Escort RS2000 Mk5/6
An undervalued RS that’s a fabulous all-rounder and a top-notch investment? That’ll be the Mk5/6 Escort RS2000…
ENGINE
1998cc in-line fourcylinder, 16-valve, DOHC I4 with cast iron block and alloy head, 10.3:1 compression ratio, Ford EEC-IV electronic fuel injection and engine management, four-branch exhaust manifold
TRANSMISSION
Front-wheel drive with MTX75 five-speed manual gearbox or four-wheel drive with MTX75 fivespeed manual gearbox plus transfer box, viscous-coupling centre differential, viscouscoupling limited-slip rear differential, 34/66 front/ rear torque split
BRAKES
260mm ventilated front discs and 270mm solid rear discs (drums on 1996 2wd Mk6), Teves ABS
SUSPENSION
MacPherson struts, uprated coil springs and telescopic dampers and 16 mm anti-roll bar (front); torsion beam axle, uprated coil springs, trailing arms, telescopic dampers and 20mm antiroll bar (rear)
WHEELS & TYRES
6x15in five-spoke alloys
with 195/50VR15 tyres
INTERIOR
Raven Panache (Raven Acadian from Mk5A; Raven Flow from Mk6) interior with Recaro front seats and matching rear bench, three-spoke sports steering wheel. Options were air conditioning and audio upgrades.
EXTERIOR
Escort three-door hatchback body with colour-coded Ford RS bodykit comprising deep front bumper, side skirts, deep rear bumper and tailgate spoiler, bonnet bulges (deleted on Mk5A), colour-coded door mirrors, front driving lamps, tinted glass, heated windscreen (optional on some model years), electric front windows, opening rear quarter windows (1994 models only), tilting/ sliding glass sunroof. Colours included Diamond White, Radiant Red, Nouveau Red, Black, Ash Black, Cayman Blue, Pacifica Blue, Petrol Blue, Auralis Blue, Slate Blue, Levante Grey, Polaris Grey, Moondust Silver, Tourmallard Green, Dark Aubergine
The forgotten fast Ford. The unloved RS. The Escort that lived in the shadow of its turbocharged predecessor and namesake big brother.
Ford ads described the Mk5 RS2000 as a champ when it was launched in 1991, but it failed to capture hearts like the RS Turbo or RS Cosworth, never mind the original RS2000 of the 1970s.
Yet all the ingredients were there. Under the bonnet was a 150bhp, normally-aspirated, twolitre I4 engine – a strengthened, 16-valve version of the twin- cam, eight-valver found in Sierras and Granadas. It was mated to a tough five-speed gearbox named the MTX75.
Disc brakes on all corners, uprated springs and a rear anti-roll bar transformed the Escort’s handling from fuddy- duddy to friendly, but sadly the styling lacked inspiration. The Mk5’s plain-Jane panelwork was prettied-up with subtle touches, including bumper extensions, side skirts and rear spoiler; there was also a neat flush grille, bonnet bulges and five-spoke 15in alloys. Meanwhile, a pair of huggable Recaro front seats gave RS2000 occupants an impressive ride.
A facelift followed in October 1992, hampering the RS2000 with Ford’s corporate smiley-faced front and bulbous back lights, along with under-the-skin improvements. Talking of which, a 4x4 RS2000 followed in September 1993, adding a 34/66 front/rear-split fourwheel drive system to the Escort’s MTX75 gearbox. A new independent rear suspension and replacement fuel tank were fitted to make room for the grippy (yet power-sapping) transmission.
A final bodywork revision came in early 1995. Known as the Escort Mk6, it featured smoother nose treatment, different wheels, suspension alterations and plusher cockpit with modern dashboard and white instruments.
Despite its great all-round ability (the RS2000 was as agile through the corners as it was comfortable on longdistance cruises) and success in F2 rallying as the RS2000 Kit Car, it was barely missed when dropped during summer 1996. Today, too, it’s a bargain-priced Blue Oval that lives in the shadows of almost every other RS – making the MK5/6 RS2000 something of a fast Ford bargain.