Austria's Michael Madler and Germany's Michael Schauderna race their Ford Escort Mark 1 through a spectator's section during the fourth day of the Kenya Airways East African Safari Rally in Nairobi, November 24, 2013. The nine-day event, which is expected to cover a distance of 3,823 km (2,375 miles) in both Tanzania and Kenya, comes to an end coming Friday in the coastal town of Mombasa in Kenya. REUTERS/Noor Khamis (KENYA - Tags: SPORT MOTORSPORT) 

Kenyan rally driver Carl Tundo sits on the bonnet of the Ford Escort Mark 2 after a mechanical problem, on in the fourth day of the Kenya Airways East African Safari Rally in Nairobi, November 24, 2013. The nine-day event, which is expected to cover a distance of 3,823 km (2,375 miles) in both Tanzania and Kenya, comes to an end coming Friday in the coastal town of Mombasa in Kenya. REUTERS/Noor Khamis (KENYA - Tags: SPORT MOTORSPORT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) 

President of Ford Europe John Fleming (R) is escorted by Ford Otosan General Manager Nuri Otay during a ceremony at the Ford Otosan Ihsaniye car plant near the western Turkish city of Kocaeli, April 30, 2010, to mark the production of the six millionth vehicle over 45 years since it was launched. Ford Otosan is the joint venture of Turkey's leading carmaker Koc Group and Ford Motor Company. REUTERS/Murad Sezer (TURKEY - Tags: TRANSPORT BUSINESS) 

A police car escorts a truck near the Ford factory in Almussafes near Valencia during the fourth day of a nationwide truck driver strike, June 12, 2008. Spain promised "zero tolerance" for violence by striking truckers after police cleared picket lines blocking highways during a fuel protest. The government said deliveries of food and other goods were returning to normal on Thursday after an agreement with most of the strikers on Wednesday although food distribution centres reported shortages and car factories remained at a standstill. REUTERS/Heino Kalis (SPAIN) 

Jack Ford (R) and General Guy Swan (L) help former U.S. first lady Betty Ford into her car as they leave the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan, January 2, 2007. Ford's body will lie in repose overnight in the museum. REUTERS/Frank Polich (UNITED STATES) 

Stig Blomqvist from Sweden and Ana Goni of Venezuela drive their Ford Escort RS during East African Safari classic rally near Nairobi during the third day of the competition December 4, 2005. Blomqvist is one of the favourites from about 48 crews representing 17 nations participating at the classic car rally, which covers a marathon 4,200 kilometres (2,610 miles) over nine days. REUTERS/Radu Sigheti 

Britain's Iain Freestone and Rod MacLean drive their Ford Escort RS during the third day of the East African Safari classic rally near Nairobi December 4, 2005. About 48 crews representing 17 nations are participating in the classic car rally which cover a marathon 4,200 km (2,610 miles) over nine days. REUTERS/Radu Sigheti 

South African police watch bags full of dagga (drugs) before burning them at Winterton in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa May 7, 2004. South African police on Friday destroyed 20 tons of dagga and 2 tons of dried dagga seeds worth more than 100 millions rands ($14,224.751 million) during their swoop operation along Drakensberg areas. REUTERS/Juda Ngwenya jn/CRB 

A South African police officer carries a container full of dagga (drugs) at Winterton in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa May 7, 2004. South African police destroyed 20 tons of dagga and 2 tons of dried dagga seeds worth more than 100 millions rands ($14,224.751 million ) during their swoop operation along Drakensberg areas. REUTERS/Juda Ngwenya jn/CRB 

A spectator cheers the legendary French rally ace Michelle Mouton - the first woman winner of a World Championship rally in 1981 at San Remo - and co-driver Ana Goni of Venezuela as they drive a Ford Escort on a rough road in Kenya's Ulu region December 17, 2003 during the 8th day of the East African Safari Rally. 53 vintage cars from 16 nations, all built before the seventies are participating in the 50th anniversary of the rally. REUTERS/Radu Sigheti RS/CRB 

A 2004 Ford Focus (front, R) escorts a 2005 Focus prototype (back, L)
down the "Customer Acceptance Line" at Ford Motor Company's Wayne
Assembly Plant December 4, 2003 after Ford unveiled the 2005 Focus in
Wayne, Michigan. Ford said it would spend $240 million to consolidate
North American production of its Ford Focus car in Michigan,
transferring work from a Mexican plant. The $240 million will be spent
over the next four years, as Ford adds on to its Wayne, Michigan, plant
that already builds Focus sedans and wagons in order to build the Focus
hatchbacks currently assembled in Hermosillo. After a rough launch in
1999, Ford has recently begun touting the compact Focus again, saying
its quality problems have been fixed, as evidenced by Consumer Reports
giving the Focus a "recommended" rating this year. 

UNDATED FILE PHOTOS - A 1968 Mark 1 Ford Escort (top) contrasts with its sportier latter day version, the 1994 Ford Escort Cosworth. The last Ford Escort rolled off the production lines July 21 as Ford bid farewell to the car synonymous with part of everyday British life. Since its launch in 1968, Ford has produced a total of 5,202,412 Escorts. 

