Ford revives iconic Escort nameplate

[ryeman]

Under OneFord it seems Fusion is THE style.

[Joe5619]

How is this any different to Focus??

[FGII-XR6]

Originally Posted by jpblue1000

The mk2 finished in 1980 was replaced by the FWD Mk3 then Mk4 in 1990 the Mk5 was offered and in 1992 the AWD Cosworth escort was introduced, but based on the sierra platform. So none were a real escort.

This is the only real escort:
image
1970 Mk1 cosworth...

I dont believe there was a mazda share at this stage the engines were based on the venerable kent dating back to the 60's. The south american built ones had VW engines. In australia the nameplate was replaced with mazda derived cars with laser and meteor badges.

JP

what about these

[jpblue1000]

Originally Posted by au3xr6

what about these image

A RWD escort for sure...but a big fat version of the Mk1 really as the chassis remains largely the same between Mk1 and 2.
I'm a Mk1 man, have had a Mk2 and may again but the MK1 does it for me.

JP

[EASYBOSS]

I've had 7 escorts, all Mk1 an Mk2's

The best one ever was the German asembled RS2000 Custom, with group 1 downdrafts, wish I had never sold it.

[Bucknaked]

The new escort looks awesome. The front on the escort is a masive improvement over the front on the current focus

[Iggle Piggle]

Originally Posted by DJR-351

Whoa....let's just take that back a few steps before the thread gets to far from the original story.....

According to Dowling Ford Aust played a "leading role" - but he is having trouble getting people to confirm or give recognition...

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/busine...-1226625104356

FORD Australia has played a leading role in designing what could become the best-selling car in China, but Ford's global bosses won't give Australians the credit for doing the work.

A skilled team of Australian stylists based at Broadmeadows in Victoria designed the sleek new version of the Ford Escort, which is intended to be built in China and sold alongside the Ford Focus - the best-selling car in the world’s biggest car market.

But Ford Australia has inexplicably been robbed of sharing the good news - against the backdrop of an uncertain future for its manufacturing operations - about its close ties with the world’s automotive superpower.

While the future of Ford Australia’s manufacturing operations remains in doubt beyond 2016 - following record-low sales and no application for government funding beyond that deadline - the company has gradually restructured its business to supply designers and engineers to the rest of the Ford world.

But when Ford executives were asked about Australia’s involvement in the car unveiled at the Shanghai motor show overnight, senior management of the company claimed it was a “global effort” with “some Australian input”.

Jim Farley, Ford’s global head of sales and marketing declined to nominate where the car was designed, as did the former boss of Ford Australia (and Geelong resident) Marin Burela, who is now based in China.

The Asia-Pacific boss of Ford, David Schoch, and the new design chief for Ford in the Asia Pacific region, Joel Piaskowski, also downplayed or refused to confirm Australia’s involvement.

Ford does not have a design studio in China; Australia is the nearest - and one of only five fully fledged design centres in the Ford world.

Australia’s design and engineering workforce has grown from a staff of 350 in the early 2000s to more than 1100 today, as the company takes on more work for the rest of the region.

Ford Australia has also sent up to 50 designers and engineers to China on assignment to help establish a new development centre there.

Kumar Kalhotra, Ford’s Asia Pacific product development chief, told News Limited: “Ford Australia isn’t designing products just for Australia, they’re designing products for the globe.” But he stopped short of revealing Australia’s involvement in the new Ford Escort.

When asked if Ford Australia wasn’t given more credit for the work on such an important car because other international divisions might take offence, Kalhotra said: “I don’t think it’s about offending anybody, it really is a total team effort.”

[Sprint XR8]

[Polyal]

Rims look familiar, is the current Focus 5 stud?

I dont rate the design that much to be honest.

[Sprint XR8]

[Fev]

Reminds me of the Kizashi in proportions.

Escort - that name has been slutted around the Ford world for too long, being used and abused. Needs to be on a lightweight, RWD platform with aggressive styling, boxier than that styling. Comes in manual or auto with a diesel option and must have an RS2000 model with the 2.0L Ecoboost.

[SLO AU XR8]

Originally Posted by Fev

Reminds me of the Kizashi in proportions.

Escort - that name has been slutted around the Ford world for too long, being used and abused. Needs to be on a lightweight, RWD platform with aggressive styling, boxier than that styling. Comes in manual or auto with a diesel option and must have an RS2000 model with the 2.0L Ecoboost.

I was going to say that if Ford did bring back the RWD platform for the Escort, an EcoBoost model would have to be called the RS2000.

[Dr Smith]

I think that has a more upmarket look in the rear then the current Mondeo.

[csv8]

Where would this fit in the lineup ???? compete with Focus ??? not a good idea ??

[EASYBOSS]

OK, so is it just me, where are the zorst pipes

[ANGEL#3]

Looks crap. Ford would be wasting money.

Why would the bring back the escort? Fiesta on its way out maybe or the Focus maybe.

Is it for the Euro market and or the asian market.

[KurtisEBear]

Its not a bad looker, better than the current Focus and Mondeo

[flappist]

Originally Posted by csv8

Where would this fit in the lineup ???? compete with Focus ??? not a good idea ??

It is being built for China, not here.

[EASYBOSS]

Originally Posted by Black_Betty

Looks crap. Ford would be wasting money.

Why would the bring back the escort? Fiesta on its way out maybe or the Focus maybe.

Is it for the Euro market and or the asian market.

You should read the entire thread before posting, Asion market, dont you see that it in the pics and artiicals

And why not bring it back if it works.

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by Black_Betty

Looks crap. Ford would be wasting money.

Why would the bring back the escort? Fiesta on its way out maybe or the Focus maybe.

Is it for the Euro market and or the asian market.

...Unveiled today (NZ time) at the 2013 Shanghai motor show, the Escort concept is designed to appeal to younger Chinese families with a uniquely designed small sedan body.

Designed primarily for the Chinese market the new Escort is based on the underpinnings of a Focus small car but with a slightly larger body that leads to more interior space.

Clearly outlined in the first post.

[EASYBOSS]

My old one, the real thing, take that ha ha

[EASYBOSS]

And another old pic, showing the group 1 downdraft airbox, just for the sake of it.

[MrMk2]

Looks like the south end of a north bound camel in my opinion. If they plan on bringing the Escort name back maybe they should do what Fev said and make it a light weight RWD. The FT-86 is proof that there's a market for a compact RWD sports car so why not target that part of the market rather than flog off another boring FWD sedan, there's enough of those already.

[Fev]

Originally Posted by MrMk2

Looks like the south end of a north bound camel in my opinion. If they plan on bringing the Escort name back maybe they should do what Fev said and make it a light weight RWD. The FT-86 is proof that there's a market for a compact RWD sports car so why not target that part of the market rather than flog off another boring FWD sedan, there's enough of those already.

It would be a massive gamble for Ford Aus if they brought it back themselves though. Ford UK Definitely need to get the ball rolling before FordAus give it a try. I don't think there's enough of a market here for FordAus to make it themselves and the nameplate isn't well known enough other than through enthusiasts, it hasn't been seen in so long. Cosworth won't be associated with it either so it won't get any help from them off the back of Escort Cosworths fame - well they could try..

[mike_nofx]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Is FoA hinting at the 2014 Falcon's rear end?

image

God I hope not...

[Scudn64]

I remember seeing a chopped and lengthened focus down at the poving grounds last year.
They said it was for the Chinese market, someone higher up noticed and quickley drove it around the coner.

[RSgerry]

Originally Posted by ebxr8240

If they go and sound like this ?? YES !!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWhCI3knNxk

a scandinavian in a RWD rally car.....does it get any better?