Higher profile for Escort van
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• Motor Panels (Wigan) is revising its high-roof conversion based on the Escort van — currently sold in the UK by Ford of Britain as a special vehicle option (SVO) — and is aiming to develop a new, more attractive conversion in a bid to improve the appeal of the highroof Escort.
The original high-roof Escort was launched in July 1987, but so far its sales have been lower than anticipated.
MPW, however, is updating the existing GRP roof extension which now includes integrated rain channels. It is also adding a colour-matched moulding over the seam where the front of the extension joins the existing Escort steel roof to give the van a more 'factorybuilt' look.
While the current revisions have been called for by Ford, MPW is planning to undertake its own major styling exercise which could result in the highroof Escort's shape being significantly changed.
According to Greg Mullins, MPW's general manager, among the ideas being examined is extending the highroof moulding forward to the front of the windscreen (it presently starts at the B posts) to give Luton-style head.
Alternatively, MPW may go for a smoother rising profile, similar to the roof line on the popular Bedford Astramax.
The current conversion's interior height of 1,036min will be retained on any new model.
As part of the second phase MPW is also likely to improve the styling on the high-roof Escort's full-height rear doors. The first prototype is expected to be revealed within the next six months, says Mullins.
If MPW's designs prove acceptable to Ford, the UK car and van builder could step up its marketing activities in the high-roof car-derived van sector against the likes of Bedford, Renault and Citroen.
The company's pricing policy, however, may have to be revised to make the high-roof Escort more competitive.
At present a high-roof 1.3litre petrol-engined Escort 55 van costs £6,362 ex-VAT, compared with the Astrarnax 560L van at £6,220, while the Renault Extra costs £4,995.
Alongside its Escort conversion work MPW builds a highroof Transit van which is also sold by Ford as an SVO. Mullins reports that MPW is hoping to extend its light commercial vehicle conversion business during the next two years and is currently talking with several manufacturers.