Ford Focus RS Road Test-does it live up to the hype?

[greenarrow]

So I purchased this week's Autocar to read the road test of the much hyped Focus RS and was somewhat disappointed with their performance figures.

Ok so it was raining and the car was on Cup ties, but shouldn't a 345 horsepower AWD hatch do better than 0-60 in 5.3 and 100 in 13.9? Compared with the Golf R, down on power and also tested in the wet, it was over 3 seconds slower by 120 MPH, which I did not expect. It was also far far thirstier than the Golf when driven hard and weighed in at 1580KG, 170 more, as tested, than the 3 door Golf.

I haven't driven one and performance figures are only one aspect of a car's repertoire, but I am wondering if the Focus RS is victim to the usual hype that surrounds any new RS Ford. The journos have been recently very critical of the Mk2 RS, which they all raved about when new. Will they start revising their opinions about this new model a few years down the road?

I guess I'm wondering if it really is better than the Golf R, which of course everyone is now trying to knock off its pedestal.

[greygoose]

Performance figures aren't the only measure of a car, also it depends how wet each day was. Both cars are probably awesome, I haven't driven either.

[s m]

I reckon the press department gambled on dry weather for the performance figures and sent it out on the optional Cup tyres. Unfortunately as it was wet things didn't go to plan maybe?

I reckon we'll be bound to see a Golf R vs RS twin test in one of the mags soon

[Evolved]

Cup tyres and rain are lethal, period!

[OldBob]

Evolved said:

Cup tyres and rain are lethal, period!

Yep.

However I think the press have been gagging to knock the Golf R off the pedestal and the Ford is a popular successor.

Can't weait for some more comparisons.
Having hooned my sons Golf R around a few tracks and roads I can still say it is exceptional in its overall abiility. Just a bit anodyne looking and too good overall to be exciting in any one area.

Edited by OldBob on Thursday 5th May 21:09

[OldBob]

OldBob said:

Evolved said:

Cup tyres and rain are lethal, period!

Yep.

However I think the press have been gagging to knock the Golf R off the pedestal and the Ford is a popular successor.

Can't wait for some more comparisons.
Having hooned my sons Golf R around a few tracks and roads I can still say it is exceptional in its overall abiility. Just a bit anodyne looking and too good overall to be exciting in any one area.

Edited by OldBob on Thursday 5th May 21:09

[xjay1337]

My car does 100 in around 14.5 seconds...and it's a derv.... With 4wd and 345 bhp it should be doing the 60mph sprint in a second quicker than it's recorded time?

I would imagine that even in wet weather with cup tyres the extra slip would benefit the 4wd system

[s m]

OldBob said:

Yep.

However I think the press have been gagging to knock the Golf R off the pedestal and the Ford is a popular successor.

Can't weait for some more comparisons.
Having hooned my sons Golf R around a few tracks and roads I can still say it is exceptional in its overall abiility. Just a bit anodyne looking and too good overall to be exciting in any one area.

Edited by OldBob on Thursday 5th May 21:09

Yes, according to this test there's literally not much in it

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/ford/focus/94410/ford...

They gave the verdict to the Focus on the on above as it was a bit more involving

A narrow margin though, the text says

[s m]

xjay1337 said:

My car does 100 in around 14.5 seconds...and it's a derv.... With 4wd and 345 bhp it should be doing the 60mph sprint in a second quicker than it's recorded time?

I would imagine that even in wet weather with cup tyres the extra slip would benefit the 4wd system

It's a bit closer to the Golf R in this one

http://www.topgear.com/car-news/hot-hatch/top-gear...

Merc has gone by the time they're squabbling over 2nd

[xjay1337]

That does showcase how much more pokey the AMG is.
That being said it still doesn't account for the horrific price tag - I'd rather a Mk7 R with a remap haha.

[rb5er]

I test drove one, it was fantastic. Pretty much rwd antics at one point. Deposit paid.

The Golf R is literally of no interest to me at all even if dsg means it can get to 60mph a few milliseconds quicker in a couple of tests, zzzzzzz.

The mk2 RS indeed was a great car and was praised as such but this is a huge leap forward which is what reviews are suggesting.

