Tuesday 3rd February 2015

Ford Focus RS - full details

New Focus RS confirmed with rear-biased 4WD system and 300hp-plus - still want that Golf R?

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Well bravo Ford. After more than two years of speculation over what drivetrain the nextFocus RS would get, the company has now announced what the majority of PHers have been wishing for: the new car will be four-wheel drive.

Civic Type R's job just got harder. Again.

The tech spec of the RS is enough to make VWGolf R deal-hunters pause their search. Maybe even potential Mustang owners too. Or it would if the RS was coming any time soon - 2016 is all Ford would tell us.

As we guessed, the engine is the 2.3-litre turbocharged EcoBoost four as fitted to theMustang, but with the power boosted to "more than 320hp" thanks to an improved turbo with a larger compressor, as well as a larger intercooler to feed it. So it beats the Golf's 300hp and should sound good too, with Ford promising all the "burbles, pops and crackles that are an RS signature." The gearbox is a six-speed manual.

The Ford information sheet we got didn't go into too much detail about the four-wheel drive system, but it sounds very PH. For a start it comes with something Ford calls Dynamic Torque Vectoring on the rear axle that uses electric clutches to control the torque between front and rear axles and also between the left and right wheels at the rear.

Aggressive enough for you?

This story having been written ahead of an in-the-metal reveal PH is attending today we'll be able to tell you more when we've had the chance to get up close and talk to the engineering team responsible. But from what we've read it sounds similar to the Dynamic Performance Control system BMW uses on fancier versions of its xDrive four-wheel drive models. Crucially this isn't the cheat's electronic vectoring that nips the brakes when it detects grip loss but one that redirects the power instead, so you aren't slowed.

We don't know whether it is a front-biased Haldex-type system, but it seems likely from Ford's blurb that power is being sent through the rear wheels for much for the time. For example Ford says the torque vectoring system will push torque to the outer rear wheel during cornering for better turn-in and stability. The company claims this "virtually eliminates understeer" and says the RS will achieve cornering forces approaching 1g.

Even better for the those of the sideways school of driving, Ford claims it offers "the ability to achieve controlled oversteer drifts at the track". With that much traction, there's a real possibility it could crack five seconds 0-60mph sprint time, although no performance figures were given ahead of the unveiling event.

This is a teaser - full story from reveal to follow

How completely has the RS been reengineered underneath from an ST? When we spoke to the head of powertrain, Len Urwin, at what used to be Team RS (now all part of Ford Performance) back in 2012 he said that Ford's all-wheel drive systems were all this "inherently understeering" Haldex style, so it looks like they've bought in another drivetrain.

So far the only downsides for RS purists are the fact the lack of a three-door Focus in the current range means five doors are compulsory and the inevitable adoption of electrically assisted power steering. Progress is rapid in the latter so let's hope some steering feel has been engineered in.

Some other details Ford has released is that it'll come with "two-mode" switchable dampers and that the suspension (obviously) has been stiffened from that of the ST.

In looks, performance and tech it seems proper

The car, which will be built in Germany, comes with 19-inch wheels and standard Recaro front seats, with Recaro 'shell' seats as an option. Exterior colours are blue, grey, black and white (the blue is not the same as the one pictured here, which is described as a "show-car colour" only).

We don't know about price yet. We can only assume that Ford will cover off the Golf R, which starts at £30,150. The R hasn't got the power or the premium pull of the 360hp Mercedes A45 AMG or the 367hp Audi RS3 Sportback (both 4WD), even though right now the RS is looking a sight more desirable, especially given that Ford traditionally limits numbers and that Focus RS Mk1 and Mk2 have held their values exceptionally well.

The marketing genius of the new RS is how well it feeds back into nostalgia for performance four-wheel-drive Fords of old. Better than that, it could even be cheaper - check out the price of this 1994 Escort RS Cosworth!

 

[macky17]

Switchable dampers. Rear-biased AWD. <£30k. OK, I'm in. Where do I sign up?

[macky17]

I wonder if they'll fit Recaro seats which actually fit properly into the car this time.

[macky17]

The Ford will be more engaging to drive than the R and with 2.3 litres will have more inherent torque and tuneability. But yes, if Playstation is your thing the DSG Golf might be quicker in a straight line if you're struggling with the 3 pedals.

[macky17]

EricE said:

Make the AWD rear-biased and we have a winner.

How does Ford AWD work compared to the usual haldex implementations?

It is. Read the Autocar article for details:
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/2016-fo...

[macky17]

KingNothing said:

Look the same as the Mk.2 from what I can tell.

Yes, the same seats but the mounting brackets were the issue last time - rather than design a whole new bracket to properly accommodate the Recaro seat, Ford adapted the existing oem one - hence the high driving position. I wonder if they've done it properly this time.

[macky17]

Pixelpeep7r said:

I'm just kidding. i love this thing. I wouldn't want one because of the less than subtle styling but i get the feeling it will definitely be more engaging and fun to drive than the R.

Less than subtle styling? How subtle do you want it to be? 16" wheels with trims and a 1.6 GL badge?

[macky17]

Glad it's available in black though - RS500 wrap aside, that was a glaring omission in the last RS.

[macky17]

Adam197 said:

Haven't been looking forward to this car due to the lack of a 3 door but my god have they nailed it.

rear biased 4WD, manual box, 300+bhp + Ford handling, struggle to see how it can be anything but awesome.

And twin scroll turbo with switchable dampers. Could be a classic...

[macky17]

fireball-xl5 said:

well done Ford, 10 years late to the party that you started. At least the car nearly has as much power as my old 2007 impreza RB320 but I bet it won't have the reliability. But with a nice interior and plenty of bling to blind new buyers - who cares?

Reliability as in head gasket and ringland failure? No, I hope the RS doesn't have the 2.5 scoobie engine's reliability. (Owned an rb320 and loved it but reliable???)

[macky17]

Is it just me that thinks the Golf R looks wholly and unforgivably unremarkable? I mean I get 'subtle' but why settle for 'boring'? Is it out of some misplaced desire to look 'classy'? Is it just a car for people who are used to not being noticed? I don't get it. It's a fast car - a hot hatch - why would you want it to look so ordinary? So the police don't look twice? Trust me, a traffic cop knows what it is so you may as well go to town a little.