A 30-year-old Ford escort rally car is driven off the front of a giant heavy-lift Antonov cargo plane at sunset June 17 in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand as the annual London to Sydney Marathon car rally lands in Thailand from Ankara, Turkey. Over 100 competitors, driving a motely range of classic cars ranging from 1960's era Mercedes Benz saloons to Russian Skodas, are taking part in the one-month-long, 16,000 mile journey which will end in the Olympic city of Sydney on July 4. BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE

JIR/DL 

A man reacts as he looks at a Ford Escort car damaged in what Yugoslavia's official news agency Tanjug said was a NATO attack in Pristina April 12, where three persons were killed and one seriously wounded. Throughout the night NATO hit what it said were military-related industrial targets including an oil refinery, the country's only car plant and factories in central Serbia.

PEK/CLH/ 

Finland's Juha Kankkunen takes a curve in his Ford Escort during the 18th Argentine Rally in the mountainous province of Cordoba May 23. Finland's Tommi Makkinen won the race and Kankkunen placed third.

EM/SV/WS 

Finland's Juha Kankkunen takes a curve in his Ford Escort in the18th Argentine Rally on gravel roads, in the mountainous Argentine province of Cordoba May 22. After 13 stages, Briton Colin McRay is leading the race.

EM/SAV/AA 

The Ford Focus is shown at the press preview of the Geneva Car Show March 3. The Focus is the follow-up to Ford's most successful model, the Escort, which has sold around 20 million cars worldwide. The Ford Focus is powered by four different engines including a 1,6 litre petrol engine and a 1,8 diesel. It also features computerised anti-lock braking, a hands-free telephone and a satellite navigator. 

The Ford Focus is shown at the press preview of the Geneva Car Show March 3. The Focus is the follow-up to Ford's most successful model, the Escort, which has sold around 20 million cars worldwide. The Ford Focus is powered by four different engines including a 1,6 litre petrol engine and a 1,8 diesel. It also features computerised anti-lock braking, a hands-free telephone and a satellite navigator.

SWITZERLAND 

A Ford car worker puts the finishing touches to an Escort car at the Halewood car plant on Merseyside February 2. Prime Minister Tony Blair announced on Monday government support for the production of a new Jaguar saloon car at Halewood.

BRITAIN 

Spain's Carlos Sainz flies his Ford Escort over the jumps at the Millbrook Testing Centre on the first day of the British RAC Rally November 23. Tomorrow the cars compete in the woodlands of Wales.

SPORT RALLY 

Finland's Juha Kankkunen flies his Ford Escort over the jumps at the Millbrook Testing Centre on the first day of the British RAC Rally November 23. Tomorrow the cars compete in the woodlands of Wales.

SPORT RALLY 

Spain's Carlos Sainz flies his Ford Escort over the jumps at the Millbrook Testing Centre on the first day of the British RAC Rally November 23. Tomorrow the cars compete in the woodlands of Wales.

SPORT RALLY 

Finnish driver Juha Kankkunen takes a sharp turn in his Ford Escort WRC during the Dilofo special stage in the second leg of the 44th Acropolis rally June 9. Kanukkunen leads after the 12th special stage in the second day of the Acropolis rally for the world rally championship. 

Spaniard Carlos Sainz drives his Ford Escort past the Cordoba Cathedral, at the start of the XVII Argentine Motor Rally on May 22. Sainz was leading at the end of the second stage, despite landing heavily off a jump, but then damaged his car going through water which cost him vital time.

SPORT RALLY 

French driver Francois Delecour took a joint first place with Spaniard Carlos-Sainz in the second day of the Tour of Corsica rally May 6. -Sainz in a massive four-wheel drive Ford-Escort, and Delecour, in a lightweight, two-wheel drive Peugeot 306, had exactly the same time after the day's six timed stages in changing conditions with occasional downpours. 

Spanish driver Carlos Sainz smiles as he took a joint first place with Frenchman Francois-Delecour in the second day of the Tour of Corsica rally May 6. Sainz in a massive four-wheel drive Ford Escort, and Delecour, in a lightweight, two-wheel drive Peugeot-306, had exactly the same time after the day's six timed stages in changing conditions with occasional downpours. 

Armin Schwarz of Germany in action with his Ford Escort during the 3rd special stage Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid / Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid at the 65th Rallye of Monte-Carlo, January 20. Schwarz is in sixth place after three timed stages. 

Spain's Carlos Sainz drives a Ford Escort on the 10th lap February 10, during the world championship-opening Swedish rally. Sainz is in second place after the second day of the rally 

Ford Motor Co. introduced the 1997 Ford Escort during a press briefing January 3 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit's Cobo Center 

Rescue workers and spectators look over the body of a woman fatally struck by a car at a Finnish motor rally in Jyvaskyla, August 26. The woman was killed after being struck by a Ford Escort driven by Belgian Bruno Thiry, during an early morning stage of the Thousand Lakes Rally in central Finland.
**POOR QUALITY DOCUMENT 

Ross H. Roberts (L), Vice President-General Manager of Ford, and Ron Roberts, a San Diego County supervisor and California Air Resources Board member, look over the engine compartment of the 1997 Ford Escort, which has been certified as a gasoline-powered, low emmission vehicle January 4 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The car will emit two thirds fewer smog-forming hydrocarbons than California's 1996 emmissions requirements 

Workmen ease the new Ford Escort Ghia into an alley as preparation continues for the World Car Show, October 3rd 

Francois Delecour of France in his Ford Escort 4x4 to win La Louvesc special stage of the 61st Monte Carlo Rally and take the first place of the overall standing,January 24