By: IOL Motoring Staff
Beijing Motor Show - Ford is reincarnating the Escort and this is no joke . Yet at this stage, it appears that the modern Escort is for China only.
It was designed by Ford's Australia-based Asia Pacific design team, who worked closely with Ford's Research and Engineering Centre in China to create a vehicle designed specifically to meet the needs of Chinese buyers.
To that end, the new Escort aims to tempt this target market with an unpretentious design, spacious interior and high level of quality and safety. Ford also calls it an attainable compact car, which hints that it will be positioned below the Ford Focus, which the Escort shares its platform with.
“Even as the Ford Focus remains the best-selling nameplate in China, we recognize that many consumers in China are looking for something else in a compact car,” said Luo Minggang, executive president, Changan Ford. “The Ford Escort is the answer to the question of what these consumers really want and value in a car for themselves and their families.”
With more of a focus on value than performance, the Escort will be powered by Ford's 1.5-litre normally aspirated Ti-VCT petrol engine. Though no outputs have been quoted, the similar engine in the Ford Ecosport produces just 82kW and 138Nm.
Although it's unlikely to come our way, would you like to see this Escort sold in South Africa?