Escort 1.8 turbo
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• Ford will offer a turbocharged version of the Escort 1.8 diesel van from October. Developed from the turbodiesel version of the engine used in the Monde° and Escort car ranges. The low-pressure turbo engine will produce around 70hp11hp more than the naturally aspirated engine and 20hp less than the Mondeo/Escort turbodiesel. This will give the Escort van slightly less power than the similar 1.8-litre turbodiesel fitted to the defunct P100 pickup which produced 74hp.
According to Ford, the turbo move was originally to comply with emissions regulations but the company believes that the additional power will be welcomed by operators at maximum GVW. Torque is improved significantly, an increase of more than 30% seems likely.
The turbo will be offered as a special option—the price has yet to be announced. Ford has not discounted a Courier turbodiesel when the new model is launched next year.
U The Royal Mail will run trials of two electric Ecostar vans over the next 30 months. The Escort van-based Ecostar will be used on regular mail duties in Oxford. The van has a 100mile range between recharges and a maximum speed of 70mph.