RE: New Focus RS confirmed

[Johnnytheboy]

330 bhp and fwd.

I think it will be a very hard car for Ford to price, given some very viable competition.

[TheDoggingFather]

Caddyshack said:

TheDoggingFather said:

They don't make a 3 door Focus. I can't imagine they're about to build one specially for the RS.

Would it be that hard to use a 5 door shell with new rear skins.....it is big arches on shells that made the escort Cossie cool


I can't believe it would be that much. For £100k I will take a week off work and weld on some mild steel to a 5 door and buy some tiger seal and filler!

It's a tantalising thought, but this is Ford. Ford don't tend to set up production lines for one off cars, well not these days anyway. Their crack team of accountants would put paid to that.

[young_bairn]

Looking forward to this. Owned the mk2 focus RS for 2 years and loved it. If they get close to the mk2 it will be a great machine. Obviously the engine choice is the biggest worry. The fwd isn't.

[PunterCam]

It has to be fwd, because it's an RS Focus. 4WD would just be boring, because you deprive yourself of slippy diff joy. It had more than 300bhp last time, it'll have at least that this time. I'd say 330bhp with a 400bhp run out model. Competence is boring, make it fun, and make it ride properly. Don't make it £30k with rock hard springs and shocks, make it £35k with really fantastic suspension - something to make it a little more exotic than that bloody dull Seat that pretends to be fast - ken thae shocks with them little reservoirs that hang off the side, eh?!

Sorry, come over all fast ford.

[driftingphil]

I think this will have some stiff competition if Honda get the new type r right.

[vrooom]

What it needed to have is big whale tail on focus.. can you imagine that!! big whale tail on focus!

[SuperBaaaad]

360ps

4wd

100%

[stuckmojo]

The competition is AWD, but ford fanboys won't care if it's FWD as long as it's got that badge, so my 2p are on it being FWD with more power and some cheapened diff solution.

Golf, Merc and BMW are in another league, so the ford will probably be a bit cheaper.

[neil1jnr]

stuckmojo said:

The competition is AWD, but ford fanboys won't care if it's FWD as long as it's got that badge, so my 2p are on it being FWD with more power and some cheapened diff solution.

Golf, Merc and BMW are in another league, so the ford will probably be a bit cheaper.

AWD isn't the be all and end all, drive a Golf GTI PP and an R and you will see that the FWD golf is the better handling and much more fun car to drive. And even in the Leon Cupra 280 (50bhp more than the GTI), the FWD still handles the power and is a better car than the 4WD R.

My point being that although 4WD will give it that better off the line traction, a trick FWD set up can result in a more rewarding to drive. I feel that 4WD is the hype at the moment becuase of the low 0-60 times that are produced, which can be great, the launch control on the Golf R is brilliant, but I feel that what matters to most anyway is a a headline bhp figure or 0-60 time for bragging rights and a German badge on the bonnet.

Hoever, I think a Focus RS will sell regardless of spec and will have very strong residuals due to the fan base.

[kmack]

I am a big car fan and I really do like/respect the Focus RS - as I do with any well engineered car, but as a Business man (over 40 years old) I couldn't possibly buy one as I would be laughed at whereas other hot hatches/performance cars (mainly German) mentioning no names are passable as they are discreet & understated. Sometimes less is more but I guess I am not the target market.

Sadly their just too chav! Its a shame as my inner child would quite like one...

[redroadster]

If it goes 4 wheel drive it will be because of a rear electric motor pack .

[KrisP]

neil1jnr said:

stuckmojo said:

The competition is AWD, but ford fanboys won't care if it's FWD as long as it's got that badge, so my 2p are on it being FWD with more power and some cheapened diff solution.

Golf, Merc and BMW are in another league, so the ford will probably be a bit cheaper.

AWD isn't the be all and end all, drive a Golf GTI PP and an R and you will see that the FWD golf is the better handling and much more fun car to drive. And even in the Leon Cupra 280 (50bhp more than the GTI), the FWD still handles the power and is a better car than the 4WD R.

My point being that although 4WD will give it that better off the line traction, a trick FWD set up can result in a more rewarding to drive. I feel that 4WD is the hype at the moment becuase of the low 0-60 times that are produced, which can be great, the launch control on the Golf R is brilliant, but I feel that what matters to most anyway is a a headline bhp figure or 0-60 time for bragging rights and a German badge on the bonnet.

Hoever, I think a Focus RS will sell regardless of spec and will have very strong residuals due to the fan base.

Whilst I'm not saying you're wrong, and we're all entitled to our own opinions, what you have written flies in the face of what has been written in the motoring press regarding the golf R

[stargazer30]

I am the only one thinking this is getting silly now. 350bhp in a road car/hot hatch? Whats the point? you can't use it really on the road, and if you do you'll be in license loosing terratory almost immediately. The current RS is just too heavy and over powered to be fun - IMO. Why do the main stream manufacturers keep playing the numbers game instead of making a truely fun to drive car.

