Ford Escort Engine

The Ford Escort is a success story owing to its decades-long lifetime. It has undergone several modifications not just on its body and design but its engine and internal parts have also been constantly re-engineered and upgraded. When the front-wheel drive Ford Escort was first released in 1981, it was fitted with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, with independent suspension and rack-and-pinion steering. A four-speed manual transmission was standard, and a power-sapping three-speed automatic was optional. This foremost version of the Escort was not made for speed, the engine only managed 65 horsepower and was hounded by constant recalls because of manufacturing defects.

With earlier mistakes in mind, Ford improved upon the first Escort and released its 1982 sibling with improved performance as its foremost theme. The four-door hatchback 1982 Ford Escort model was equipped with gear ratios on the manual transmission, and horsepower was also raised to 70 hp. Even the tires were replaced with a better and diametrically larger set. The 1983 Escort managed to pull-up a large portion of the market lodging itself in the US best seller's list. And so Ford continued to improve upon its champion line, and the succeeding years saw continual innovations, modifications and upgradings. On its 10th year in the market, Ford released a completely redesigned Escort.

As though they turned their drawing boards upside down, the 1991 Ford Escort strutted to the showrooms with new sheet metal works, along with semi-flush glass. Sleeker and more aggressive than ever, the 1.9-liter inline four was polished for a smoother action. The Escort GT was given a substantial boost under the hood and now had a double overhead cam 16-valve 1.8-liter mill that kicked out 127 horsepower. The latest Ford Escort carries on the legacy of improvement as it boasts of an engine more powerful than ever. The 2003 Ford Escort is fitted with a 4-cyl engine teamed with manual or optional automatic transmission, and torque has significantly increased by 8 lb-ft to 135.