Ford RS200 Evolution

Ford RS200 Evolution

The Ford RS200 Evolution is one of the most remarkable automobiles ever produced under the Ford badge -- a purpose-built Group B rally homologation special with a mid-mounted turbocharged engine, all-wheel drive, and composite bodywork that pushed the boundaries of what a road-legal vehicle could be. When Ford committed to the Group B rally championship, they created a car from scratch that owed virtually nothing to any production Ford.

The heart of the RS200 Evolution was the Cosworth BDT (Belt Driven Turbocharged) engine, a 1,803cc inline-four producing approximately 350 horsepower in Evolution specification. This was the road-legal version; competition RS200s produced over 450 horsepower in rally trim and some test mules were reported to exceed 600 horsepower. The BDT was derived from the Cosworth BDA that had won countless rallies in the Escort, but the addition of turbocharging and extensive internal strengthening raised its capabilities to an entirely different level.

The RS200's chassis was a revelation of engineering ingenuity. Designed by Tony Southgate, who had extensive Formula 1 experience, the car used a steel monocoque center section with front and rear tubular steel subframes carrying the suspension and drivetrain. The mid-engine layout placed the engine behind the cabin and ahead of the rear axle, with a Ferguson-designed viscous-coupling all-wheel drive system distributing power to all four wheels through a five-speed Hewland transaxle.

The body panels were constructed from fiberglass and Kevlar composite, keeping weight to a minimum at approximately 1,050 kg. The shape was functional rather than beautiful, with every surface designed to manage airflow and cooling rather than to please the eye. The large wheel arches accommodated the wide tires needed to put the prodigious power to the ground.

Suspension was fully independent at all four corners, using double wishbones with coil springs and adjustable Bilstein shock absorbers. This sophisticated arrangement provided exceptional wheel control over the rough, high-speed surfaces encountered in rally stages. The braking system used ventilated disc brakes with four-piston calipers at all four corners.

Ford built 200 road-going RS200s to satisfy Group B homologation requirements, and then approximately 24 Evolution-specification cars with the more powerful engine tune. The Evolution models are identified by their higher power output, revised engine management, and various detail improvements developed during the competition program.

The RS200's rally career was cut short by the cancellation of Group B in 1986 following a series of tragic accidents involving various manufacturers' cars. The RS200 never had the opportunity to fully develop its potential in competition, though it showed flashes of brilliance in the hands of drivers like Stig Blomqvist and Kalle Grundel.

The premature end of Group B has lent the RS200 an almost mythical quality among rally enthusiasts. It represents the ultimate expression of an era when rally cars were essentially race cars with number plates, and its mechanical sophistication still impresses today. The Evolution models, with their enhanced power output and competition-derived improvements, are the most desirable of all RS200 variants.

Today, the RS200 is one of the most valuable modern-era Fords, with the rarer Evolution models commanding substantial premiums over standard examples.