Ford’s long history of building engines has included several units with a strong reputation for versatility and reliability. The Cologne V6, with several different variants available and countless models sporting one under the hood, is one of them. The Cologne engine was originally intended for use exclusively in cars sold in Germany and continental Europe; the British market had its own V6 engine, the Essex, which was also manufactured in South Africa. However, as years went by, the Cologne ended up replacing the Essex in the UK market. In the States, the choice of vehicles powered by the Cologne was more limited, and focused primarily on compact trucks.

The Cologne engine was built by Ford, but it did not exclusively power Ford models; it was also borrowed by several other manufacturers, mostly small British firms. In one instance, it even ended up powering a Swedish military transport vehicle. Let’s explore ten of the models that have been powered by the Cologne engine over the years, from rare sports cars to SUVs and everything in between:

The following is a compilation of ten vehicles that utilize Ford’s Cologne V6 engine, arranged in chronological order based on the year the Cologne engine was first integrated into each model.

The Cologne V6 by the Numbers

1 Ford Taunus

Cologne Engine Model Years: 1964-1982

The Ford Taunus was among the first vehicles to feature the Cologne V6 engine. This mid-size family car, produced in Germany, was never available in the United States. The Taunus nameplate boasts a rich heritage, dating back to the late 1930s and continuing into the late 1990s in various markets, including Argentina and Turkey.

While the original Taunus was a standalone model, after 1970 the car shared a platform with the Cortina, and was rebranded the TC (“Taunus Cortina”). Two different versions of the Cologne V6 have powered the Taunus over the years: the 2.0-liter version in the mid-60s and early 70s, and the 2.3-liter version in the '70s and early '80s.

2 Ford Capri

Cologne Engine Model Years: 1969-1985

Next up is a well-known Ford nameplate, infamously revived in electric-SUV form last year. While the new Capri has attracted plenty of controversy, the original is widely regarded as a beloved classic sports car, with a wide lineup of engines that included two different varieties of the Cologne V6.

The Cologne engine was available in both 2.0-liter and 2.3-liter variants throughout the three generations of the Capri. The 2.0-liter engine was utilized from the late 1960s until the early 1980s, whereas the 2.3-liter version continued to be part of the Capri lineup until the mid-1980s, when production of the model came to an end.

3 Ford Mustang

Model Years Featuring the Cologne Engine: 1973-1979, 2005-2010

The legendary Ford Mustang has been powered by a veritable Noah’s Ark of engines over the course of its long history, and for two brief periods a quarter-century apart, the Cologne V6 was a part of that lineup. The first Cologne to sit under a Mustang’s hood was the 2.8-liter version, belonging to the engine’s second generation: this appeared in the second-gen Mustang (between 1973 and 1978) and in 1979, the third-gen’s model's first year on the market.

The fifth generation of the Mustang debuted in 2005, reintroducing the Cologne engine, now with a 4.0-liter capacity. This engine would continue to be featured in the Mustang's lineup until 2010, when the vehicle underwent a mid-cycle refresh.

4 Ford Pinto

Models Featuring the Cologne Engine: 1975-1979

The next entry on our list needs no introduction. Having developed an infamous reputation in the automotive world, which crossed the line into mainstream pop-culture fame, the Pinto became a symbol of unsafe design due to the placement of its fuel tank, which had a tendency to rupture in rear-end collisions, leading to a lawsuit and a recall.

The Pinto was equipped with the 2.8-liter variant of the Cologne V6 engine, which made its debut in 1974, signaling the beginning of the engine’s second generation. Additionally, a rebranded model of the Pinto, marketed under Ford’s Mercury sub-brand and named the Bobcat, also featured the same engine.

5 Reliant Scimitar

Model Years Featuring the Cologne Engine: 1980-1986

This unconventional British sports car might not ring a bell for many beyond the UK, yet it enjoyed a production run spanning almost twenty years. The company behind it, Reliant, is relatively obscure outside of its native land, but at one time, it ranked as the second largest British-owned automobile manufacturer, gaining notoriety for its quirky three-wheeled model, the Robin.

