Thursday 11th December 2014

New Focus RS confirmed

Confirmed in name at least - details remain subject of speculation, which we invite right here!

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The countdown to launch begins. Ford has finally announced the car we all knew was coming: the third-generation Focus RS. It has also confirmed that the RS will be a 'world' car that'll make its way to the American and Asian markets, meaning it's not just a European toy for the first time. It's likely to arrive here at the beginning of 2016.

First RS had detractors when new; now respected

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.

Last one brought muscle car values to hot hatches

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.

Template therefore set for global RS?

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]

 

[The1Driver]

300bhp with AWD (okay FWD) and will cost between £30k and £35k

[The1Driver]

amusingduck said:

The old one had 300hp didn't it? Can't see the new RS not having more power.

I'll guess at 350hp FWD with another fancy front suspension setup evolved from the revoknuckle mk2.

More doesn't always equal better. 300BHP with perhaps another special edition churning out 350BHP might do it.

[The1Driver]

Jimmyarm said:

Who would buy a FWD focus when you could have the RWD Mustang for similar(ish) money ?

The sort of person who wants a Focus perhaps. lol