RE: PH Meets: Tyrone Johnson

[vanschpunk]

Soon as he mentioned the 400bhp Transits, i would have switched off the interest in the FRS lol.

From that point you should have asked if there was a new SUPERVAN in prototype form?! Lol

[Kolbenkopp]

Dan Trent said:

I'm interested in the reactions to Tyrone's comments - certainly he's got pride and more than a little belief in his product. But from our perspective it's a breath of fresh air to meet a senior exec and/or engineer with sufficient confidence to say - in blunt terms - why he thinks he's done a better job than the competition.

Fully agree. That was a very refreshing read. I can imagine it is hard to do interviews with the more corporate types... The challenge seems to be "can I get more out of them then what I have in the press release?". More Tyrones, please .

[hjcrichard]

Kolbenkopp said:

Dan Trent said:

I'm interested in the reactions to Tyrone's comments - certainly he's got pride and more than a little belief in his product. But from our perspective it's a breath of fresh air to meet a senior exec and/or engineer with sufficient confidence to say - in blunt terms - why he thinks he's done a better job than the competition.

Fully agree. That was a very refreshing read. I can imagine it is hard to do interviews with the more corporate types... The challenge seems to be "can I get more out of them then what I have in the press release?". More Tyrones, please .

That's why Tyrone is becoming a bit of a cult figure on Focus RS forums. Another quote from him.....

Tyrone Johnson doesnt hesitate when asked if his team intended to produce a Focus RS that could take on the likes of the A45 AMG. Yes, he replies. But then, the Ford Performance vehicle engineering manager doesnt have a very high opinion of Mercedes-AMGs hot hatch. I have one in my department, but its got a dust layer about that thick (indicates with fingers) on top of it, Johnson says. No-one drives it any more. No-one enjoys it. Its fine for transportation, but thats it.

[hjcrichard]

and one more.....

"Tyrone Johnson, a guy who spent the last 31 years of his career at the company only to end up being Ford Performance’s Vehicle Engineering Manager responsible for the RS project, says anything that understeers is “st.” No excuses. It’s just st, he said. I tried to explain him that the Civic Type R is fun anyway, but he was having none of it."

[Onehp]

I find it refreshing, it's just his opinion after all

When I read 'they understeer', I think he means 'they won't oversteer on power'.

I would have liked one, but the idea with getting a hot hatch instead of a sports car was added practicality and the 260l boot didn't actually add anything there for me. So happy with the Cupra reference, just ordered the ST estate that is 587l and a pretty nice balance for a fwd car and relatively light too.
Perfect would have been an RS estate but that was never planned...

[anonymous-user]

Dan Trent said:

Splats said:

I think it's very unlikely the RS will understeer under power

See above! It will if you've cooked the tyres...

Dan

Worth noting pretty much all road cars, irrespective of their drive layout, understeer under power, unless deliberately "chucked in" with the a large, sudden handwheel input (or unless it's very slippy under tyre)

Take a typical BMW, which are 100% rear driven, they still understeer gently under power! (because the chassis is set to do just that. Whilst journos love "Oversteer" on a real road, it's FAR FAR better to have a little gentle understeer under almost all conditions......)

[Escort Si-130]

PHMatt said:

It looks as though he's said to get the hardware.... 4x4 and the power up but keep it in budget, £30k, they have sacrificed the look of the car.

The Escort Cosworth was almost entirely unique from the run of the mill Escort. It had a shortened Sapphire 4x4 chassis to incorporate the 4x4 system and longitudinally mounted engine and box.
The body only used the doors from the ordinary Escort if memory serves me correctly.

I'm sure in todays money it would have been more expensive than the Merc A45 AMG but quite a special car, in the ilk of the 1M Coupe.

As good as I'm sure this RS is, it's a bit too ordinary looking for my taste. I can't help but feel more love for the snarling mkii Focus RS.

The Escort RS Cosworth had a lot more Escort body panels other than the doors. The lights rear was the same, front was shared with mk5 RS2000 lights, a lot of interior panels etc.

[Escort Si-130]

ash reynolds said:

Great spec and dynamics, as far as I've read. Need to start seeing some back to back testing with the usual suspects now. There's almost been too much chat about this to date.
Dash and interior (specifically coloured panels on seats) are truly awful. Should have changed the recipe for the interior materials and design.
Only in my opinion of course!

Nothing wrong with the interior imo. I guess your the pink shirt, spikey hair type guy. You should be at home in a Golf R

[Hellbound]

With a hotter Golf R rumored to be on the cards for this year, I wouldn't be surprised to see a Focus RS Evo in the pipeline too. Perhaps they could fit boxed arches after the car has rolled off the production line.

I don't know what it is about this car, and I know I'm wrong in saying this, but it just doesn't feel that special. Maybe it's because we've had a mammoth build up and I'm feeling a little RS fatigue. I'd probably have a better impression if I didn't know the steering was from a C-max, the awd system is more or less the one in the Evoque and the engine is the new eco-boost from the Mustang, albeit upgraded. Bespoke certainly isn't a word I'd associate with this car, but then it's a hot hatch and it's £30k.

I'm being unreasonable.

[Hellbound]

Escort Si-130 said:

Nothing wrong with the interior imo. I guess your the pink shirt, spikey hair type guy. You should be at home in a Golf R

I'm not a fan of the dated interior either. I don't wear pink shirts. nor do I have 'spikey hair'.

[ash reynolds]

Escort Si-130 said:

Nothing wrong with the interior imo. I guess your the pink shirt, spikey hair type guy. You should be at home in a Golf R

Good response , I even laughed.
Like your style...I have an inoffensive opinion and you respond with a dig.

You also clearly recognize the difference in interior materials and design between the brands without prompting.

Edited by ash reynolds on Monday 1st February 07:54

[ian_cab28]

MDMA . said:

wears a Garmin smart watch. more form over function. wonder if the car ends up the same ?

Perhaps more apt if it was an apple watch, the Garmin offers much of the functionality and more for a fraction of the price. Maybe this an appropriate comparison for the RS as well?