Thursday 25th June 2015

Ford confirms Focus RS tech details

350hp and up to 346lb ft for Mk3 RS - see it in action this weekend!

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So now we know what "more than 320hp" really will be for the Ford Focus RS - 350hp, placing it comfortably ahead of the Honda Civic Type R (310hp), VW Golf R (300hp) and BMW M135i (326hp), albeit still a little behind the 360hp A45 AMG. Interestingly that's identical to the old Focus RS500 as well; rolling drag race anyone?

Give us a go please. Soon

Ford claims 324lb ft of torque from 2,000-4,500rpm, with a 346lb ft overboost available "for up to 15 seconds on transient overboost during hard acceleration." There isn't yet an rpm figure for peak power but we do know the limiter is at 6,800rpm, with Ford promising "a free-revving top end".

If you watched the Focus RS Time for Tea? the other day you will hopefully have noticed a very, well, rally car sort of noise, all gurgles and pops and menacing intent. Unsurprisingly it's very deliberate: "Ford Performance engineers have tuned the RS to deliver a rewarding and sporty sound character during spirited driving". Breathing is said to have been improved thanks not only to the new high performance exhaust but a revised intake too. Given how reluctant the Mustang Ecoboost with an ostensibly similar engine was to rev it will be fascinating to see how the Focus compares. However, it does also have a new low-inertia turbo, a larger intercooler plus an upgraded cylinder head over the standard Mustang lump so you would have to hope for the best.

As you will most likely be aware by now, the Focus RS will make its dynamic debut at Goodwood this weekend with His Blockness doing the driving. Perfect opportunity to test the Launch Control and the Drift Mode, right? Price and more details as soon as they're available!

[sh33n]

Not going to be hanging around that then, any pub performance stats, 0-60, etc as yet?

Still think the old one looks better, certainly not keen on those wheels.

[Gandahar]

I'd forgotten how good the old RS500 looked.

The new RS got a bit of backlash for not being overtly aggressive enough when first seen, then the Honda got done in for being the other way. I think both look good, though that RS would be better in the proper darker blue. IS that a front grill or some sort of sheep catcher? It looks something the Titanic was made out of. Odd.

Can't complain though, we have that, the Honda, the 2nd attempt Clio RS200 Trophy to join the current mainly German based hot hatches, so that's a lot of choice. Nice to see this sector thriving so much.

Shame the young folk are spending all their hard earned on housing rent.... grrr.

[mikebradford]

Id like to see actual cars in the different colours it will be available in

Loved the look of the old one, and how distinctive they were
Hopefully they dont just have subtle colours. As it would be a shame that they have relativley plain styling compared to the old one and nothing to liven it up.
I agree with the other comment regarding those alloys. They look plain to me
I imagine we will get to see a few of these modified to liven the visual package up.

It would be an intresting position to be in to have to consider this against the Golf R and Amg
Not sure which way i would go, as all have their merits

[Gandahar]

Actually now I have noticed that front "grill" I cannot take my eyes off it.

It makes the car look like one of those deep sea fishes that has a huge mouth or a Hollywood starlet who's plastic surgery they now regret. Or a deep sea angler fish after plastic surgery.

[KarlMac]

Gandahar said:

Actually now I have noticed that front "grill" I cannot take my eyes off it.

It makes the car look like one of those deep sea fishes that has a huge mouth or a Hollywood starlet who's plastic surgery they now regret. Or a deep sea angler fish after plastic surgery.

Its properly gopping.

Any ideas what the power figure is without 'overboost'

[Ali_T]

Very impressive, and all, but I'll wait to see the price. My man maths is in overdrive after the Giulia QV launch....

As for the free revving, is that not a function of the flywheel?

[Ali_T]

mikebradford said:

Id like to see actual cars in the different colours it will be available in

Loved the look of the old one, and how distinctive they were
Hopefully they dont just have subtle colours. As it would be a shame that they have relativley plain styling compared to the old one and nothing to liven it up.
I agree with the other comment regarding those alloys. They look plain to me
I imagine we will get to see a few of these modified to liven the visual package up.

It would be an intresting position to be in to have to consider this against the Golf R and Amg
Not sure which way i would go, as all have their merits

I read, somewhere, that the choice is that minging blue, black, pearl white or matte grey. Not exactly an inspiring range,

[underphil]

KarlMac said:

Its properly gopping.