I'd rather have something light, RWD, with 200bhp, with decent torque. (maybe I'm getting too old!)

[neil1jnr]

KrisP said:

neil1jnr said:

stuckmojo said:

The competition is AWD, but ford fanboys won't care if it's FWD as long as it's got that badge, so my 2p are on it being FWD with more power and some cheapened diff solution.

Golf, Merc and BMW are in another league, so the ford will probably be a bit cheaper.

AWD isn't the be all and end all, drive a Golf GTI PP and an R and you will see that the FWD golf is the better handling and much more fun car to drive. And even in the Leon Cupra 280 (50bhp more than the GTI), the FWD still handles the power and is a better car than the 4WD R.

My point being that although 4WD will give it that better off the line traction, a trick FWD set up can result in a more rewarding to drive. I feel that 4WD is the hype at the moment becuase of the low 0-60 times that are produced, which can be great, the launch control on the Golf R is brilliant, but I feel that what matters to most anyway is a a headline bhp figure or 0-60 time for bragging rights and a German badge on the bonnet.

Hoever, I think a Focus RS will sell regardless of spec and will have very strong residuals due to the fan base.

Whilst I'm not saying you're wrong, and we're all entitled to our own opinions, what you have written flies in the face of what has been written in the motoring press regarding the golf R

You are exactly right, that's why I am putting my opinion out there after haven driven those three cars earlier this year.

I never said the Golf R was a bad car, I said I prefer the FWD GTI.

[Jimmyarm]

My Money is on it being AWD.

Who would buy a FWD focus when you could have the RWD Mustang for similar(ish) money ? (bar people that want 5 doors)

[The1Driver]

amusingduck said:

The old one had 300hp didn't it? Can't see the new RS not having more power.

I'll guess at 350hp FWD with another fancy front suspension setup evolved from the revoknuckle mk2.

More doesn't always equal better. 300BHP with perhaps another special edition churning out 350BHP might do it.

[neil1jnr]

kmack said:

I am a big car fan and I really do like/respect the Focus RS - as I do with any well engineered car, but as a Business man (over 40 years old) I couldn't possibly buy one as I would be laughed at whereas other hot hatches/performance cars (mainly German) mentioning no names are passable as they are discreet & understated. Sometimes less is more but I guess I am not the target market.

Sadly their just too chav! Its a shame as my inner child would quite like one...

I understand the understated look, but you have just said 'I really do like/respect the Focus RS'

If you like the RS then why would you even think twice what other people would think??

[The1Driver]

Jimmyarm said:

Who would buy a FWD focus when you could have the RWD Mustang for similar(ish) money ?

The sort of person who wants a Focus perhaps. lol

[Scottish Greg]

stargazer30 said:

I am the only one thinking this is getting silly now. 350bhp in a road car/hot hatch? Whats the point? you can't use it really on the road, and if you do you'll be in license loosing terratory almost immediately. The current RS is just too heavy and over powered to be fun - IMO. Why do the main stream manufacturers keep playing the numbers game instead of making a truely fun to drive car.

I'd rather have something light, RWD, with 200bhp, with decent torque. (maybe I'm getting too old!)

You're getting old! Will gladly keep my mk2 Focus RS as it is fun to drive. 420bhp and 400lb/ft makes that heavy car shift very well

Can see the wife's mk3 ST being traded in shortly.

[stargazer30]

Scottish Greg said:

stargazer30 said:

I am the only one thinking this is getting silly now. 350bhp in a road car/hot hatch? Whats the point? you can't use it really on the road, and if you do you'll be in license loosing terratory almost immediately. The current RS is just too heavy and over powered to be fun - IMO. Why do the main stream manufacturers keep playing the numbers game instead of making a truely fun to drive car.

I'd rather have something light, RWD, with 200bhp, with decent torque. (maybe I'm getting too old!)

You're getting old! Will gladly keep my mk2 Focus RS as it is fun to drive. 420bhp and 400lb/ft makes that heavy car shift very well

Can see the wife's mk3 ST being traded in shortly.

My point exacly 400lbs/ft through FWD. Now be honest here there is no way in gods earth you can get that much torque through FWD in 1st/2nd or even I recon 3rd. So to use it your in 3rd/4th upwards. Then to use its full power for more than 2 seconds you'd be speeding. Hence my argument, on a public road you can't use it.

On a track maybe but then the weight is killing it. Lighter track spec cars will out corner it.

Don't get me wrong I like the idea of hot hatches, (I run one!) I can't get my kids in an MR2. But if I was out for fun drive I'd jump in an MX5/MR2/GT86 vs my CTR any day. I think instead of chasing BHP/Torgue numbers, newer hot hatches should be chasing weight. Less weight means, free performance, better economy, better handling etc..