In a poll we conducted in Febuary, eighty-seven percent of you said that Mazda should sell the new-generation Mazda 2 subcompact in the United States. While the Zoom Zoom brand isn't giving the 2 a green light yet, it appears that Ford is. Mazda's parent company plans to take the 2 to a global level in the next few years, and for once we won't be left out of the small car party. Perhaps it's a response to the upcoming Dodge Hornet, or maybe it's just Ford taking a worthwhile risk for once--we don't know. Either way, we're excited to see how a subcompact hatchback from one of the big three will sell here in the land of Chevy Suburbans and Ford F-250 Super Dutys.
One big question, other than engine choices, is what Ford will call the new model. American's probably wouldn't go for the Ka name used across the pond, and Fiesta probably wouldn't work, either. What about Festiva? Please, Ford-don't do it. Judging by Ford's new philosophy of not introducing new, unknown names (the Five Hundred is now, as you know, the Taurus) there's only one choice: Escort. Above is a rendering of what the new Escort might look like, complete with a Fusion-style grille. If not the Escort, what do you think the new model should be called? Click here to tell us what you think in our forums.