The Ford Escort 1.8 Diesel LX has been ranked highest by customers in the J.D. Power and Associates 1997 Indian Customer Satisfaction Study, and was voted the Best Quality Car in the J.D. Power India Initial Quality Study.
The Ford Escort has been sold to almost 18 million owners world-wide, and the current models available in the India, have been specially engineered for Indian conditions:
· New pistons to ensure that the engine performs more efficiently with Indian fuel
· Higher suspensions to take care of monsoon flooding
· Heavy-duty clutch brakes for stop-start driving in city traffic
· Revised transmission ratios to suit low gear driving
The Ford Escort is powered by a 1.8 litre, new-generation 8-valve diesel engine which gives a maximum power of 60 bHP @ 4800 rpm. Added fuel filters protect the engine, while a rear mounted starter motor and structural sump changes, substantially dampen noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). The suspensions are independent suspension with McPherson strut and anti-roll in the front and twist beam with McPherson strut in the rear. Disc and drum brakes in the front and rear respectively.
Safety
The Ford Escort has been designed on the principles of Dynamic Safety Engineering (DSE), which ensures that the car manages impact more efficiently, distributing loads more evenly through specific stress paths, and leaving the occupants protected. The safety features of the Escort are:
· Crumple zones
· Side impact beams
· Front seat-belts - height adjustable
· Rear seat-belts - Three-point outer and centre lap
· Childproof locks on the rear doors
· Laminated windscreens
· Intermittent wipers
Other features available on the Ford Escort Alpha are:
· Power steering
· Power windows - front and rear
· Central locking
· Remote boot release
· Stereo system - CD compatible
· Walnut-style finish dashboard
. Enhanced CFC-free air-conditioning
| Specifications | |
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4295 mm |
| Width | 1700 mm |
| Height | 1421 mm |
| Trunk Capacity | 490 Litres |
| Kerb Weight | 1160 Kg |
| Ground Clearance | 195 mm |
| Wheel Base | 2525 mm |
| Power | |
| Type | 1.8 Litre new generation - 8 valve Diesel Engine |
| Piston Displacement | 1753 cc |
| Max. Power | 60 bhp @ 4800 rpm |
| Max. Torque | 11.2 kg-m @ 2500 rpm |
| Gears | |
| 5 forward plus reverse | |
| Suspension | |
| Front | Ind. suspension with McPherson Strut & anti roll |
| Rear | Twist Beam with MacPherson Strut |
| Steering | |
| Type | Fixed ratio - rack & pinion |
| Turning Radius | 5 Mts. |
| Brakes | |
| Front | Disc |
| Rear | Drum |
| Tyres | |
| Tyres | 175 / 80R 13 |