
On May 30, 1984, the first unit was produced and brought with it the implementation of robotization at the Pacheco plant. In addition, it allowed Argentines to be offered a disruptive vehicle for its time due to its design and cutting-edge technology. Initially, it was launched in a 5-door body, with 1.6 and 2.3 gasoline engines. A few months later, on September 5, the long-awaited XR4 Coupé version was added to the range, a variant that raised sportiness to a new level and that would become a cult model in Argentina. Likewise, the spacious rural one completed the family of 3 bodies.
As we noted previously, while models from other eras were still circulating on the streets, the Sierra arrived with the force of a radical change. With its aerodynamic design, born in the wind tunnel and inspired by the latest European trends – where it had been presented just two years before – in 1982, it broke with traditional schemes and anticipated the future of automotive design with a style focused on aerodynamics, proof of this is that, at that time, the slogan that the brand used was “Drive the wind”.
Another of its innovations was the mechanical configuration, with a longitudinal engine, rear-wheel drive and independent suspension on all four wheels, which gave it a comfortable and sporty driving dynamic at the same time, unusual characteristics in the Argentine market at that time and that They made it an extremely pleasant vehicle to drive, even measured with current parameters.
The list of new features does not end there. The Sierra was the brand’s first vehicle with independent suspension on all 4 wheels in our country, also the first with a hatchback-type design with a fifth door manufactured in Argentina. Among its comfort items, the sliding roof stood out – being the first Argentine car where it was made of transparent glass with a sunshade curtain – and the complete digital check panel, which included individual open door indicators, a fault indicator and lights, fuel reserve light, low brake fluid, coolant, oil and windshield washer fluid warning lights. In addition, it had electric windows on all 4 doors, directional courtesy lights and even headlight washers in the Ghia version.
Production of the sedan continued until 1993, with a total of 73,024 units sold, a large figure that made it a symbol of the time and the brand in the country.
