Thursday 22nd January 2015

Focus RS breaks cover

Teaser video ahead of official details in February - but is it front-drive or not?

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So welcome to the big debate of early 2015 - is the new Ford Focus RS all-wheel drive, or not? It's been keeping the internet busy for some time.

But Ford's release of a teaser video of a prototype drifting its way around what looks like the company's Lommel test track in Belgium (and reportedly driven by none other than Ken Block himself) has dropped a very broad hint that the new RS will indeed direct its power to all four corners. Either that or it's a cunning double bluff and, to judge from how far around the corners the Focus is still travelling sideways, his Blockness has been allowed to run with some serious rear brake bias or a set of Ditchfinder Supremes on the back.

Definitely cocking a wheel here - but is that a triple bluff?

The question has certainly split opinion, with one big U.S. website reporting as fact that the RS will get a "brand-new, performance orientated AWD system that should skew towards a 50/50 front-to-rear torque bias", and Autocar saying that Ford insiders "confirmed last year that four-wheel drive had been tried for the new RS in early engineering studies but engineers had decided to stick with the front-wheel drive formula."

We're going to courageously sit on the fence on this one - although in one shot the car is clearly cocking its rear wheel like the finest front-drive hatches of old. Please tell us what you think (especially if you're a senior Ford powertrain engineer). We should have too long to wait to find out, with the new car set to be officially unveiled on the February 3.

We'll find out more on the February 3

What we're more sure of is that the new RS will use a version of the Mustang's 2.3 litre EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, turned transversely and likely to be producing around 330hp. It will also be part of Ford's new Global Performance brand and, as with the Fiesta and Focus ST, Ford is planning to sell the new RS globally for the first time. Meaning that the Mk3 is likely to be produced in far greater numbers than either of its predecessors.

If the role of a teaser video is to spark debate, this one has certainly succeeded.

See the video here.

 

[Sources: Autocar, Jalopnik, Road&Track]

[Uncle John]

On the fence here too but one thing it will be one great car either way!!

Can't wait.

[framerateuk]

I'd say it's probably FWD.

Looking forward to seeing it in the flesh. Ford pulled all the stops out with the last RS and I'm looking forward to seeing what they've done with it this time.

[Mavican]

I was thinking lift off oversteer, but the continual drift made me think otherwise. There seemed like some Golf R style schenanigans going on.

[thatguy11]

Looks a little bland compared to the mk1 and mk2. You could tell they were something special, this just looks like an ST to me. Plus "5-door Focus RS" just sound plain wrong...should be a 3 door exclusively

[P4ROT]

Mavican said:

There seemed like some Golf R style schenanigans going on.

This.

[loudlashadjuster]

FWD.

[Fetchez la vache]

thatguy11 said:

Looks a little bland compared to the mk1 and mk2. You could tell they were something special, this just looks like an ST to me.

You do realise this is a prototype / mule?

[lestiq]

FWD my bet. Besides if it was going to be AWD you'd think Ford would be making more of a song and dance about it!

Edited by lestiq on Thursday 22 January 13:10

[BorkFactor]

I wonder how much it will cost compared to the Golf R and M135i?

Never been a fan of the Focus RS, will be interesting to see what this one is like?

[IvanSTi]

Mavican said:

I was thinking lift off oversteer, but the continual drift made me think otherwise.

This, just drifted for too long.....fingers crossed for AWD. Might look at one then.

[frspro]

thatguy11 said:

Looks a little bland compared to the mk1 and mk2. You could tell they were something special, this just looks like an ST to me. Plus "5-door Focus RS" just sound plain wrong...should be a 3 door exclusively

As someone has already mentioned the car in the video is a development prototype. Believe me this car is never going to be accused of being bland. For me the Mk1 RS struck the right balance of looking special without being too in your face about it which to me at least the Mk2 and this Mk3 version might be accused of, but then I'm biased .

Couldn't possibly comment on the whole FWD/AWD debate but I'm sure all will be revealed in a couple of weeks time.

[StottyEvo]

It looked undoubtedly FWD to me

[Hitch78]

I say FWD. All of those drifts seem to show the front dragging the rear in typical recent ST Fiesta and Focus tight front/loose rear style, the rear is never pushing the front into a dab of oppo.

[Hitch78]

I'm sure it will be an awesome steer either way

[shantybeater]

Looked FWD all day long

[Ali_T]

BorkFactor said:

I wonder how much it will cost compared to the Golf R and M135i?

Never been a fan of the Focus RS, will be interesting to see what this one is like?

Given that it'll be sitting in the showroom next to the Mustang with the same engine and a sticker price of £28,995, can they go above that? I know the RS fan boys wouldn't consider the Mustang over the Focus but a lot of people will look at how much more you get with the muscle car and buy that. With ST3s listing (though not selling) at £25k, it's in a tight squeeze in the price range. Unless they drop the ST3 and replace it with the RS around £26-27k?

[kambites]

It's certainly going to look a bit odd if it's more expensive than the Mustang.

[TREMAiNE]

An insider of mine at Ford has said its AWD and I trust his word!

[JD PH]

I would have put money on it being FWD, but in one of the cornering sequences (29s - 31s in, you'll need the pause button) you can clearly see it laying down rubber from the rear right tyre (and the wheel isn't locked up). That makes me think that - the car in that part of the video at least - is 4wd. However, it could just be a development prototype that was put together to evaluate the system, that they got some exciting footage of and decided to use.

I have to say that I've always been left a bit cold by the Focus RS, despite having driven a few of them (including an RS500), probably because I'm a Renault fan boy. Despite that I'm really looking forward to seeing how the car turns out. Given Ford's recent success with the Fiesta ST, not to mention last weeks show-stealing GT and the New Mustang and it strikes me that their on a bit of a mission!

Edited by JD PH on Thursday 22 January 14:05

[Escort Si-130]

Not really, we were just recently shocked with an all new Ford GT as Detroit; no one saw that coming.

lestiq said:

FWD my bet. Besides if it was going to be AWD you'd think Ford would be making more of a song and dance about it!

Edited by lestiq on Thursday 22 January 13:10