I've spent several days last week working under an X-type at work. I tried to study it rather closely to see how it compares to the Contour for interchangability...
The PTO is more or less appended to the transaxle, but it contains the center differential, and then drives back into the trans to send torque to the front diff. So its not a simple corner bender, and the trans that goes with it is a bit unique. Removing the PTO from the car is a big PITA, but it can be done. The car I was working on was a 5-speed, and it looked like a version of the MTX75, but I'll have to check again. We've got another X-Type that's an automatic, but I don't have an automatic Contour to compare to.
As was mentioned, you'd have to make a mount for the propshaft center bearing, and you'd need the fuel tank. Also, the exhaust had some unique shaped mufflers, resonator, and cat to fit next to the rear prop shaft. But it isn't anything that an exhaust shop couldn't make.
The rear subframe and suspension is a bit different too, as you might expect. The suspension seems to almost blend the Quadralink configuration with a semi-trailing arm design. I know that doesn't make sense, but if you saw it you'd know what I meant. Regardless, it does look a bit more robust then the Contour's rear suspension. I'll have to get a tape measure out and see if the subframe mounting points are the same as the Contour's. If they are, then this whole thing is somewhat feasible...
By comparison, the PTO on the Escape is a simple corner bender, and the rear axle has the coupling hardware. The truck (I use that term loosely) runs in FWD mode till slip occurs, then the coupling engages to transfer some torque to the rear. When it is locked in 4WD mode, then the coupling locks up and can transfer more torque then it can in Auto 4WD mode. But it is on-demand, which IMHO is less then ideal in a performance car. The Jag hardware provides a permenant AWD function...
