THE Ford Escort RS Cosworth, the fastest and most technically sophisticated car Ford Escort ever made, has arrived in Hongkong. A road-going version of the car with which Ford will contest the World Rally Championship, the Escort RS Cosworth is said to be capable of more than 220 km/h and able to reach 95 km/h from a standing start in under six seconds. It features four-wheel drive, a specially developed version of the Sierra Cosworth's turbo-charged 16-value 2.0 litre engine and sophisticated aerodynamics which provide down-force at both the front and rear of the car. The powerful and well-proven Cosworth 2.0 litre turbo-charged engine has been significantly revised for the Escort RS Cosworth. It features a larger Garret T3/TO4B turbocharger with a two-stage water/air and air/air inter-cooler, with an electronically regulated ''over-boost'' facility. Conceived by Ford Motorsport and developed by the company's Special Vehicle Engineering (SVE) group, it was tested on the road, on test tracks and on the fam ous Nurburing race circuit. Additional input was provided by Ford racing stars such as former world champion Jackie Stewart, ex-saloon car champion Sir John Whitmore and rally champions Malcolm Wilson, Jimmy McRae and Gwyndaf Evans. The Escort RS Cosworth has been brought to fruition in record time. The programme was approved in January 1990 and the pre-production cars appeared this January. Projected production volume is 5,000 units a year. One is yours for $450,000.
