Focus RS Launch

PH gets a sneak preview of the new Focus RS before it is unveiled to the public at the British Motor Show

By Oli S / Tuesday, 22 July 2008 / Loading comments

Ford unveiled the new Focus RS to a select group of hardcore fans yesterday at its Heritage Centre. The company was keen to remind us that the green two-wheel drive Focus was a true RS by surrounding it with beautifully preserved examples of previous Fords to carry these two letters.

PistonHeads was invited to this sneak preview before the official launch at the British Motorshow and took PH prize winner Martin MacRae along to get his reaction to the new car. Before the unveiling Ford director for performance vehicles, Jost Capito, whose Team RS development group were responsible for the first generation Focus RS, took to the stage to address one controversial issue surrounding the car.

Many PHers had complained that the car should be four-wheel drive and not front-wheel and it was clear that Capito wanted to explain the thinking behind the car's layout. He said that a 4WD system has one benefit in added traction but also adds weight, complexity, price and uses more fuel.

The team decided that if they could achieve the traction they wanted by using FWD then the car would be all the better for avoiding the negatives of 4WD. 'It will deliver how it looks,' he said. 'It's fun to drive and it doesn't add the things you don't want from 4WD.'

The car will have 300bhp and all Ford will say at the moment is it won't be more than £25,000 and will have a sub-six seconds 0-60mph time. Capito and his team then took the wraps off the car and the 40-odd RS enthusiasts started snapping away with their cameras.

The green paintwork is not finalised but Ford says it will go into production if the fans want it. The general reaction to the car's appearance seemed to be very positive and MacRae was one of those who gave it the thumbs up.

'I like the look - it's aggressive,' he said. 'The old Focus RS lookd too much like the normal Focus. Looks-wise this is very different to the ST and I would expect it to be a lot faster. It looks better than a Subaru STi and if they can make 300bhp work through the front wheels it could out-do it for less money.'

We were allowed to have a look inside the car and all I can say is that thanks to the seats it is very green. 'I like the green on the outside but it's a bit much on the seats,' said MacRae. 'But overall I like the way that they are not trying to water it down and appeal to everybody and if they get the front-wheel drive right then they are going to prove a lot of people wrong.'

Chris Ellison of the RS Owners Club, who drives a Sapphire Cosworth, said the new RS looks much better than the original and doesn't think that 4WD is necessary to make the car a success. 'I'm a realist - cost is the issue. If the car went up to £28K then there's much more competition around.' Local group organiser for the RS Owners Club, Dave Easton, added: 'I think it looks awesome. The green looks great in the flesh and it looks really aggressive. It goes back to the days of the Cosworths - I'm thinking about buying one.'

And he's not the only one. Before the sheet came off to reveal the RS Capito asked if anyone had already ordered one - around ten hands went up. If this is anything to go by then maybe the RS really is back.