RE: Focus RS breaks cover

[Ali_T]

TREMAiNE said:

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

Given an ST3 weighs in north of 1450kg, that's going to make it a heavy old barge! Hopefully less than an Evo X (which was a tub of lard in the weight stakes) but it's likely to be heavier than the Golf R, A45 and STI.

[stuckmojo]

Unless one really needs the rear doors the Mustang is the ford to have. This competes with megane, seats and other chavs shopping trolleys isn't it?

[JulianHJ]

TREMAiNE said:

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

I do hope so. I've been a life-long fan of fast Fords, but the recent crop have left me rather cold.

[Pixelpeep7r]

It needs to be AWD or it won't stand out from the ST with a mild map.


VW have it right imo.. the GTi which to me is an ST equivalent is 2wd and the range topping R, which the RS should be the equivalent is 4WD

Bring back the image where the RS badge meant something 'really special'

[optimal909]

TREMAiNE said:

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

You're right to do so.

[Reffro]

Nevermind the Ford insiders, I can see that the prototypes for the Focus RS are all FWD...

Either that or they have been falsifying the registration docs for the prototypes.

[Hellbound]

Looks FWD to me too. The back looks like it's being pulled along and flicking wide rather than pushing forwards.

Those rear wheels are dead.

There is a new class of AWD hatch that is moving ever closer to 400hp and 4seconds to 60. It's strange that an RS Ford isn't one of them.

A Golf R with Revo remap looks like the daddy. At least until the RS3 comes along.

[thespannerman]

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

Then again they did just manage to design a whole new GT with no one knowing...

[Richyboy]

FWD and 25k.

[siony1974]

I was hoping against all hope that Ford would throw a surprise and give us a 3 door RS. In a five door hatch I imagine any extra styling cues over and above the ST will be few and subtle. Those extra rear doors do make adding design details (widening, vents etc) on those rear arches and humps a lot more tricky. I suppose then that the new RS is going to be a bit more stealthy about its looks and hopefully supply more grin factor from behind the wheel. Here's to hoping it doesn't just look like an ST with bonnet vents. I know that the rally car on the road look of the last RS wasn't to everyone's taste but at least you knew what it was as soon as as you saw it.

Has anyone ever seen or heard of a 5 door to 3 door conversion being done on a performance Focus? Must be a bodyshop/tuner out there that has at least thought about it.

Edited by siony1974 on Thursday 22 January 15:14

Edited by siony1974 on Thursday 22 January 15:15

[RB Will]

I'm going FWD with that one. it looks like lift off oversteer rather than power on.
Reckon with block there and if it were AWD it would have been doing donuts.

for those who think you cant go sideways sin a FWD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5gbIhyEyzg

[Dion20vt]

AWD or FWD i'm sure it will still appeal to those who like fast fords. I'll throw in a very unlikely theory but.... maybe they're doing both an AWD model and a FWD model?? like they did with the Cosworths back in the day (OK not exactly the same time but very close!)???

[Pixelpeep7r]

I could get the back out quite easily on my FWD astra VXR on damp roundabouts.

Thanks to 'diamond' tyres on the rear with 2mm of tread.

[pdg27]

I'm super excited about the RS, for me I think that it'll be FWD but hope to be proven wrong.

The more important question for me is: Will there be an estate version? What with Focus ST, Golf R and Seat Leon Cupra all being available as wagons do you think that there's a chance?

[HJMS123]

Looks like lift of oversteer to me .... fwd.

[micawrx]

kambites said:

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

Don't forget the Mustang is not a quality vehicle, it is an American built muscle car. V8's start at $33000
There are rarely going to be the same customer base.

I would propose that you are a RS/Hot Hatch Fan or a Mustang fan... you may like the Mustang but wouldnt buy one.

Here in the US the Focus is dirt cheap (17000UKP for an ST) as it doesnt have the market.. I am sure the RS will race out of showrooms in Europe even if it was 5k more than the Mustang.. especially if AWD.

Edited by micawrx on Thursday 22 January 16:21

[Escort Si-130]

Just like chavvy Porsche 911 Carrera 2 996, that your usual football stars go for.

stuckmojo said:

Unless one really needs the rear doors the Mustang is the ford to have. This competes with megane, seats and other chavs shopping trolleys isn't it?

[Escort Si-130]

Or they did with the mk5 RS2000 which had FWD and AWD.

Dion20vt said:

AWD or FWD i'm sure it will still appeal to those who like fast fords. I'll throw in a very unlikely theory but.... maybe they're doing both an AWD model and a FWD model?? like they did with the Cosworths back in the day (OK not exactly the same time but very close!)???

[rob.e]

Where's the estate version?

[Fetchez la vache]

Reffro said:

Either that or they have been falsifying the registration docs for the prototypes.

Er... it does happen...