The Ford Escort was once a household name in the UK, but this everyman saloon still exists in China.
While a newer generation of motorists will have only known the Ford Focus as the Blue Oval’s C-segment bread and butter, the Escort was its long serving predecessor. The nameplate was in service from 1968 to 2002 – that’s 34 years. It was a sad day when the Escort became no more in the UK, but did you know that the car still exists in China?
The Escort name was reborn in 2014 for a China-only model that followed a familiar formula. Set to be affordable and continue the three-box design lineage, it fit the traditional Escort mould. Something else familiar about this Escort is that its underpinnings were based on the second generation Ford Focus. While far from a new platform in Europe, it was a proven award winner when new and serving as the Focus.
This Chinese Ford Escort has recently undergone an update, something that now further extends the historic name’s lineage. Considering much of Ford’s global lineup is either a hatchback or SUV, the saloon silhouette is actually a distinctive one in the portfolio. There are plenty of recognisable design quirks such as a strong shoulder line seen on the Ford Mondeo and its grille shares the traditional family shape. However, said grille is notably larger than that of our European cars – something driven by local market desires.
Something the original Escort never had is a touchscreen infotainment system. The refreshed car now features a large 10.25-inch display that sits alongside a digital instrument cluster of an identical size. While retaining its position as a mainstream model, the cabin appears rather plush and features interesting contoured surfaces.
There’s only one engine option for this new Escort, a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol unit. It possesses 122bhp and can be had with a manual or automatic gearbox. With China’s strong push for electrification, it’s entirely possible that the Escort that follows this could be an EV.
Ford are soon to discontinue the iconic Mondeo in Europe. Maybe that will be the next reborn model for China?
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Keyword: The Ford Escort lives on in China