2028 Escort RS (render)

[Sherminator98]

https://www.hotcars.com/2028-ford-hot-hatch-render/

 

interesting

[rmc523]

#notgoingtohappen

 

especially a 2 (3) door.

[DeluxeStang]

I agree it wouldn't happen as a 2 door. But stretch it slightly and give it a hidden series of rear doors and it would look awesome. When I mention how Ford should make a cool hatchback instead of a blob on wheels should they ever return to the segment, this is the sort of thing I'm talking about. 

[BoomerSooner]

The thing I most disliked about my old Focus ST was that the silhouette was marred by it being a 4-door.  Let's get real: no one wanted in the backseat of a Focus ST.  But, this car looks great as a 2-door hatch!

[akirby]

5 minutes ago, BoomerSooner said:

The thing I most disliked about my old Focus ST was that the silhouette was marred by it being a 4-door.  Let's get real: no one wanted in the backseat of a Focus ST.  But, this car looks great as a 2-door hatch!

And repealing CAFE might make a 2 door possible if the demand is there.

[The Handler]

That actually looks pretty good. 

[DeluxeStang]

2 hours ago, akirby said:

And repealing CAFE might make a 2 door possible if the demand is there.

Don't give me hope like this 😆. I don't see there being much of a market for most 2 door products these days beyond mustang and maybe bronco, but maybe Ford could be bringing back more options, who knows. 

 

If they brought out a 2 door escort, I'd be throwing money at them. Might even buy it before I bought a mustang at a later point. 

[rmc523]

On 10/2/2026 at 5:13 PM, BoomerSooner said:

The thing I most disliked about my old Focus ST was that the silhouette was marred by it being a 4-door.  Let's get real: no one wanted in the backseat of a Focus ST.  But, this car looks great as a 2-door hatch!

 

The market would disagree with you, as sales for 2 doors don't do well.

 

On 10/2/2026 at 5:19 PM, akirby said:

And repealing CAFE might make a 2 door possible if the demand is there.

 

Eh.....I don't think sales depth is there with people looking for swiss army knife vehicles for what they pay nowadays.

[akirby]

5 hours ago, rmc523 said:

 

The market would disagree with you, as sales for 2 doors don't do well.

 

 

Eh.....I don't think sales depth is there with people looking for swiss army knife vehicles for what they pay nowadays.

I'm talking about small volume high performance versions - like a new Focus RS but tied to WRC.

[rmc523]

17 hours ago, akirby said:

I'm talking about small volume high performance versions - like a new Focus RS but tied to WRC.

 

Except they're not making one of those (a 2/3 door performance model) without a volume version......

[akirby]

1 hour ago, rmc523 said:

 

Except they're not making one of those (a 2/3 door performance model) without a volume version......

The volume comes from Europe.  And mustang hasn't had a volume version in over a decade.

[rmc523]

19 minutes ago, akirby said:

The volume comes from Europe.  And mustang hasn't had a volume version in over a decade.

 

Huh?  What does this even mean?

 

Ford doesn't sell only a GT500 (well, Dark Horse SC....hate that name).  The 4-cyl version (and GT to a lesser extent) ARE the "volume" versions.......

 

 

Ford will not make a 2/3 door hatch in only an RS version.  Only way an RS version happens is if there's a "regular" model/trims to go with it.  And 2/3 door versions of just about anything aren't doing the best.  Even in Europe, I question the volume proposition for such a product.

[akirby]

I'm saying that whatever they do in Europe for this WRC car could be exported here as a low volume high performance model.  If they decide to make a 2 door in Europe then new CAFE rules would allow it to be sold here without the big penalties of the past.  As for whether they make a 2 door the only reason is if it works better for WRC.  They made 3 and 5 door focus and fiesta for decades.

 

And I don't consider 50K mustangs a year high volume.  And they do export the high performance mustangs to Europe and elsewhere.

