U Spy: Ford's New Escort Sedan Testing in Europe

Do you recall last year’s Ford Escort Concept from the Shanghai Motor Show? We knew that Ford was essentially previewing a production version for China’s lucrative, five million yearly sales-strong compact saloon segment, and now, Carscoops reader Marc Pirotte has just spotted the car on a truck bed in Europe.

The production prototype was well covered under a combination of foil wraps and black cladding, but you can still make out the Escort’s silhouette and especially the roof- and window-lines that look identical to the concept.

While Ford initially claimed that the new Escort, which revives the Focus predecessor’s nameplate, would be limited to China, later on, two company sources hinted at the availability in other markets.

In an interview with Autoexpress last year, Ford UK chairman and MD Mark Ovenden said that, “It’s a car initially for China, but it could work in other places”. Another senior Ford source, who was not named in the report, told the magazine: “I for one would love to see it over here [in Europe]. There is definitely a place in the market for a lower-cost car to sit under the Focus. The key would be doing it without being seen to make the Ford brand any less desirable.”

Sources from China have said that Ford will likely pull the wraps off the production Escort sedan at the 2014 Beijing Auto Show this April, when we should have more definitive answers about the Blue Oval’s plans.

By John Halas

A big thanks to Marc Pirotte for the spy shots!

PHOTO GALLERY

2013 FORD ESCORT CONCEPT