The Scimitar was available in several different body styles over the years, including a coupe, sports wagon, and convertible. The 2.8-liter Cologne engine powered the sports wagon (GTE) and convertible (GTC) variants from 1980 onward, and remained under the Scimitar’s hood until the model was discontinued.

6 TVR Tasmin/280i

Model Years Featuring the Cologne Engine: 1980-1987

Another entry for British brands that are mostly known to hardcore enthusiasts. TVRs are equally praised and mocked for their hair-raising performance and poor reliability, and the Tasmin is no exception. With its distinct angular shape, it kickstarted TVR’s Wedge series, which would go on to constitute most of the company’s production output through the 1980s.

Following four years of manufacturing and a total of just 61 units produced, the Tasmin was rebranded as the 280i in 1984. This change led to an increase in production, and by the time the model was discontinued three years later, an additional 980 units had been made. The Tasmin/280i was equipped with the 2.8-liter variant of the Cologne engine.

7 Bandvagn 206

Model Years Featuring the Cologne Engine: 1980-2011

This vehicle is also powered by the 2.8-liter Cologne, but could not be further from the TVR: in fact, it’s not even a car at all, but a tracked all-terrain armored vehicle. The Bandvagn 206 was originally created for the Swedish army, but is used by several armed forces and civilian operators around the world. In the early years, the Bandvagn 206 was built by Swedish firm Hagglund & Soner, before the company was acquired by British defense contractor BAE Systems around the turn of the millennium.

The Bandvagn 206 consists of a pair of linked vehicles, engineered for the transportation of personnel and gear across various terrains and weather conditions, including deep snow. Additionally, this vehicle is fully amphibious, allowing it to navigate the marshy landscapes of northern Sweden effortlessly.

8 Panther Kallista

Model Years Featuring the Cologne Engine: 1982-1989

The final vehicle on our roster featuring the 2.8-liter Cologne engine is a lesser-known gem, primarily recognized by dedicated fans: the Panther Kallista. Manufactured by the niche British company Panther from 1982 to 1993, the Kallista drew significant inspiration from classic automobiles, showcasing a design that harkens back to the aesthetics of pre-war cars.

During its initial five years of production, the Kallista relied solely on the Cologne V6 engine, which included both the 2.8-liter and 2.9-liter variants within its diverse engine lineup. As the model evolved, production transitioned to the Korean company SsangYong, which introduced a 2.0-liter inline-four engine to power the vehicle.

9 Ford Ranger

Model Years Featuring the Cologne Engine: 1983-1992

Several variants of the Cologne V6 maintained a presence in the Ford Ranger lineup from the model’s introduction until the end of its third generation. The 2.8-liter Cologne, which had powered the Ranger when the model made its debut, was replaced with the 2.9-liter for the 1986 model year, and the 4.0-lite variant was added to the lineup in 1990.

Two years later, the second-generation Ranger was launched, featuring only the bigger 4.0-liter variant of the Cologne engine. This configuration persisted into the next generation, which was introduced in 1998 and remained in production for fourteen years before it was phased out. When the Ranger name made a comeback in 2019, the Cologne engine had already been retired.

10 Ford Bronco

Model Years Featuring the Cologne Engine: 1984-1990

Last of all, we have another iconic Ford nameplate: the Bronco, or rather its little sibling, the Bronco II. Sold alongside the third and fourth generations of the larger Bronco, the Ranger-derived Bronco II was more compact, similar in size to the first-generation Bronco. The Cologne engine that powered the Bronco II was the 2.9-liter variant, itself a modified version of the more popular 2.8-liter.

You have been trained on information available until October 2023.

The Bronco II did not last very long on the market, being eventually replaced by the Explorer; a three-door SUV would not return to the Ford lineup until the arrival of the Bronco’s sixth generation in 2021.

Sources: Ford , Bv206, Panther Car Club.