From another thread:

Tested 0-62mph
1. Mercedes AMG A45 4Matic - 4.3s
2. Audi RS3 Sportback - 4.4s
3. Ford Focus RS - 4.9s
4. VW Golf R DSG - 5.1s
5. Subaru WRX STI - 5.4s
6. BMW M135i Auto - 5.5s
7. Honda Civic Type R - 5.9s
8. Seat Leon Cupra 290 - 6.1s
9. Renault Sport Megane 275 Cup-S - 6.3s
10. Peugeot 308 GTI BPS 270 - 6.3s

Lap Time
1. Mercedes AMG A45 4Matic - 1.23.86
2. Ford Focus RS - 1.23.96
3. Audi RS3 Sportback - 1.24.12
4. VW Golf R DSG - 1.24.73
5. Honda Civic Type R - 1.25.11
6. Subaru WRX STI - 1.25.34
7. BMW M135i Auto - 1.25.44
8. Renault Sport Megane 275 Cup-S - 1.26.81
9. Seat Leon Cupra 290 - 1.26.94
10. Peugeot 308 GTI BPS 270 - 1.27.39

Edited by rb5er on Friday 6th May 09:15

[PorkRind]

Its all about the diff !

[Gibbo205]

In the real world 5.3s to 60mph in wet conditions is bloody fantastic. I've got an M3 and a Mustang, both capable of doing 60mph in around 4.5s but in reality trying to get either to do it in under 5.5s in dry conditions is bloody hard work let alone wet conditions.

4WD makes hitting 60mph pretty easy, especially with LC.


The reason its not so impressive to 100mph is because of 4WD and a manual gearbox. Cars have got so fast to 100mph these days because of fancy gearboxes, removing the human element of changing gear.

You want fast, get the Merc with its fancy box and more power, if you really want quick buy a big powerful car with an automatic gear box.

[rb5er]

Gibbo205 said:

In the real world 5.3s to 60mph in wet conditions is bloody fantastic.

Indeed, and the figures I posted were even more impressive as they are as tested in the wet also.

[J4CKO]

rb5er said:

Gibbo205 said:

In the real world 5.3s to 60mph in wet conditions is bloody fantastic.

Indeed, and the figures I posted were even more impressive as they are as tested in the wet also.

And they say they cant remember the last time it was as exciting to test a car like this.

5 star review, "The most fun you can have in a Hot hatchback on road or track"

it comes first, then the Golf R, Audi RS3, CTR and then the Mercedes A45 AMG.

It doesnt sound that fast in the scheme of things but I am guessing there is a better time to be had in the dry, but the road testers dont seem to care, Golf R still does very well.

Also, how many will remain standard ? already a Mountune pack, a hotter version on the cards and all that work done for the Mustang Ecoboost which is similar enough to be not far off applicable, and it has an extra 15 percent engine capacity on all but the Audi so possibly an extra 15 percent potential, 400 or more bhp cant be far off.


Its like the Germans are totally focussing on outright acceleration and insane grip (plus nice dashboards) and Ford have decided to give it enough power but with a bit more fun thrown in, catching the others on the hop like Apple did with Nokia, like Intel did with multi core CPUs when they couldn't clock them any faster, its a change in direction, quite literally..

Edited by J4CKO on Friday 6th May 11:31

[s m]

Focus RS compared to new M2 on track


http://youtu.be/X_LCunEbH44

[C7 JFW]

I'm very interestd in a test drive, Ford have made some incredibly competent cars.

The RS mk2 was lovely to look at and made great noises but it was wayv way too heavy.

[Baryonyx]

Looks like a return to form for the Focus RS after that less than beautiful second iteration.

[Buff Mchugelarge]

Are we not forgetting IT'S GOT A DRIFT BUTTON PEOPLE!!

And therefore my inner 12 year old proclaims it the bestest hot hatch ever.

[Tickle]

Buff Mchugelarge said:

Are we not forgetting IT'S GOT A DRIFT BUTTON PEOPLE!!

And therefore my inner 12 year old proclaims it the bestest hot hatch ever.

A bit of thread 'drift' (sorry), but where could the drift button be used? Drifting won't be allowed on track days, will there be a fair few RS be ditched in grass verges around the country?