Yes, the Ford Escort is back, but not exactly where you might’ve expected to see it. More than twelve years since the popular, small car, with the famed blue oval was last in showrooms, it is now set for a return to the Chinese market.
Unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show, the new Ford Escort is only at the concept stage, however, since it draws so heavily on the Aston Martin-inspired look of Ford’s latest global models (Fiesta, Mondeo, Focus, etc) we can’t imagine it’ll be very long before the Ford Escort is production-ready.
Actual details on the Ford Escort’s return are very slim, although it is known the Escort Concept was designed as an all-new ‘C-segment sedan’ for the Chinese and other emerging markets. That will place the Ford Escort up against the likes of the Kia Cerato, Hyundai Elantra and Volkswagen Polo Sedan to name but a few.
Ford says they want to introduce more than 15 new models in emerging markets by 2015. The Chinese market in particular is worth targeting to try and acquire a slice of the 5.5 million small cars sold there annually.
A spokesman from Ford, Jim Farley, said: “This compact Ford Escort Concept highlights the strength of our global One Ford approach to vehicle design, and represents how we can make use of our global design language to bring refined designs to attainable vehicles.”
“Designed with the Chinese consumer in mind, the new Escort Concept has the potential to strengthen our product portfolio here in China as we take advantage of opportunities for diversification within the compact car segment,” Farley concluded.
In Europe, Escort production continued until 2000, when the last of a sixth-generation Escort rolled off the production line in Halewood. Will it be coming to South Africa? Well, there is certainly a case to be made for the heritage the Escort nameplate has locally, however, only time will tell if there is solid enough business case for it in amongst the Ford Fiesta, Figo and Focus.
