Ford's crisply styled MkII Granada was launched in the UK in September 1977. Although it used much of the floorpan and suspension of the 1972-77 MkI, the body and interior were new, as were the pushrod V6 engines; German designed 'Cologne' units. The 2.8-litre power plant was 22kgs lighter than its 3.0-litre 'Essex' predecessor as well as being more economical, producing more power and revving more freely. The 2-litre, four cylinder models used the, by then, well proven 'Pinto' OHC unit.

The Granada MkII range was substantially updated in 1981 and in production until 1985, by which time Ford’s Cologne plant had produced 639,440 examples.