Ford · 1992–1996

Ford Escort RS Cosworth

The Ford Escort RS Cosworth is a homologation special of the fifth generation European Ford Escort. It was designed to qualify as a Group A car for the World Rally Championship in which it competed between 1993 and 1998. It was available as a road car from 1992 until 1996. The powertrain was only fitted to this version of the Escort, a longitudinally mounted Cosworth YBT, a highly tunable turbocharged 2.0 L (1,993 cc) inline-four engine which had an output of 227 PS (167 kW; 224 bhp) in standard trim.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Ford Sierra RS Cosworth

All Ford Escort RS Cosworth data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Development

Ford developed the car around the chassis and mechanicals of the Sierra Cosworth, to accommodate the larger Cosworth engine and transmission, while clothing it in Escort body panels to make it resemble the standard Mk 5 Ford Escort, although the front doors and roof are the only bodyshell elements that are actually interchangeable. This accommodation was required as the floor pan of the regular Mk 5 Escort was designed for front-wheel-drive only initially (although a four-wheel drive version, the RS2000 4x4, was soon introduced). Designed under the guidance of Rod Mansfield and John Wheeler of Ford's SVO department, the styling was designed during 1989, a year before the standard Escort was launched, by Stephen Harper at MGA Developments in Coventry. The aerokit (front and rear spoilers) was designed by MGA with oversight by John Wheeler, whilst the ride and handling was overseen by John Bull and Mick Kelly. The body tooling was created by coachbuilders Karmann at their facility in Rheine, Germany, where the cars were manufactured. Changes were made to the engine management system and a new turbocharger was fitted. Permanent four-wheel drive with a 34/66% front/rear split came courtesy of an uprated five-speed gearbox as used in the Sierra Cosworth. Like its Sierra predecessor, they are commonly nicknamed "Cossies" by enthusiasts. In total 7,145 vehicles were produced from the start of production on 19 February 1992 until the last car rolled out of the factory on 12 January 1996. A small number were officially imported to the United States by a third party. The car's top speed was 150 mph (240 km/h), rivalling cars like the Audi Coupé S2, BMW M3, Nissan 300ZX, Toyota Supra and Porsche 968 and comfortably outperforming traditional "hot hatchbacks" like the Volkswagen Gol

Performance

The 2.0 L Cosworth YBT engine has a bore x stroke of 90.8 mm × 77 mm (3.57 in × 3.03 in). Maximum power officially from Ford was 227 PS (224 bhp; 167 kW) at 6,250 rpm and 304 N⋅m; 224 lbf⋅ft (31 kg⋅m) of torque at 3,500 rpm on 95 RON petrol and a max speed of 232 km/h (144 mph) (GPS) and 237 km/h (147 mph) without the big rear wing, while 0–100 km/h (62 mph) takes 5.7 sec. Standard boost from Garrett AiResearch T3/T04B turbocharger was 0.8 bar (12 psi) with 1.0-1.1 bar overboost. Tuning companies have achieved power outputs in excess of 1,000 bhp (746 kW; 1,014 PS). The car weight was 1,275 kg (2,811 lb) or 1,310 kg (2,890 lb) for the Lux edition. The Escort RS Cosworth was the first mass production car to produce downforce at the front and rear; 4.6 kg/45 Newtons at 180 km/h (110 mph) at the front with an adjustable front splitter in the middle position and 19.4 kg/190Newtons at the rear with the rear large wing.

Road variations

Three variations could be purchased; Motorsport Base, Standard and Lux (Luxury). Motorsport Base. The Motorsport Base enabled customers to purchase a basic road car and self-prep for rallying and were the first cars off the production line. All cars were Diamond White featuring grey polaris cloth hexagon pattern seats. Equipment such as; electric windows, electric mirrors, electric boot release, radio, sunroof, central locking, fog lamps, air conditioning, opening rear quarter windows, rear headrest, under seal and some sound deadening was omitted from the build. Additionally the body was strengthened in key areas (front and rear suspension mounts) along with the fuel pump access panel riveted, not welded in place. Motorsport versions include a 'Motorsport" stamped VIN plate. Kerb weight was 40 kg lower. The initial 2,500 homologation cars built with the non-functioning water injection kit are all Motorsport Base spec. Also offered was the 'Motorsport Shell 909' option which could be ordered though Ford Motorsport along with all Group A & N parts for customers who wanted to build a car from a base shell or required spares. These shells had brackets removed, strengthening plates installed, seam welded and had a roll cage fitted. Ford Motorsport produced 937 of these ready prepared shells. Standard & Lux. The Standard version was more civilised with additional options available that were unavailable on the Motorsport base; electric windows, sunshine roof, central locking, remote boot release, carpeted door bins. From 1994 the 'whale tail' spoiler could be deleted from the factory however it is unknown how many buyers chose this option. A drivers and passenger airbag became available from 1994 onwards. The Lux model offered further options not available on the Motorsport o

Motorsport

=== Rally === The rationale behind the Escort RS Cosworth's design was that it should win the World Rally Championship. It did not achieve that goal, but it did win eight events between 1993 and 1996 as a Group A car, and two more in World Rally Car guise in 1997, before being replaced by the Focus RS WRC. The Escort RS Cosworth was developed by the Ford Works Rally Team during late 1990, 1991 and 1992. Its first appearances, before homologation, were in the Spanish championship in late 1990, in the hands of José María Bardolet where it won its first competitive rally, Rally Talavera 1990 and on the 1992 Scottish Rally, where it was driven by Malcolm Wilson who was also the lead development driver. Wilson was not formally competing in the event, but his stage times were faster than those of the winner Colin McRae. During the latter part of the 1992 season, development of the Sierra Cosworth came to an end, and the works team drivers Francois Delecour and Miki Biasion concentrated on readying the Escort for competition. On the Escort's first outing at World Championship level, the 1993 Monte Carlo Rally, Delecour took the lead with Biasion second. The pair led the event until the final night, when a late charge by Didier Auriol, driving a Toyota Celica, saw him win, with the Fords second and third. Nevertheless, the new car had demonstrated its potential, which was underlined the following month when Malcolm Wilson, driving a car prepared by his own team, briefly led the Swedish Rally before retiring after an accident. The works team returned for the Portuguese Rally, Delecour led almost from the start and won the event with Biasion second, establishing both car and driver as serious contenders for that year's World Championship. Delecour won again in Corsica, and Biasi

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Ford Escort RS Cosworth
Manufacturer: Ford Europe
Production: February 1992 – January 1996, 7,145 produced
Assembly: Germany: Rheine (Karmann)
Designer: Steve Harper, John Wheeler
Class: Rally car, Hot hatch
Body style: 3-door hatchback
Related: Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
Layout: Longitudinal, Front-engine, four-wheel-drive
Engine: 1,993 cc Cosworth YBT turbo I4 (1992–1994), 1,993 cc Cosworth YBP turbo I4 (1994–1996)
Transmission: 5-speed Ferguson MT-75 manual
Wheelbase: 2552 mm
Length: 4211 mm
Width: 1738 mm
Height: 1405 mm
Kerb weight: 1275 - (Lux edition)
sp: uk
Predecessor: Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
Successor: Ford Focus RS

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2128310CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Escort_RS_CosworthCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1345889301 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ford_Escort_(group_A).jpgCC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Motoring Weapon R · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.