Any ideas what the power figure is without 'overboost'

It'll look a bit better with a numberplate on

- I think the overboost just gives extra mid range torque

[Ruffy94]

Would like to hear a bit more of how it sounds. Pops and bangs don't necessarily cover up what could be quite a boring 4cyl engine note. Most of the current 2 litre-ish hot hatches sound a bit rubbish to me, the old 5cyl RS had so much more character.

[C.A.R.]

Any reason why this new RS PR coverage is of a car painted in Polestar colours instead of RS 'Imperial Blue' like it should be?

Someone at Ford as F'd up.

[Mafffew]

underphil said:

KarlMac said:

Its properly gopping.

Any ideas what the power figure is without 'overboost'

It'll look a bit better with a numberplate on

- I think the overboost just gives extra mid range torque

It's the same feature that is in the Fiesta and Focus ST. Basically all you do is plant your foot and from 2nd (could be 3rd actually) gear onwards it will produce more torque for x amount of time.

I don't find it to be particularly noticeable in the Fiesta ST.

[Ali_T]

C.A.R. said:

Any reason why this new RS PR coverage is of a car painted in Polestar colours instead of RS 'Imperial Blue' like it should be?

Someone at Ford as F'd up.

It's one of the new Mustang colours. I guess they're trying to tie them together. Looks horrible to me.

[Dal3D]

The press cars at various launches are "Liquid Blue" which Ford say is currently only a show colour.

The lighter blue in some pictures is called "Nitrous Blue" which is a 4 part paint and only available on the Focus RS. It's quite similar to Porsche Riviera Blue.

[J4CKO]

350 bhp, that is pretty impressive, bhp/pound it will be good value next to the Mercedes and the others.

[Zoon]

C.A.R. said:

Any reason why this new RS PR coverage is of a car painted in Polestar colours instead of RS 'Imperial Blue' like it should be?

Someone at Ford as F'd up.

Agreed, I can't stand the baby blue it's being showcased in.
Imperial blue all the way.

[anonymous-user]

Okay, here goes...

I actually love the colour and the front end doesn't bother me at all.

What grates is the awful black alloys, hopefully there's a silver option still.

Great bhp figure, anyway.

[Scottish Greg]

C.A.R. said:

Any reason why this new RS PR coverage is of a car painted in Polestar colours instead of RS 'Imperial Blue' like it should be?

Someone at Ford as F'd up.

There hasn't been an Imperial Blue RS since the mk1 Focus. The mk2 was Performance Blue.

I like the blue, makes it stand out. Nice performance figures, will be interesting to see what Mountune add.

[neil1jnr]

Mafffew said:

underphil said:

KarlMac said:

Its properly gopping.

Any ideas what the power figure is without 'overboost'

It'll look a bit better with a numberplate on

- I think the overboost just gives extra mid range torque

It's the same feature that is in the Fiesta and Focus ST. Basically all you do is plant your foot and from 2nd (could be 3rd actually) gear onwards it will produce more torque for x amount of time.

I don't find it to be particularly noticeable in the Fiesta ST.

The 'overboost' is active all the time. It is only if you have your foot nailed to the floor for more than 15sec that the torque and power will drop.

The Fiesta ST for example is marketed here as 180bhp, but 200bhp in America. It is to do with EU laws (or something, somebody correct me), the car is a 200bhp car unless you are on throttle for more than 15 seconds. The only time I can see this happening is a pull from 6th gear. So for all intents and purposes the new RS has the full 350bhp and 346lbs ft.

[JeffreyLebowski]

Annoying car this one - they fix the FWDness and then go and screw up the styling and engine note. Could you imagine this car with the sound and looks of an imperial blue mk2 RS?

[J4CKO]

Sod the colour, sod the grille, sod the alloys, just ruminate on the thought you can get a 350 BHP, 4wd car for 30 grand, I think it is going to be huge.

The Merc is another what, 10 - 15 grand ?

The Golf R is the same price/more and is 296 BHP

The BMW is 2wd and less powerful and costs more

I am thinking you wont need to hit the option lists quite as hard as with the German ones, i cant imagine there will be much of an options list in comparison.

Ford have added an interesting choice, I look forward to the group test, I think it should compete very well, at least for those who can cope with a Ford badge, but to be honest, its an RS badge which carries more kudos, even if it isnt very middle class aspirational.

Also, the tuning scope should be pretty impressive being a 2.3, the Americans are getting 500 bhp out of the Ecoboost mustang unit.

I am thinking it should be good to drive, Ford do a good chassis, but obviously some of the dash plastic might not be quite as nice.