With its three window side profile and bi-plane rear wing the XR4i was the closest production Sierra to the radical Probe III concept car that had previewed the Sierra's styling cues to an awestruck press in 1981.

Announced just seven months after its parent range, in April 1983, the XR4i was intended as a sporting and luxurious ‘halo’ car to rival other continent crushing 3-litre GTs such as the Opel Monza and BMW 6 Series, rather than as a replacement for the Capri.

In fact the Capri outlived the XR4i, as the model ceased production in 1985 after just 27,400 examples had been produced.