New Focus RS confirmed
Confirmed in name at least - details remain subject of speculation, which we invite right here!
Unfortunately what Ford hasn't done is clear up any of the uncertainty about what engine will power the car or how its output will be transmitted to the road.
Back in 2012 we speculatedthat it would gain the four-cylinder 2.3-litre turbocharged EcoBoost coming to the Mustang. Now that the engine is now in the Mustang making a healthy 310hp and suiting the heavier car pretty well, according to our drive, then it looks a dead cert Ford will flip it transversely into the Focus and possibly even hike that power. It should also be a lot more economical than the 305hp 2.5-litre Mk2 RS.
But will Ford hook the engine up to the rear wheels as well? The RS's main rival will be the 300hp VW Golf R, and to a lesser extent the 360hp Mercedes A45 AMG and the forthcoming Audi RS3, likely to have 350hp. As we know, all three are four-wheel drive.
And Ford is on a four-wheel drive kick at the moment, inserting it not just into SUVs but also cars like the new Mondeo and forthcoming S-Max people mover. On the other hand another rival mentioned by one Ford insider to us (possibly to throw us off the scent) is the upcoming 280hp Honda Civic Type-R, which stays front-wheel-drive.
If the power is sent solely to the front that means a trick diff. Back in 2012 the then powertrain engineering manager of European performance division Team RS, Len Urwin, mentioned that an active diff was being considered. This is heavier but smarter than a passive system like the helical Quaife set-up in the previous RS and could transform the car and quell the torque steer of the old car and the current Focus ST.
And the gearbox? Autocar thinks it'll come with a six-speed manual and we agree. After all that's all the Focus ST comes with and while there might be the option of an auto to appeal to those to the west and far east of us (as comes with the 2.3 Mustang), we'll definitely be able to select our own ratios we'll wager. What there won't be is a three-door variant, mainly because Ford doesn't make a three-door Focus anywhere.
But how will it drive? In the same announcement Ford has said it will bring all its sports models under the control of one, US-based outfit called Ford Performance headed by the Mustang chief engineer Dave Pericak. So no more Team RS here or SVT in the States.
An American developed Ford Focus RS? Will it have Mk1 and Mk2 RS owners denouncing the newcomer as a mere mini-Mustang? We know from various spy shots floating around that Ford has been developing the car partly in Europe, specifically the Nurburgring, as well as the States but whether it'll be too compromised to compete with the (European developed) Golf R remains to be seen.
It could all come down to the effectiveness of the front diff and the battle of the lease rates.
Seeing as Ford hasn't provided ANY details of the Focus RS, let's hear your thoughts on the perfect spec for the car.
[Sources: Autocar]
I still think the RS badge should be on the Fiesta rather than the Focus.
The WRC car is the Fiesta and is the road car had the same look as the WRC Fiesta it would sell by the bucket load.
Can only but dream.
I'm sure it will go well, but it's really a ST...
I also agree that the wrc fiesta or the road would be nice!
Then again i am building my own homage to group b rally cars with my 205 Cossie so I may be more biased to that sort of car?
Main question is if ford will expect everybody to keep swallowing with FWD with those enormous amount of power or if it will finally be AWD and put a light on all cosworth legacy fans. I am not sure about that, but for me FWD is not an option for ANYTHING that weights more than 1000 kg and has over 200 bhp, so I hope they will finally make the change.
I think something like that would be really enjoyable. IFIRC the focus is really heavy, so the main point would be to make it lighter.
Let's sum up: 350bhp AWD and a weight around 1300-1400kg, maybe? if they sell that for 30-35k I think it will be a very serious competitor for the psycho hatch of the year prize. I am thinking of something in the middleground between a mitsubishi evo and a mercedes a45 amg. I think it can be a sales success if they manage that.
On the other hand, I can't see how they can think on selling an overpowered fat-ass FWD monster... but who knows, people buy SUVs so I am clearly in a different ground of the mean car buyer.
Stick to 250-275hp front drive and go lightweight.
Power figures sell. So do 'ring times but it's much easier to make a car faster by making it more powerful than by making it lighter without compromising it in other ways.
It just having an RS badge is not enough for a lot of punters any more.
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