Ford Escort is a compact car built by Ford Europe. Escort is a most-successful sales in UK from 80s to 90s. Prior to introduction in 1967, Escort badge name used in small estate version of the Ford Anglia and Squire. Escort is one of the other cars are built in Ford Europe including Ford Capri, Ford Cortina, etc.
The Escort was introduced in the UK and Ireland in 1967, then later in some European markets, becoming a best-seller. Production figures in the UK is very significant a two million Escort achieved the milestone. Second-gen saw the further competition in rallying mostly under as RS-series this was the last to use the RWD. Third-gen dropped saloon in-favour of hatchback. It marks a use an FWD, a newly CVH engine. This also a common car in UK. Fourth-gen added an estate. Crossflow engines are phased out.
Fifth-gen returns the saloon, also introduced a hot-hatch as Ford Escort RS Cosworth, comes a flagship YBT and YBP engine, retuned suspension and an AWD including unique rear wing, purposely build for homologation, it replaces the Sierra RS Cosworth. Though a revised as a daily driving is also built. Escort RS Cosworth phased out in 1996. Sixth-gen fitted a newly Zetec and Endura while CVH engine gets updated but only one available. RS version only built in 1996. In 2001, Escort finally ceased production to give way for the Ford Focus.
Appearances[]
- In Series 25 of original format Top Gear, William Woollard reviews the fourth-gen Escort estate where he praises the build quality, luggage space, handling, etc., with the downsides being the engine and price compared to the saloon.
- In Series 27 (Top Gear original format), Woollard demonstrated the fourth-gen Escort saloon (along the Fiesta in a latter clip) is part of a recall by simply spilling water on the garter which made clear. While Ford responds the feedback.
- In 21 Years Top Gear special episode, Tony Mason recalls the triumph of 25th Lombard RAC Rally along the late Roger Clark in the Ford Escort RS.
- In 1994 Old Top Gear episode, Quentin Willson ranks the Escort in 58th place in JD Power Survey mostly it's many faults.
- In Clarkson's Car Years, upon Clarkson went to the pub a demonstation of two men (on their table) arguing the comparison between the Volkswagen Golf GTI and the Escort XR3i. In the end, Clarkson verdicts the arguments end pointless but he made a simple explanation.
- In Clarkson's Top 100 Cars, the Ford Escort RS2000 was ranked in 80th place, while the Escort RS Cosworth was ranked in 7th place.
- In Top Gear: The Worst Car in the History of the World, James May gave a scathing review of the Escort RS Cosworth, much to Jeremy Clarkson's chagrin, who was tied up to a tree. James said that the RS Cosworth was actually a Ford Sierra with an Escort body, the car was rough to drive, and it was fitted with a smaller turbocharger, making it slower compared to the other cars, which defeated the point of a "sporty" Ford Escort.
- In Series 1, Episode 3 of James May's Cars of the People, James reviewed the Ford Escort XR3, praising its performance, being comparable to 1980s supercars while being sold at an affordable price. James also told an anecdote about a man he knew that bought an Escort XR3 around the same time when James started driving.