British engineering firm Boreham Motorworks has revealed its £300k Ford Escort RS 'continumod' in production form for the first time - and claimed it will be "one of the most focused lightweight performance cars of the modern era".
Unlike a conventional restomod, Boreham's super-light Escort is an entirely new creation, rather than being a modernised or re-engineered version of an existing classic car.
It's officially licensed by Ford and described as "the first brand-new road-going Ford Escort Mk1 in more than 50 years".
The RS was revealed initially in 2024 and has now been shown in full – with final specs – at the London Concours classic car show, ahead of Boreham beginning production in the coming months.
Pricing starts from £295,000 before options and taxes – so £354,000 in the UK – and just 150 examples will be built in total, in right- or left-hand drive.
Weighing just 895kg, the RS is available with a bespoke naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine that's said to combine motorsport learnings with "modern engineering precision" to deliver a "visceral, analogue driving experience".
Named Ten-K in reference to its screaming 10,000rpm redline (demonstrated in the below video), the 2.2-litre lump weighs just 85kg yet sends an impressive 326bhp and 155lb ft of torque through the five-speed dog leg manual gearbox to the rear axle.
Boreham has yet to release performance figures but, based on a power-to-weight ratio of nearly 300bhp per tonne, the RS should be well capable of keeping pace with most modern sports cars off the mark.
The RS will also be available with a reworking of the storied Twin Cam engine that powered the Escort to competition success and a powerplant derived from Ford’s current offerings.
The Twin Cam has been upsized from 1558cc to 1845cc and its twin Weber carburettors have been replaced by fuel injection. The changes net an extra 73bhp for 182bhp. This is sent to the rear wheels via the original four-speed gearbox, with straight-cut, close-ratio gears.
The RS is based on the two-door Escort RS bodies that were produced by Ford’s Advanced Vehicle Operations in Aveley, Essex, before it was shut in 1975. Boreham digitally recreated the shell and used computer simulations to re-engineer it for improved handling, adding extra bracing and widening the wheel arches.
