Description
Ford tried to distinguish its Escort body versions with different nameplates, such as the Orion for the four-door sedan and the Clipper for the station wagon.
The last generation of the Escort was available in all body shapes for the compact market. While the three-door version was the most thought-after by the young customers, the station-wagon was preferred by those who needed more trunk space for a stroller and other toddler-related items. Nevertheless, it offered a great deal of value for the money.
The Escort Clipper came on the market at a time when the old, boxy-design of the '80s started to be replaced with rounded shapes of the '90s. Its carmaker tried and succeeded in combining the two trends. A grille with sharp horizontal slats accompanied its rounded headlights. The rest of the body panels were curved. Even the tailgate was rounded, making the station wagon look like a hatchback with a longer rear end, unlike its hatchback sibling, which featured a two-and-a-half body design.
The interior featured bucket seats at the front and a folding bench in the rear. Ford installed the tachometer on the dashboard as an option for specific models and as standard for higher trim levels and more powerful engines. Like its five-door sibling, the Clipper featured a split-folding rear seat bench that allowed the owner to expand the trunk area.
Ford installed a wide range of engines, starting with a fuel-efficient, 60 hp turbodiesel unit. At the other end of the scale, the engineers introduced a 1.8-liter, fuel-injected four-mill that produced 105 hp. All versions were paired to a 5-speed gearbox.
