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Here’s a novel way to design a new car: Give prospective customers a throw-away camera, have them document their lives in pictures, then use the pictures to develop a car that fits them.

That’s what Ford Motor Co. did as it created its new two-door Escort coupe.

It wasn’t because Ford was entering a new market segment. In fact, Ford has offered an Escort coupe since the early 1980s.

But company officials didn’t want to leave anything to chance. After all, the Escort has been a top-selling Ford for more than a dozen years, with more than 6 million sold since its 1981 debut.

The 1998 Escort ZX2, arriving at dealerships now, shows Ford officials learned something from those 20- and 30-year-old target buyers.

Ford didn’t just take the four-door, front-drive Escort sedan and turn it into a two-door. The automaker stayed with the sedan underbody and structure but went about making changes just about everywhere else — including, notably, the outer sheet metal. The result is the best Escort yet for entry-level coupe customers.

The ZX2 is styled with flair, especially in the uplevel “Hot Coupe” — really, that’s what it’s called — where fog lamps and sport seats are standard. It looks more expensive than its $13,560 starting price including delivery. The base model, the “Cool Coupe,” starts at $12,995 (including delivery) and looks more expensive, too.

All ZX2s have standard features not normally expected in low-priced, entry-level, small cars: three cup holders, including one for the back seat; a trunk lid that uses gas shocks, rather than gooseneck hinges; and a manual “memory” driver’s seat that automatically resets the seat back to its previous position after it’s tilted forward for access to the back seat.

The 2-liter, double overhead cam, in-line four-cylinder engine is the zippy Zetec from the bigger Ford Contour. Its 130 horses are 20 more than what’s available in the Escort sedan and wagon, Fitted with a five-speed manual — also borrowed from the Contour — the test ZX2 base model raced up and around mountain slopes with pep. Ford says its 0-to-60-mph sprint is about 8 seconds, not bad for a car at this price.

And the ZX2 feels nimble. The body doesn’t roll much in major curves and turns. It doesn’t feel squishy in most slalom maneuvers. Ford said it tuned the suspension for a “sportiness bias.” Power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering, too, is sufficiently responsive. That’s all a lot better than previous Escort coupes.

There is, of course, some road noise, as you might expect in an entry-level subcompact, and the engine can rev loudly at the limits. But the overall feeling is of a quality car — especially as you look over the interior, which seats four.

It’s different from the more sedate sedan and wagon, with a new instrument panel, seats and fabrics for a more sporty feel.

Yes, there’s a bit less room in the back — a quarter-inch less legroom than in the sedan, for example. But the re ar seat back splits and folds for long items that can’t fit completely in the 11.8-cubic-foot trunk, and there are standard rear-seat ventilation ducts.

So, you might be wondering: how racy were those photos from the young, ZX2 shutterbugs? Ford says simply that they showed where they worked, their friends and hobbies, even how they organize their compact disks.

It looks as if they also gave Ford a clear picture of how to get those buyers in the new ZX2.

SPECS
What we drove: 1998 Ford Escort ZX2 “Hot” series, a two-door, four-passenger, subcompact coupe with 2-liter double overhead cam, in-line, four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission.

Base price: $13,145

Price as tested (includes options and delivery charge): $14,325

Curb weight: 2,504 pounds

Length: 175.2 inches

Turning circle (curb to curb): 31.5 feet

Standard features: Two front airbags; driver seat memory recline; lit folding rear seat; AM/FM radio with four speakers; three cup holders; 14-inch wheels; tachometer.

Options on test vehicle: Preferred Equipment Package 327A includes air conditioning, electric rear window defroster and driver door remote keyless entry.

EPA figures: 25 mpg (city); 33 mpg highway