Mulally: New Chinese Escort Could Come to America

Ronnie Schreiber
by Ronnie Schreiber

While Ford’s new compact Escort sedan was developed by Ford’s Aisa-Pacific R&D team specifically for China, Ford CEO Alan Mulally indicates that the company has more global plans for the car, including the possibility of selling it in the United States. Mulally told Automotive News that the Escort will likely go on sale in other markets besides China. He said that while the company already has the Focus in the stateside C segment, the Escort could allow the company to attract consumers at a new price point in that segment.

Ford revealed the revived Escort on Sunday at the Beijing auto show. The nameplate has been dormant at the automaker since 2000. While it’s based on a Focus platform, it has more leg room in back, something Chinese consumers appreciate. Mulally told AN that it’s only a matter of time before American consumers will also get a chance to stretch their legs in the back of an Escort.

“We have a really solid small and medium-sized product line in the United States right now…“But I think over time this will be another enhanced version of the C-size. It’s just a matter of when. We’re going to be able to provide a C-sized vehicle with different price points.”

Mulally said that how the new Escort will spread to other countries demonstrates how the company’s One Ford strategy can take a vehicle developed by one of their regional R&D teams and customize it for specific markets while still saving money by making a global product.

Ronnie Schreiber edits Cars In Depth, a realistic perspective on cars & car culture and the original 3D car site. If you found this post worthwhile, you can get a parallax view at Cars In Depth. If the 3D thing freaks you out, don’t worry, all the photo and video players in use at the site have mono options. Thanks for reading – RJS



Ronnie Schreiber
Ronnie Schreiber

Ronnie Schreiber edits Cars In Depth, the original 3D car site.

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  • RHD RHD on Apr 22, 2014

    So Mulally says Ford might send new Chinese Escorts to the US. There are already thousand of Chinese Escorts here... they are actually slaves, working at "massage" businesses in small strip malls all over the country. (Don't believe me? Look it up! Human trafficking is a thriving industry.)

  • Jhefner Jhefner on Apr 27, 2014

    Someone found the patent drawings to the 2015 Escort and posted them online. I imported them into my drawing program for the purpose of building a paper model of it for my display. When I scaled the width (excluding mirrors) and height to match the current Ford Focus, then measured the wheelbase and length; it would appear with the added rear legroom that this car is Ford Fusion size; and not a compact car in size. Near as I can tell, these are the dimensions: Wheelbase: 115 inches Length: 192 inches Width: 71.8 inches Height: 58.4 inches. Of course I could be wrong; but that is what the drawings imply.

  • Kwik_Shift_Pro4X I would only buy with manual. Even if the auto is repaired, it will most likely fail again. Just a bad design.
  • Fed65767768 This is a good buy despite the mods, as unlike most Focii this old there's little rust.
  • Ashley My father had a '69 Malibu that I took cross-country with a lot of detour on the way back. It was OK, but nothing spectacular, and after I got back he had nothing but trouble with it until it finally died in 1974. I had a Malibu rental in 2003 and at one point parked it next to a restored '69 in a shopping center parking lot in Redding, CA. I imagine the two of them had lots to discuss while we were eating at the restaurant inside.
  • 2ACL My girlfriend currently drives a 2018 SE hatch. Automatic, but I've been handling the fluid services (looking to do another along with the filter soon) and it's been a solid runner for her. My only issue with its dynamics is the transmission's gingerly kick down out of corners (the SEL is the lowest trim that offers manual control functionality IIRC). Otherwise, none of the quirks that've blighted the Powershift's reputation have manifested.A stick would drastically extend its life expectancy. I know she isn't as committed to stick life though, which influenced my approval.
  • MaintenanceCosts GM hasn't put any effort into any Cadillacs except the Blackwings and the electrics. They're getting out what they put in. Pretty simple, really.The XT4/5/6 are all just slightly up-styled versions of Chevy products, but priced as if they were on dedicated luxury platforms like the BMW and Benz competitors to the larger two. The XT6 is especially embarrassing.Even the Escalade is just a Tahoe/Suburban with a few trick design touches and a halfhearted materials upgrade. The good news for Cadillac is that the Tahoe/Suburban are seen as upscale enough that a half-a$s upgrade to them can be a legitimate luxury car.Where's the "gotta have it" factor? Where are the dazzling interior designs? Where's the swagger? Until those show up the brand is just a set of memories.
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