In contrast to many of its European counterparts, the Scorpio was offered solely as a five-door hatchback (its only bodystyle produced prior to 1990). Styled as a fastback, the Merkur Scorpio provided Lincoln-Mercury an opportunity to market a (far) sportier premium alternative to its traditional Lincoln Continental and Lincoln Town Car sedans. As with the Mercury Sable sedan, the Scorpio was designed with blacked-out B and C-pillars (for a "floating-roof" effect); the model also features a minimal front grille opening (closer in design to the Ford Taurus).