I heard (back in '95) that Ford spent 6 Billion

to bring them to the states. I believe Ford got two great engines (2L Zetec and 2.5L Duratec) out of it, but the high costs doomed it from the start, especially when you consider it cost Chrysler only 990 Mil to design the Cirrus/Stratus combo (though I wouldn't be caught dead in a Stratus). Irregardless, it seemed Ford killed the Contique even before they introduced 'em.