Performance Review: Ford Escort RS Cosworth - [1992]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Ford Escort Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Ford Escort RS Cosworth is the 5 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 1992. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1993 Jaguar XJ 220 S 3.5 V6 Turbo and the 1992 Bugatti EB110 SuperSport.This particular Ford Escort has a 1993cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The Escort shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Escort's All Wheel Drive, Hatchback combination then how about the or the .

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1307 kgs (2881 lbs) this makes the Ford Escort RS Cosworth in the same weight category as the 2019 Renault Megane RS 1.8 Turbo 300 Trophy-R or the give or take 50kg.

The Ford Escort shares the same bhp with the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (228 bhp)

In terms of power the 1993cc 16V St4 engine produces 227 bhp (169 kW) @ 6250 rpm similar to the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (228 bhp) or the 2020 Audi TT S Turbo 50 TFSI (225 bhp).

The Turbo St4 throws out 224 lb-ft (303.7 Nm) @ 3500 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (236 lb-ft) or the 2020 McLaren Sabre 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo (206 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Ford Escort you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2012 Audi A3 S3 2.0 Turbo S-Tronic (198.6 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Ford Escort.

The Ford Escort has a Power to weight ratio of 173.6 bhp per ton and 171.3 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1992 Escort competing with the 2012 Audi A3 S3 2.0 Turbo S-Tronic (198.6 bhp per ton) or the 1989 Lotus Esprit S3 Turbo SE (198.6 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Ford Escort generating around 171.3 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1988 Aston-Martin Volante 5.3L V8 (196.3 lb-ft per ton) or the 2011 BMW 3 Series M3 CRT E90 (196.3 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 5.80 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 6.0 secs, this made the Ford Escort RS Cosworth as fast as the 2021 KIA K5 GT 2.5 Turbo (5.80 secs) the 2020 Toyota Camry TRD 3.5 V6 (5.80 secs) the 2017 Seat Leon ST Cupra 300 DSG (5.80 secs) the or the 2017 Renault Megane RS 1.8 Turbo 280 (5.80 secs). This Ford Escort RS Cosworth is also faster than the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.3 EcoBoost Automatic Wagon (5.90 secs) the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.3 EcoBoost Automatic (5.90 secs) the 2017 Hyundai i30 N Performance 2.0 Turbo (5.90 secs) the and the 2015 Seat Leon ST Cupra 280 (5.90 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Escort and the 2003 Nissan 350Z 300 GT Coupe

When talking about the performance of the Ford Escort on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 14.15 secs @ 96.7 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2003 Nissan 350Z 300 GT Coupe (14.08 secs), the 2003 Mercedes CLK 55 AMG Cabriolet (14.08 secs), and the 2011 Ford Focus 2.0 ST-3 (14.09 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1992 version of the Ford Escort RS Cosworth has a maximum speed of 137mph.

Top Speed of the 1992 Escort equals the 2016 Mini Cooper Clubman John Cooper Works 2.0 Turbo Auto (148 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1992 Ford Escort RS Cosworth then how about the 2016 Mini Cooper Clubman John Cooper Works 2.0 Turbo Auto (148 mph), the 2016 Mini Cooper Clubman John Cooper Woks 2.0 Turbo (148 mph), or the 2012 Jaguar XJ V6 (148 mph).

Related Links:

1992 Escort Rivals List.

A Brief History of Ford

Car Comparison