[rmc523]

2 hours ago, akirby said:

I'm saying that whatever they do in Europe for this WRC car could be exported here as a low volume high performance model.  If they decide to make a 2 door in Europe then new CAFE rules would allow it to be sold here without the big penalties of the past.  As for whether they make a 2 door the only reason is if it works better for WRC.  They made 3 and 5 door focus and fiesta for decades.

 

And I don't consider 50K mustangs a year high volume.  And they do export the high performance mustangs to Europe and elsewhere.

 

I see.....I can understand if they made it there, shipping it here.  But I still don't think they'd do a one-off 2/3 door performance model if they don't make a 2/3 door volume regular trim model.

 

I didn't say "high" volume.  I said those performance versions of Mustang literally wouldn't exist if it weren't for the volume regular models.  They're not making a GT500 only Mustang.

 

 

Let's use Bronco as an example.

 

Let's pretend they revived it with ONLY the 4-door model.....they didn't bring the 2 door back.  I find it highly unlikely they would then one day decide to produce a Raptor-only 2 door model (no Big Bend, Badlands, etc versions) if they hadn't built the 2-door model to begin with.  But if they have a 2-door model in the lineup (Big Bend, Badlands, etc), a 2-door Raptor is more realistic to create (and even then the math didn't work out because they haven't offered one).

[akirby]

I hear what you're saying but you're ignoring one thing - WRC.  If they're serious about competing then a 2 door *might* be necessary in which case volume doesn't matter.

[DeluxeStang]

25 minutes ago, akirby said:

I hear what you're saying but you're ignoring one thing - WRC.  If they're serious about competing then a 2 door *might* be necessary in which case volume doesn't matter.

You're saying to have a shorter wheelbase with better agility in tighter corners? 

[DeluxeStang]

A wrc hatchback in 2/4 door form could give Ford an in when it comes to offering a smaller, lighter, maybe more affordable sporty model to appeal to enthusiasts beyond the mustang. 

 

Such of model could really resonate with European enthusiasts. I don't know if it would have legs in the N. American market, but I'd buy one of the price was right. 

[rmc523]

10 hours ago, akirby said:

I hear what you're saying but you're ignoring one thing - WRC.  If they're serious about competing then a 2 door *might* be necessary in which case volume doesn't matter.

 

Are those entrants required to be based on a production model though?  Like do they have to take a production model and modify it?  I don't know enough about it.

[rmc523]

10 hours ago, DeluxeStang said:

A wrc hatchback in 2/4 door form could give Ford an in when it comes to offering a smaller, lighter, maybe more affordable sporty model to appeal to enthusiasts beyond the mustang. 

 

Such of model could really resonate with European enthusiasts. I don't know if it would have legs in the N. American market, but I'd buy one of the price was right. 

 

I'd see them slotting in between Focus ST and RS pricing...if lucky.

Edited 8 hours ago by rmc523

[akirby]

4 hours ago, rmc523 said:

 

Are those entrants required to be based on a production model though?  Like do they have to take a production model and modify it?  I don't know enough about it.

I think there are different classes but not sure either.

[rmc523]

14 minutes ago, akirby said:

I think there are different classes but not sure either.

 

Nascar is an example.......sure a "Fusion" is on the track, but it's stickers.....

 

 

I found this....

 

https://www.carscoops.com/2025/12/fias-neutered-2027-wrc-cars-look-ready-for-a-gta-heist/

 

The World Rally Championship is heading into uncharted territory for 2027, with a sweeping rules overhaul that will redefine what Rally1 cars look like and how they perform. Expect them to be less expensive, less powerful, and visually pared back when it comes to aerodynamics.

Three early design studies have been released to preview the shift, and it’s clear the FIA’s designers drew inspiration from road-going models like the Audi RS3, Subaru WRX, and Porsche Macan EV. The resulting mashups look like they could have rolled straight out of a Gran Theft Auto garage.

In a break from tradition, the regulations no longer require that Rally1 entries be based on production models. Instead, they define a reference volume that sets the limits for external body panels. This opens up much greater creative freedom for manufacturers to experiment with proportions and styling.

 

These were the examples shown: