The Ford Escort RS Cosworth was at the forefront of the British car scene when it arrived in 1992. It stormed in with its powerful motor, mad styling and no-nonsense attitude. Developed at the peak of rallying, the road-going Cossie was an animal.
Though similar at a glance to the standard Escort, the RS Cosworth is very different indeed. The only body panels that they actually share are the doors and the roof. The wheelbase is slightly longer than the standard car to squeeze in the drivetrain of the Ford Sapphire. Independent suspension and huge brakes on all four corners showed that the Escort RS Cosworth meant business. However, the jewel in the crown lay under the hood.
A lot of time has passed since the Escort RS Cosworth, and we haven't really seen anything like it since. With electric cars becoming the mainstream, let's take a look back at a car that was raw, analogue, and full of soul.
The Ford Escort RS Cosworth Was An Early '90s Icon
The Escort RS Cosworth was the subject of many posters that adorned the bedroom walls of kids growing up in the 1990s. It was the cheeky chap that the public couldn't help but love. The Cossie wasn't about luxury or labels, it was solely focused on performance and didn't care what the neighbors thought.
With the death of Group B rallying and moving on from the insane RS200, Ford experimented with the Sierra and Sapphire models before turning to the Escort platform for the development of their next rally car. They opted for a highly modified version of the fifth-generation Escort, complete with the all-wheel drive system from the Ford Sapphire. In line with rally homologation regulations, an initial 2,500 road-legal units rolled off the production line for a select number of very lucky customers. Between 1992 and 1996, Ford built a very limited number of just over 7,000 Escort RS Cosworths.
The YB Engine From The Escort RS Cosworth Was A Masterpiece
The motor found under the hood of a Ford Escort RS Cosworth is a thing of beauty. Unlike today's cars, all the components and the valve cover are on display. Engine-building experts Cosworth are responsible for the best part of this car, hence getting their name onto the badge. On the face of it, the 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder doesn't seem particularly special. They strapped a hefty Garrett turbocharger to the side, and the little Escort made a solid 224 hp and 224 lb-ft of torque. Weighing in at just over, 2,800 lbs, it could shoot to 60 mph in under 6 seconds and onwards to 140 mph.
The big turbo on the early homologation units resulted in a lot of turbo lag. On the rally cars, this wasn't an issue due to the engines being in a higher state of tune. However, for the de-tuned road versions, it led to quite a hair-raising driving experience. Not a whole lot would happen before 3,500 rpm, and then all of the power would hit at once, exploding you down the road as you try to hang on to the steering wheel.
It sounds like a lot of fun, but for the later Escort RS Cosworths, Ford decided to tame it slightly. They reduced the turbo lag by using a smaller Garrett turbocharger that made the car a lot more manageable without losing out on performance. By anyone's standards, it was still an absolute handful to drive. The power moved through a five-speed manual transmission to all four wheels. The split was 34% to the front and 66% to the rear, perfect for power sliding around rally circuits or your local parking lot.
The Ford Escort RS Cosworth's Styling Divided Opinion
There's no doubt about it, the Ford Escort RS Cosworth is a wild-looking car. Some love it, some hate it, but you simply have to respect it. The standard Escort was a gentle, little hatchback that was an ideal grocery-getter. While you can see the Escort base, the RS Cosworth is much more aggressive. It's muscular from every angle, and it always looks raring to go.
There's a front chin spoiler and louvers in the hood that signify this is not your normal Escort. The 8-inch wide wheels on all corners sit under extended wheel arches, giving the RS Cosworth a much wider stance. The interior is nicely decked out with Recaro seats and plenty of gauges, so you can keep an eye on things.
At the back is the most identifiable part of the whole car. The 'whale tail' wing reaches from the top of the rear window, continuing the line of the roof all the way to the edge of the trunk. It's one of the most dramatic setups on a factory car, and is also a nod to its predecessor – the Sierra Cosworth.
And if that massive piece of rear aero wasn't enough, there's a large secondary lip spoiler mounted to the trunk. It's certainly not subtle, nor is it everyone's cup of tea, but it's in keeping with the character of the car as a whole and lets you know that every drive is going to be a blast.
For Many Blue Oval Fans, The Escort RS Cosworth Was The Holy Grail
For some people, the Ford Escort RS Cosworth is a distillation of everything they want in a car. It's fast, loud, unpredictable and sneers in the face of convention. Yes, a BMW M3 is a beautiful, refined and powerful car. But the Cossie is just as quick and never takes itself too seriously. It's light-hearted and yet still extremely fast. There's no false demeanor or image to uphold, the Ford Escort RS Cosworth is happy to provide you with endless fun.
Sources: Ford, Supercar Nostalgia, Bring A Trailer