On track and on stage

NHRA Pro Stock, 2003

In 2003, Scott Geoffrion drove Hurley Blakeney’s ZX2-bodied Pro Stock car, the first and only ZX2 in the class. Don Ness of Minneapolis built it, with engines by Bob Panella. The team switched to it from a Mustang after failing to qualify at Pomona and crashing at Phoenix, and the ZX2 debuted at the Gatornationals in Gainesville in March 2003. Confirmed One report has it qualifying fifth there. Reported

SCCA

• Solo (autocross): the 1998–2003 ZX2 is classed in Street Touring Sport (STS) in the 2020 National Solo rules. Reported
• Club racing: occasional autocross and club cars, including a 2002 car said to have run Showroom Stock C. Reported

We’ve found no World Challenge, rally or land-speed ZX2. (A claim that the ZX2 won the Safari Rally almost certainly confuses it with older Escorts.)

SEMA show cars

ZX2 Fusion, 1998

Ford showed the ZX2 Fusion at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, November 2–4, 1998. Ford’s release describes a 230-hp supercharged version of the 2.0 Zetec. It wore yellow-on-black paint, a chin spoiler, rocker and rear valance treatments and a Roush spoiler. Inside were deeply bolstered buckets, a short shifter, Roush pedals, a boost gauge and a Stillwater Designs audio system. Ford release Four months later the yellow S/R debuted, so the Fusion looks like its forerunner, but Ford never said so. Read the release.

The S/R, 1999

Ford Racing Technology and the Small Vehicle Center unveiled the S/R at SEMA’s second International Auto Salon at the Pomona Fairplex, March 26–28, 1999. The show car carried parts from B&M, Borla, Centerforce, Eibach, Energy Suspension, Goodyear, Roush and Tokico. Ford pitched it at the “compact performance market”, which Al Kammerer, Ford’s Small Vehicle Line Director, called “hot-rodding for the '90s”. Terry Crossett, Manager of Small Car Powertrain Development, credited the eight-company aftermarket coalition. The release promised 10% more power while still meeting California and federal emissions, the package in “limited quantities” through select dealers from summer 1999, and “additional racing-only components”. Ford release Read the release.

The production cars reportedly differed from the show car, without the Roush intake or Centerforce clutch and with scaled-back suspension. Disputed See the S/R specs.

2000 and later

At the third International Auto Salon, March 31–April 2, 2000, Ford unveiled the “Tooner” Focus, built with parts from 25 aftermarket companies. Mike Gearhart, Ford SVC’s race program manager, called the previous year’s ZX2 S/R “a successful niche vehicle”. Read the release. A forum post describes a 230-hp supercharged Roush ZX2 at SEMA 2000. That’s probably the 1998 Fusion, which had the same output. Ford’s SEMA 2001 lineup had no ZX2.

On screen

The Internet Movie Cars Database lists a 1998 Escort ZX2 in Laurel Canyon (2002, background) and Noise (2007, minor role). Reported We haven’t found the ZX2 in any video game.