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XR2 - Lightweight, powerful and with looks to die for, hatchbacks don't come much hotter than the original fire-breathing Fiesta XR2.
Words Richard Barnett
Photos Simon Dodd
In the days when new hot hatchbacks are weighed down with airbags, side-impact bars, crumple zones and air-conditioning, the original Fiesta XR2, which ran from 1981 to 1983, arrived as welcome relief. Adopting the principle of a big engine in a compact body, the XR2 plugged a gap in Ford's range just as Britain was beginning its love of hot hatches. And, in the cold light of today's legislation-designed cars, its endearing simplicity means it's easy to work on, and to repair.
Stunned by the success of the Fiat 127 and Renault 5, which were launched in the early '70s (and later by the VW Polo, which Ford considered 'the' small hatchback to beat in terms of practicality, performance and quality), Ford came to realise it had a yawning gap in its range. With nothing smaller than the Escort, it was losing sales across Europe to its major rivals that had cornered the small hatchback sector.
What's more, these 'superminis', like the 127, 5 and Polo, were finding favour with buyers of all ages and incomes. Ford had to get a move on, and prototype styling models were still being analysed in 1973 - after the 127 and 5 had already got a grip in this exciting new market sector. The original prototype, which was put together in 1970, looks very similar to a Reliant Kitten. Three years later two prototypes - both dubbed Bobcat 2 - were showing how the final car might look, the German version.....
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