--- title: "Ford ZX2 racing, SEMA show cars and the ZX2 Fusion concept" description: "The Ford ZX2 in NHRA Pro Stock, SCCA autocross and club racing, SEMA show cars, and film appearances." url: https://zx2ms.com/wiki/motorsport reviewed: 2026-10-30 --- # On track and on stage > Grassroots Motorsports called the ZX2 "never a notable race car", and that's fair. But a ZX2 body did run in NHRA Pro Stock, two SEMA show cars led directly to the S/R, and an SVT version got as far as prototype testing. Confidence tags: [Confirmed] means two or more sources agree, [Reported] means one source or owner report, [Disputed] means sources conflict. Ford's own literature is treated as a primary source. ## 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](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/brochures/1998-ford-sema-concept-cars-release.pdf). ![Front three-quarter view of the black Roush ZX2 Fusion with its yellow side graphic and multi-spoke alloy wheels](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/photos/fusion/fusion-front-800.jpg) *The Fusion in black with its yellow side graphic* ![Rear three-quarter view of the ZX2 Fusion showing the rear spoiler, valance and Roush windshield banner](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/photos/fusion/fusion-rear-800.jpg) *Rear spoiler and valance* ![ZX2 Fusion with the hood open, showing the yellow powder-coated supercharger and intake](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/photos/fusion/fusion-hood-open-800.jpg) *Hood up: the powder-coated intake shows from across the room* ![Engine bay of the ZX2 Fusion: Roush valve cover, yellow Eaton supercharger, intercooler piping and strut tower brace](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/photos/fusion/fusion-engine-800.jpg) *Roush valve cover, Eaton supercharger and strut tower brace* ![ZX2 Fusion interior with yellow-faced gauges, yellow and black seats and a short shifter](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/photos/fusion/fusion-interior-800.jpg) *Yellow gauge faces and the B&M shifter* ![Yellow and black FloFit front seat in the ZX2 Fusion, with matching rear seat insert](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/photos/fusion/fusion-seats-800.jpg) *FloFit seats with matching rear inserts* The Fusion photographed in 2017. Photos: ZX2 Motorsports collection. #### How it was built A period magazine drive of the car, probably in Road & Track, fills in the details. [Magazine test] Ford engineers built the Fusion with Roush Racing, starting from a '99 Escort ZX2. | Area | Changes | | --- | --- | | Engine internals | Upgraded pistons and rods, SVO cylinder head | | Forced induction | Eaton supercharger with a water-to-air intercooler, Roush accessory drive pulleys | | Breathing and cooling | Roush high-flow air filter, stainless steel header, Arvin muffler and tip, larger Griffin radiator | | Output | 230 hp and 200 lb-ft, up from 130 hp and 127 lb-ft | | Suspension | Lowered 1½ inches on Roush springs, Bilstein X-Sport struts, Roush front and rear strut tower braces, Energy Suspension polyurethane bushings throughout | | Wheels and tires | 17×7 Prime Tuners wheels, 215/40R17 Goodyear Eagle F1 tires | | Interior | Yellow and black FloFit seats with matching rear inserts, yellow gauge faces, B&M shifter, Auto Meter boost gauge, Roush pedals | | Body | Roush chin spoiler, side skirts and rear spoiler; Inform Design rear valance | | Engine bay | Manifold cover, supercharger and intake powder-coated yellow | The testers drove it on Highway 33 and at Buttonwillow Raceway, and the chassis was what stayed with them: it "handled everything that the supercharged engine threw its way." Their one complaint was the body kit, which they found "a little too subtle" for a car that performed this well. The Fusion previewed most of the S/R's parts list: Roush, B&M and Energy Suspension parts and Goodyear Eagle F1 tires all reappeared on the production package. The test appears to come from Road & Track, on page 97 of an issue dated September (probably 1999), which ran it alongside a drive of the S/R. See [Road tests](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/road-tests#s%2Fr-drives). If you have the full issue, tell us on the [forum](https://forum.zx2ms.com/c/zx2-dedicated-discussion/zx2-discussion/6). ### 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](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/press/1999-zx2-sr-debut). The press cars the magazines drove at Buttonwillow right after the show had the Roush intake, Centerforce clutch, Eibach springs and revalved Tokico struts. Some owners report production cars without the Centerforce clutch. [Disputed] See the [S/R specs](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/sr/specs) and the period [magazine articles](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/magazines). ### ZX2nr The ZX2nr was a bright orange show car with silver racing stripes, a new mesh-grille front fascia, flared fenders, five-spoke wheels, a center exhaust and an orange-and-black interior. A forum post from around 2001 calls it one of the Ford Racing "prototypes and one-offs" shown at SEMA in Las Vegas. [Forum report] We haven't confirmed the