Ken Block’s Hoonigan 1994 Ford Escort RS Cosworth: Photos

August 31, 2025 4:32 am

A number of vehicles built and driven by the legendary Ken Block are currently on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles – and, naturally, when Ford Authority visited the museum in July 2025, we had to check some of them out. Among them is the Hoonigan 1994 Ford Escort RS Cosworth, featured front and center in all its blue-and-purple glory.

The 1994 Ford Escort RS Cosworth was built to succeed Block’s 1991 Ford Escort Cosworth Group A rally car, which was unfortunately destroyed in a fire while racing in 2018. Instead of going right for another “period-correct” rally machine to replace the 1991 Escort, Block turned his attention to his 1994 Escort RS Cosworth, updating it to conform to modern rally specifications. As such, it was affectionately dubbed the “Cossie V2,” featuring a number of upgrades that make it rally-worthy.

Block’s 1994 Ford Escort RS Cosworth was first rendered by Ash Thorp, digital creative with an extensive portfolio in film, working on films like X-Men: First Class and Prometheus. Block’s challenge? Take that 1994 Escort and transform it into an interpretation of what the model would look like if designed by the Ford team for the the modern World Rally Championship. Thorp originally digitally rendered the vehicle, allowing Block and the Hoonigan team to fine-tune its styling before fabricating its bodywork.

Under the hood, the Ken Block built 1994 Ford Escort RS Cosworth harnesses a turbocharged 2.0L I4 engine, delivering an estimated 600 horsepower – although its 34mm restrictor keeps that figure at around 371 horsepower. That power is routed by way of its six-speed manual gearbox, hitting all four wheels in an all-wheel-drive system. It also features updated and modern suspension and geometry, as well as an improved safety cage design lifted directly from the top-spec WRC Escort “Cossies” back in the day. Block’s daughter, Lia, raced this very rally car to honor her late father.