Background: Totally redesigned 1997 Escort sedans and station wagons started hitting dealerships in the fall of 1996. In April of this year, Ford unveiled an all-new, redesigned 1998 two-door Escort which it's calling the ZX2. The styling and marketing for the sporty, two-door Escort is significantly different than the four-door, more conservatively-designed sedans and wagons. Ford is aiming for a much younger audience with the two-door, front-wheel drive ZX2. One reason Ford chose the ZX2 badge, which has no significance as far as engine or body specifics, but sounds intriguing; was to create a secondary image while maintaining the well-established Escort name. It's assembled in Hermosillo, Mexico.
Trim Levels: The ZX2 comes in a entry-level "cool" edition, or a more luxurious "hot" offering. Hot editions include fog lamps, spoiler and larger, 15-inch tires.
Standard equipment: The four-seat, compact ZX2 is sold with a limited number of standard features and several preferred package options. Five-speed manual transmission, rack and pinion steering, power steering, AM/FM radio, tinted glass digital clock, intermittent wipers and door pockets are standard in both cool and hot editions.
Optional equipment: Four-speed automatic transmission ($815), air conditioning ($795), aluminum wheels, six-disc compact disc changer and power moonroof ($595) are all optional. Other popular features such as dual power mirrors, power windows and door locks, rear window defogger, power windows, cruise control and tilt steering column can be ordered through preferred equipment packages.
Price: Cool ZX2s start at $12,580 while hot packages begin at $13,145. We had the opportunity to test both a hot and cool ZX2. The bottom line of our cool ZX2 with automatic transmission, air conditioning, rear window defogger, power door locks, remote entry and power door locks and mirrors totalled $15,975. The manual- transmissioned hot ZX2 bottom's line was $15,755 with most of the same options. Both figures include a $415 destination charge.
Safety features: Dual air bags and 10-minute battery saver (which turns off interior lights after 10 minutes if inadvertently left on, preventing battery drain) are standard. Anti-lock brakes are a $570 optional while traction control is not offered. Integrated child safety seats are also optional. Keyless remote entry is part of a preferred equipment option package.
Interior: Headlights operate from the turn signal stalk while windshield wipers are found on a separate right-hand side stalk. The dashboard design is all new with the cassette-stereo, digital clock and three climate control dials found in an oval-shaped center pod. It's the same design found in Ford's larger Taurus and Mercury Sable sedans. Drivers have good visibility in all directions. Dual-molded dual cup holders are positioned in front of the transmission shifter. The emergency brake is found between the front bucket seats. Speaker grilles are mounted on the doors. Seating comfort: Ford redesigned ZX2's seats for 1998. The driver's seat has a memory recline device that automatically returns the seat to the original position after it's tilted for rear access. Rear seat legroom is only a quarter-inch less than its sedan counterpart. Back seat riders benefit from rear ventilation ducts and rear cupholder. Leg rom is good in back, headroom is not. The standard 60/40 split-fold rear seat allows large or long items to be carried while leaving room for a rear-seat passenger.
Trunk: The 11.8-cubic foot trunk benefits from a trunk lid equipped with gas shocks, rather than gooseneck hinges. A temporary spare stores under a flat floorboard top.
Engine: The ZX2's fuel-injected engine delivers 20 more horsepower than its sedan and wagon counterpart. The four-cylinder, 2.0-liter 16-valve double overhead cam Zetec engine cranks 130 horsepower at 5,750 revolutions per minute. The engine, featuring electronic fuel injection, weighs 251 pounds. A similar engine powers Ford's mid-size Contour.
Exterior: Even though the ZX2 shares the same wheelbase length as the sedan and wagon, the two-door Escort is a one-half inch longer and a half-inch wider than as the four-door Escort. The jewel-shaped headlights, reminiscent of designs found on much more expensive autos, adds a classic touch. Rear taillamps wrap around the corners while the non-retracting radio antenna is found on the right rear quarter panel. Fourteen-inch wheels are standard in the "cool base edition while bigger, better-griping 15-inch tires are part of the "hot" package. By mounting wheels at the outer corners of the chassis, ZX2 creates an assertive stance. The sloping hood and large raked windshield also contribute to the bold look.
Dimensions: Wheelbase: 98.4 inches Length: 175.2 inches Width: 67.4 inches Height: 52.3 inches Front leg room: 42.5 inches Front head room: 38 inches Weight: 2,504 pounds
Fuel economy: Fuel estimates check in at 23 miles city, and 32 miles highway for ZX2s with automatic transmission, and 24 miles city and 33 miles highway for manual-transmissioned ZX2s. Our automatic transmissioned ZX2 averaged 24 miles in combined driving, while the manual ZX2 checked in at 29 mpg in combined riding. The tank holds 12.8 gallons of unleaded fuel.
Target market: The ZX2 is targeted at young buyers who are more likely than sedan buyers to be single. The median age of ZX2 buyers is approximately 32 compared with 39 for sedan buyers. Median income is about $42,000, an increase of $9,000 over sedan customers. About 40 percent will be first-time buyers and 38 percent will have college degrees. Ford expects more than half of ZX2 buyers (approximately 60 percent) will be women.
Final thoughts: The look and marketing approach for Escort ZX2 is very different than that of its more conservative sedan and wagon counterparts. The suspension is tuned more to a sporty feel with a more rigid body structure than earlier-era Escorts. The ZX2 maneuvers responsively without a rough ride. After driving both a manual and automatic-transmissioned ZX2, it's easy to see that the five-speed manual transmission responds better than the four-speed automatic when married to the 130-horsepower engine. Both of the decently-equipped ZX2s we test drove exceeded $15,000, which may detour some cash-sensitive buyers from looking at this fun-to-drive compact coupe. |