year, the builder or what was under the hood. If you know, tell us on the [forum](https://forum.zx2ms.com/c/zx2-dedicated-discussion/zx2-discussion/6). ![Ford ZX2nr concept from the front three-quarter: bright orange with twin silver stripes, a mesh grille and five-spoke wheels, on an auto show stand](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/photos/zx2nr/front-three-quarter-800.jpg) *Orange paint with silver stripes over the roof and hood* ![Ford ZX2nr concept head-on, showing its mesh grille, round fog lamps and silver stripes](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/photos/zx2nr/front-800.jpg) *New front fascia with a mesh grille and fog lamps* ![Close-up of the ZX2nr concept grille and hood stripes](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/photos/zx2nr/grille-800.jpg) *Mesh grille with the Ford oval* ![Close-up of the ZX2nr concept front fender and silver five-spoke wheel](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/photos/zx2nr/fender-wheel-800.jpg) *Flared fender and five-spoke wheel* ![Ford ZX2nr concept from the side on a show floor](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/photos/zx2nr/side.jpg) *Side view* ![Ford ZX2nr concept from the rear three-quarter, with a ZX2nr plate, smoked tail lamps and a center exhaust](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/photos/zx2nr/rear-three-quarter-800.jpg) *Rear valance with a center exhaust and ZX2nr plate* ![Ford ZX2nr concept from behind](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/photos/zx2nr/rear-800.jpg) *Rear view* ![Ford ZX2nr concept on an auto show stand with visitors around it](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/photos/zx2nr/front-far-800.jpg) *On the show stand* ![ZX2nr concept interior with orange and black seats and an orange-rimmed steering wheel](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/photos/zx2nr/interior.jpg) *Orange and black interior* ![ZX2nr concept dashboard with white-faced gauges, seen through the driver's window](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/photos/zx2nr/drivers-side.jpg) *White-faced gauges through the window* Photos: ZX2 Motorsports collection. Several carry a ConceptCarz.com watermark. ### 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](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/press/2000-tooner-focus). 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. ## Sport compact drag racing Esslinger Engineering, the Zetec specialist, campaigned a yellow ZX2 drag car in the early 2000s, reportedly driven by Jason Alvarez. Forum posts say it was naturally aspirated and ran 11-second quarter miles, with some claiming 10s or better. [Forum report] We haven't found a class, event results or a timeslip. ![Yellow Esslinger Engineering ZX2 drag car in the pits, covered in sponsor decals](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/photos/esslinger/front-three-quarter.jpg) *In the pits* ![Esslinger ZX2 drag car on the starting line with crowds behind](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/photos/esslinger/launch.jpg) *Staging at the strip* ![Esslinger ZX2 drag car parked under a Ford Motorsport SVO tent](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/photos/esslinger/pits.jpg) *Under the Ford Motorsport tent* ![Side of the Esslinger ZX2 with Esslinger, Borla, Ford, 3D Grafx and Quaife decals](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/photos/esslinger/side-sponsors.jpg) *Sponsor decals, including Borla and Quaife* ![Engine bay of the Esslinger ZX2: a Zetec with an aftermarket intake manifold and a cage bar overhead](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/photos/esslinger/engine.jpg) *The naturally aspirated Zetec* ![Esslinger ZX2 drag car from the side](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/photos/esslinger/side.jpg) *Side view* ![Esslinger ZX2 on display on grass, surrounded by a crowd](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/photos/esslinger/show.jpg) *On display in a crowd* Photos: oVerboost.com, from the ZX2 Motorsports collection. ## The SVT Escort prototype In early 1998 a red ZX2 prototype was photographed near Detroit and reported as an SVT version. It had a larger rear fascia with an exhaust cutout, rocker extensions, 16-inch alloys and a unique grille. Sport Compact Car (March 1998) said SVT's go or no-go decision depended on ZX2 sales, and listed four-wheel disc brakes, a higher-output engine and a five-speed manual. Popular Mechanics (February 1998) captioned the same photo "Ford Escort SVT". [Magazine reports] No SVT Escort was built; the S/R came from Ford Racing and the Small Vehicle Center instead. Both items are on [Magazine articles](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/magazines#the-svt-escort%2C-1998). ![Red SVT Escort prototype from the front three-quarter, with a unique grille and front fascia, alloy wheels and rocker extensions, on a test pad](https://zx2ms.com/wiki/photos/svt-zx2/svt-zx2.jpg) *The SVT Escort prototype, from the 1998 spy coverage* ## 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. --- Source: https://zx2ms.com/wiki/motorsport (ZX2 Motorsports wiki). Questions or corrections: admin@zx2ms.com.