and a smoother optional automatic with four speeds instead of the three on Neons and
Corollas.
Ford also balanced the new Escort's higher horsepower with another 17-lb.-ft. of
torque. The secret is a split intake manifold that includes four small separate ports
that route fuel and air into the cylinders faster at lower revs. Crankshaft
counterweights help balance out vibration as well.
While enthusiasts may prefer the faster-revving 16-valve engines offered in
Escort's competitors, the 8-valve Ford pulls powerfully and smoothly. This, too, is a
big improvement over the previous standard engine, which had to work hard to keep up
with traffic, especially in automatic editions.
Fuel economy estimates hadn't been finalized at press time, but we expct them to
be at least as good as the previous Escort, which was rated at 26 mpg city, 31 highway
by the EPA.
Stiffer structure augmented by one-piece body-side stampings and layers of sound
deadening also mean you'll hear less engine noise and less of everything else from
inside.
Complaints: Despite new grade logic programming for the automatic transmission, it still hunts a bit in hilly country. On some surfaces, a little tire whir also sneaks
through to the cabin. But we think the Escort's responsive shifts and friendly road
manners are worth it. Next Page