P.M. BRIEFING : Lincoln-Mercury Drops Scorpio After Slow Sales Record in ’89

Lincoln-Mercury is dropping its low-volume German-made Scorpio four-door sedan after slow sales in 1989, the Ford Motor Co. division said today.

Scorpio imports will stop immediately, leaving 4,600 at dealerships, in ports and in transit still to be sold, spokesman Chuck Snearly said.

The announcement came a year after Lincoln-Mercury stopped importing the two-door Merkur XR4Ti, which is also made at Ford of Germany in Cologne, West Germany.

Overall U.S. sales of European cars have dropped this year. “The Scorpio has been impacted by this trend as well,” said Ross Roberts, Lincoln-Mercury general manager. Lincoln-Mercury dealers will continue to supply parts and service, Roberts said.