Ford Escort (United States)

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Ford Escort
Production period: 1981-2003
Class : Compact class
Body versions : Sedan , hatchback , station wagon , coupe
Previous model: Ford Pinto , Ford Fiesta I.
Successor: Ford Focus

The Ford Escort was a lower middle class model built by the US automobile manufacturer Ford from spring 1981 to early 2003 .

The Escort replaced the Ford Pinto and the Ford Fiesta I imported from Cologne ; its successor was the North American Ford Focus . The main competitors were Chevrolet Chevette , Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon . The coupe version of the first Escort was called Ford EXP . The parallel models of the sister brand Mercury were called Mercury Lynx , later Mercury Tracer . A notchback sedan derived from the Escort was named Ford Tempo .

Model history

Escort (1981–1990)

1st generation
Ford Escort (1981–1985)

Ford Escort (1981–1985)
Production period: 1981-1990
Body versions : Station wagon , station wagon
Engines:
Otto engines : 1.6–1.9 liters
(49–90 kW)
Diesel engine :
2.0 liters (39 kW)
Length: 4140-4267 mm
Width: 1674 mm
Height: 1354 mm
Wheelbase : 2395 mm
Empty weight : 870-1085 kg

In the spring of 1981 Ford presented the new Escort, which looked similar to the European model , but differed significantly from it in detail.

The Escort was initially only available as a three-door hatchback sedan . From the beginning of 1982 the five-door variant and the five-door station wagon were also available. The model range was initially divided into basic, L, GL, GLX and the sporty SS. The drive was taken over by a 1.6-liter CVH four-cylinder with 66 hp (48.5 kW), paired with a four-speed, from Ford Europe -Manual gearbox or a three-speed automatic.

In the spring of 1982, a "high-performance" version of the four-cylinder was added, which developed 81 HP (59.5 kW), while the base engine now developed 71 HP (52 kW). The SS was renamed GT.

In 1983 Ford introduced an injection version of the 1.6-liter (89 PS / 65 kW), while the sparsely equipped basic model was discontinued. From 1984 a two-liter diesel engine (53 PS / 39 kW), a 1.6-liter with turbocharger (122 PS / 90 kW) and a five-speed gearbox were also available from Mazda .

For the 1985 model year, the range of models was streamlined; the GT was discontinued.

In the spring of 1985, the "1985 ½" vintage of the Escort made its debut with optical retouching (flush headlights, modified front and rear sections) and a 1.9-liter four-cylinder (87-109 hp / 64-80 kW), whereby the turbo was omitted and the diesel was offered unchanged. The range now comprised the L, GL and GT model series as well as an entry-level three-door model in the basic version, which was called Escort Pony from 1986 . In 1987, all 1.9-liter engines received manifold injection and developed 91/117 hp (67/86 kW). In 1987 the diesel engine was also eliminated.

  • Ford Escort three-door (1985–1988)

  • Rear view

In spring 1988 the Escort received another facelift with a flatter front section and modified rear lights; the program now included Pony, L, GL, LX and GT. In 1989 L and GL were dropped and in 1990 the output of the HO four-cylinder engine fell to 112 hp (82 kW).

By the time the first generation of escorts ran out in the summer of 1990, a total of around 3.37 million copies had been produced (excluding 1990, as numbers are not available). In the 1980s, the Escort was the best-selling car in North America several times.

  • Ford Escort five-door (1988–1990)

  • Ford Escort Wagon (1988–1990)

Escort (1990-1997)

Second generation
Ford Escort five-door (1990-1997)

Ford Escort five-door (1990-1997)
Production period: 1990-1997
Body versions : Station wagon , station wagon
Engines: Petrol engines :
1.9 liters
(65–95 kW)
Length: 4318-4351 mm
Width: 1694 mm
Height: 1334-1361 mm
Wheelbase : 2500 mm
Empty weight : 1035-1112 kg

In the summer of 1990, a completely new Escort appeared with a longer wheelbase (250 instead of 239 cm), which was no longer related to the European model of the same name, but was based on the contemporary Mazda 323 . As before, three- and five-door hatchbacks and a five-door station wagon as well as the equipment versions Pony, LX and GT were offered. In the engine compartment, the 1.9-liter four-cylinder known from its predecessor or, in the GT, a DOHC four -cylinder from Mazda with a displacement of 1.9 liters (129 hp / 95 kW) did their job; Five-speed manual or four-speed automatic were available.

In 1992 the name Pony was dropped for the basic model and the DOHC engine could be combined with the LX equipment in the LX-E.

In 1994 the LX-E was canceled and a driver airbag was part of the standard equipment in all versions. The following year the Escort received a new dashboard.

A total of 1.74 million copies of the second generation Escort had been built by spring 1996.

  • Rear view

  • Ford Escort three-door (1990-1997)

  • Ford Escort Wagon (1990-1997)

Escort / Escort ZX2 (1997-2003)

Third generation
Ford Escort (1997-2001)

Ford Escort (1997-2001)
Production period: 1997-2003
Body versions : Sedan , station wagon , coupé
Engines: Petrol engines :
2.0 liters
(82–97 kW)
Length: 4387-4463 mm
Width: 1702-1712 mm
Height: 1328-1369 mm
Wheelbase :
Empty weight : 1113-1165 kg

In the spring of 1996 Ford presented the third generation Escort for the 1997 model year, which in turn was based on a Mazda platform and, unlike its predecessor, was available as a four-door notchback sedan and a five-door station wagon in the Basic and LX equipment lines. The station wagon kept the rear of the second generation. It was powered by a new OHC two-liter four-cylinder, which transmitted its power via a five-speed manual gearbox or a four-speed automatic. From 1998 the equipment variants were called LX and SE.

From mid-2000 the station wagon was discontinued. From the end of 2001 the Escort was only available for fleet customers and was completely replaced in 2002 by the Ford Focus, which had also been sold in North America since the end of 1999 in parallel to the Escort.

  • Ford Escort Wagon (1997-2000)

Based on the third generation of Escorts , a two-door coupé called the Escort ZX2 was built from the spring of 1997 to the beginning of 2003 . In the coupé, the two-liter CVH sedan was not used, but a two-liter DOHC from the Ford Zetec engine family that developed 132 hp (97 kW).

From the end of 2001 the term Escort was dropped and the coupé was only called ZX2. In the summer of 2002, the front section of the coupé was given a facelift before production also ended in early 2003.

  • Ford Escort ZX2 (1997-2001)

  • Ford ZX2 (2001-2003)

Web links

Commons : Ford Escort (North America)  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

swell

  • Flammang, James M. and Kowalke, Ron: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1976-1999 . Krause Publications, Iola 1999. ISBN 0-87341-755-0 , pp. 503-566.