Ken Block's Gymkhana Escort is a 333-horsepower tire-shredding beast (pictures)
Coming soon to a Gymkhana video near you is Ken Block's second-generation 1978 Ford Escort. It started life as a tarmac rally racer but has since been repurposed for one job only -- outright tire destruction. Packing 333 horsepower and rear-wheel drive, this car's insanity is matched only by that of its owner.
Even without all the upgrades, the Euro-spec 1978 Ford Escort you see here is nothing like the cheapo Escort sold in the United States.
Block's Escort is festooned with a flat-black motif featuring Hoonigan logos and Old Glory slapped right on the hood.
Unlike every other one of Block's Gymkhana creations, this Escort is rear-wheel drive. Typically, all four wheels get in on the action.
The bodywork is a one-off creation from wide-body experts Rocket Bunny.
The Gymkhana Escort rides on custom two-piece Fifteen52 wheels and Pirelli tires.
Bolt-on fenders are a staple of Rocket Bunny's hard-core aesthetic.
Block and his company Hoonigan plan to feature the Escort in its own video in 2016 -- it will likely be the follow-up to last year's Gymkhana 8.
UK enthusiasts will get a chance to see this car in the flesh this weekend at Monster Energy's Gymkhana GRID Finale.
The Escort is powered by a custom four-cylinder engine, built by UK race-engine manufacturer Millington.
At full tilt, the Escort puts out a more-than-ample 333 horsepower.
As the car was originally designed to compete in legitimate rally races, the interior is built to racing specification, with all safety systems present and accounted for.
The display in Block's Escort is fancier than most everything found in a typical modern passenger car.
Cages, bucket seats and harnesses are all part and parcel of the rally-car equation.
Nearly every part of the car is adjustable via this panel, from windshield wipers to the power steering.
It's a race car -- did you seriously expect insulation and carpeting?
A hydraulic handbrake is much more effective than a standard, cable-based one. This is especially important in gymkhana, which requires frequent handbrake use.
Those harnesses (and, by extension, Block's body) aren't going anywhere.
A fuel cell helps keep the explosive bits safe in the event of a wreck.