Wednesday 11th November 2015

Focus RS: Rebirth of an icon [Update - part 7]

Goodwood debut, final sign-off with Raj Nair and more Ken Block!

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We'll take drip-fed manufacturer marketing campaigns with a pinch of salt but on the basis there's a hell of a lot of interest in the new Ford Focus RS on PistonHeads we'll update our story on the 'Rebirth of an icon' series of official videos with this latest instalment.

And, OK, it's official propaganda and all that. But actually quite insightful, taking in a great many testing parameters and environments. Here we'll document the vids in the lead up to driving the car, with the most recent update at the top of the page. Enjoy the vids!

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Goodwood Debut

We're creeping ever closer to the production debut of the Mk3 Focus RS, with this the seventh of the 'rebirth of an icon' series. This video takes us to the Goodwood Festival of Speed back in the summer and to Belgium for sign off with Raj Nair.

Ken Block was driving at Goodwood, with his view that the car is markedly improved on when he first drove it in terms of excitement. Some skids follow, obviously.

Then it's time for sign off from Raj Nair, where the news is less positive. The revised drive modes get the thumbs up but there are issues outstanding with the brake feel and exhaust noise. Points to look for when the first drives commence then... More to follow next week!

See the video here.
 

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Artic Testing

Like all good reality shows, the Focus RS 'Rebirth of a legend' series is not all plain sailing. These things are always improved by a bit of drama, right?

In this episode the Focus RS is testing in the Arctic with the cars we saw in the Arizona video, including an A45 AMG, WRX STI, Evo X and the inevitable Golf R. It becomes clear that the noise both inside and out needs some work, so it will be interesting to see how the finished car sounds.This test is the first time all the completed hardware and software has been in a car, marking a significant step in the development progress, but we're told by Global Chief Engineer Jamal Hameedi that they need to 'add anger' to the car. To be continued!

Then it's to the ice circuit with test driver David Put, this time without Ken Block. He's there to investigate the car's behavior in a very low friction environment and how easy it is to control in these situations. Or skid around a frozen lake all day. Tough job and all that...

See the video here

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On track at Lommel

Ford's Track Seven at Lommel is well known now; if there's a fast Ford imminent, there will be testing at Track Seven. See the Fiesta ST video and the teaser on this RS a few months back.

We're back again as part of Ford's 'rebirth of an icon' video series, this time with Ford test driver David Put and God of gymkhana - or whatever is nickname is now - Ken Block. He is the first non-Ford employee to drive the car, manages to get it very sideways and then fluffs a launch. It seems like there's much to be encouraged by in this prototype car though, particularly from its four-wheel drive. More to follow from the Arctic...

Watch the video here.

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Heat testing in Arizona

Now it gets serious. The latest Ford 'rebirth of an icon' vid is in America, taking in some altitude and desert testing with the new RS and some key - if unnamed - rivals. We spotted a Golf GTI and what looks like an A45 AMG - anyone see any others? Certainly the fact the car is seen here testing with an American development team throws up an important question about the RS, that being who has 'ownership' of the car? Ford will be keen to stress it's a global product developed around the world and no longer a Euro-centric hot hatch as has been the case with previous versions. And as the US wakes up to such cars it's not surprising to see them pushing this side, a future video doing it the other way round with Ken Block doing his hoon thing in Belgium.

Will this multi-national approach enhance the RS and broaden its appeal as Ford hopes or dilute the identity we this side of the pond understand so clearly? It's an interesting counterpoint to the Mustang, which is also now a global product but very clear about its American identity and heritage. Does it work both ways? We'll soon see!

See the video here.

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Design and crash testing

A Ford RS model must be visually distinctive, outlandish you might even say. As much as stonking performance, a strong aesthetic is key to a Rallye Sport car.

Here in Ford's latest Focus RS preview vid, we're introduced to why the car looks how it does inside and out. There are chats with designers too so if you don't like how it looks then you now know who's responsible!

There's also a look inside the crash test procedure for the Focus RS; looks quite good in orange from here...

See the video here.

 

[Fastdruid]

Something very odd with the comments on this today. Someone else has a first post which doesn't then tie up with the original.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Anyway, on topic, really looking forward to these.

[Fastdruid]

Ali_T said:

Dal3D said:

A few journo types have had shotgun rides:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/2016-fo...

http://www.topgear.com/car-news/hot-hatch/we-rode-...

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/ford/focus/93280/new-...

They seem to like it.

Edited by Dal3D on Thursday 29th October 15:28

Interesting about the cooling requirements. Will Mountune be allowed to push it any further, then?

Well it'll have been engineered to cope in maximum heat (eg death valley type conditions) so there should be some leeway for the UK if need be.

Ali_T said:

Very tempted to put down a deposit now.

I'm seriously tempted. I shouldn't and I'm managing to resist so far but it's getting harder...