The squarer-styled Mark II Escort appeared in January 1975, with first production models completing assembly on 2 December 1974. Unlike the original, which was developed solely by Ford of Britain, the second generation was a joint effort between the UK and Ford of Germany. Despite the new exterior, the Mk2 shared its core mechanical architecture with its predecessor — the same floorpan, mechanical components, and core structure carried over, including rear-wheel drive, live rear axle on leaf springs, and MacPherson strut front suspension.
The Mk2 carried over the established Rallye Sport model hierarchy. The RS Mexico and RS2000 variants represented the performance range in road-car form, while the RS1800 — using an evolution of the Cosworth BDA engine in an 1,835 cc form — became the definitive works rally tool.
For works competition, the Escort Mk2 was built around the RS1800 homologation model, using the Cosworth BDA-derived engine that had proven itself in the Mk1 RS1600. The 16-valve BDA unit continued to be developed for competition use, eventually producing well over 200 bhp in full race specification. The RS2000's 2.0-litre Pinto engine also saw private entrant use in rally competition.
The strengthened bodyshell, developed through Mk1 experience, underpinned the Mk2's competition preparation. Factory cars were built to Group 4 specification and later developed further as regulations evolved. The Mk2's wider track and revised body gave engineers greater scope for suspension development compared to the earlier car.
The Escort Mk2 achieved major victories across the World Rally Championship during its competitive peak from 1975 to the early 1980s. It won the RAC Rally multiple times and took victories on a range of European events. Works drivers including Roger Clark, Bjorn Waldegaard, Hannu Mikkola, Ari Vatanen, and Timo Makinen all competed in the Mk2 at the factory level.
Ari Vatanen's drives in the Mk2 were particularly notable as he developed his international profile with the car before going on to win the World Rally Championship in 1981. The Escort Mk2 remained competitive even as four-wheel-drive machinery began to appear, with privateer teams continuing to campaign the car effectively into the early 1980s.
The Ford Escort Mk2 represents the pinnacle of the rear-wheel-drive era in rallying, combining the accumulated development of the Mk1 years with a more evolved platform. Its competitive career bridged the gap between the group regulations of the early 1970s and the turbocharged Group B era that followed. The car's association with the British rally scene in particular has made it an enduring icon, and the RS1800 remains one of the most recognizable and collectible competition cars of its generation. Its success established a template that Ford would revisit repeatedly in subsequent decades.