Saturday 26th November 2016

RS about face: PH Blog

Second coming or second best? The curious case of the Ford Focus RS...

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Stripey limited edition Porsches aside few cars have inspired as much hype or discussion as the Ford Focus RS. Having been lucky enough to have been on that original launch at the start of the year I've found it fascinating tracking the general mood towards the car, both on PH and in the wider motoring media.

Safe to say there was an AWFUL lot of expectation whipped up in some corners ahead of the car's arrival. A hot hatch that does skids? Performance of an old-school Evo with Ford running costs? A licence for wannabe Ken Blocks the world over to follow in their hero's (much rehearsed) tyre tracks? The whole second coming hyperbole didn't really abate once hacks were able to drive it either, though we called it as "a triumph, albeit a qualified one", picking up on the weight, tall seating position and fake engine noise and spotting an appetite for munching through front tyres that rather exposed the development goal of eliminating understeer.

Backlash is probably a bit strong but after that initial peak the Focus was left surprisingly humbled by the Civic Type R when we took them both to Anglesey, a couple of drift mode runs around the back hairpin destroying the front tyres (see above) and leaving the Ford feeling heavy, understeery and breathless compared with the manic Honda. This probably inspired my 'Drift modes are pointless' Tell Me I'm Wrong but, having got the sideways gimmickry out of my system, I've spent some time in our Focus RS long-termer. And while Matt and the team found the ST pushed the RS hard in Wales the winter roads have got me appreciating what makes this car something a bit different from the norm.

Because it is pretty amazing to drive a Ford Focus on the throttle in the way you can with the RS. Short of the more manic of the old Evos I don't think there's been a transverse-engined all-wheel drive car able to carry off this trick before or since. Certainly it exposes the more expensive Haldex-driven competition from VW, Audi and Mercedes-AMG, no matter how much technology, locking diffs or soft-touch interiors they can throw at the problem.

And you don't have to be going full Block to appreciate it either. At this time of year any given roundabout can show off the RS's ability to exit turns diagonally and on the power. The front end is so pointy and the steering so fast it's already geared up to attack the apex in a way few rivals can match. And from there your options are varied, even within the scope of default driving mode and ESP fully on. It's that unapologetic aggression I really like in this car; it's way more Evo than it is Golf R and genuinely offers something nobody else has at this or any price point. So rather than yo-yo between hype and backlash I'm enjoying taking my time to learn this car and track a steadily climbing curve of appreciation. And perhaps discover it is the game changer we were predicting this time last year after all. It'll certainly be giving the Germans something to think about and, as long as their main rivals are based on the MQB platform, little to really address the challenge Ford has laid down.

Dan

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Ask the expert!
Want to know how the Focus RS does what it does? So do we! To find out more we've got a meeting scheduled next week with Dr Ramon Kuczera from GKN, suppliers of the Twinster torque distribution system Ford has used to such spectacular effect. We're promised the full geek-out on diffs, torque vectoring and how you make a hot hatch go sideways. Got any questions for Dr Kuczera? Drop them in the thread below and we'll ask him on the day!

Photos: Sim Mainey and Dan Trent

[macky17]

I think the mistake people are making is reviewing this car as a track toy. It isn't - far too heavy. Then they compare it to old Evos - wrong again, largely for the same reason. Actually what we have here is a road car designed to be driven every day with the odd blast. It's the car Audi repeatedly tried to create (and repeatedly failed) with the RS3: Fast, fun, usable with actual steering feel and all-weather ability. It doesn't have the interior of the Audi by a long shot but then it's much cheaper.

The only caveat - is the ride forgiving enough for every day usage? If not, I'm not sure what it's for (but I'm very glad people are still making cars like this).

[macky17]

Advevo said:

I have a few questions.

Why does a sporty car like the focus RS brakes wheels when going into a corner. That s not RS badge worthy!
Why if i left foot brake i loose the 4wd driveline. I have only FWD drive then. Thats not RS badge worthy!
Why if i pull the handbrake it takes way to long to get the 4 wheel drive again. That s not RS badge worthy!

RS stands for Rallye Sport at ford?

If i drive such a car i want a pure car. Mechanical Limited slip diffs no trickery like braking inside wheels.

The mitsubishi Evo RS was just an awesome car. The Ford focus RS is not even close!

Not this again. Pure nonsense.