Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Euro, Hatchbacks, Ford
Europe: Ford Focus RS lives after all
Although Ford has continued to deny the existence of the next Focus RS, Car magazine's spy photographers were able to capture a mule undergoing testing. The current-gen. body panels will be ditched in favor of the new "kinetic" design language that's blessed the new Mondeo, but we're less concerned with styling than we are with the mechanicals.According to Car, the new RS will get the same turbocharged 2.5-liter in-line five that's in the current Focus ST, except power will be routed through a close-ratio six-speed transmission and sent to all four wheels via a Volvo-derived AWD system.
Through the use of new variable intake and exhaust manifolds, reinforced connecting rods, a revised turbo, a larger intercooler and some significant tweaks to the ECU, the motor should be capable of 300 HP and 280 lb.-ft. of twist. 60 is expected to come up in around five seconds flat and the estimated 165 MPH top speed isn't out of the question.
The new RS will likely bow in Geneva next year, with sales beginning that spring. Although it won't have all the fancy electronics of the Evo and STI, for £28,000, it stands to be the biggest bang for the buck abroad.
[Source: Car]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
iOrange 11:25AM (6/30/2007)
Well now I have a new focus that won't be coming to the states to drool over.. come on ford give us the RS!!
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RC 11:48AM (6/30/2007)
Wow id be all over this car if we had it in the US. Its perfect and looks fantastic.
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Ethan 12:00PM (6/30/2007)
But would you pay anywhere near what they're charging for it? That's M3 or Corvette territory around here.
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vdk 12:29PM (6/30/2007)
Can't you read? It says "Although it won't have all the fancy electronics of the Evo and STI, for £28,000, it stands to be the biggest bang for the buck abroad." thus the RS is cheaper than an Evo/STi. What M3 territory are we talking about?
Itchy Biscuit 1:02PM (6/30/2007)
Damn people on here get stupid when it comes to market pricing. THE LITERAL PRICES DO NOT CORRELATE ACROSS THE ATLANTIC! Relative pricing does, but you can't simply do a currency conversion and have a price. Please, stop being a moron.
In the EU market, the Focus will be CHEAPER than the Evo and STi. It would be the same here, if not moreso. That likely means it would price out in the mid to high-20K range to start. And then, of course, you can add Ford's inevitable $2000 cash back and have a real good deal in the making.
Of course, it's all moot, since Ford refuses to sell this thing over here. Stupid.
-IB
GOKARTN 12:16PM (6/30/2007)
Don't do this to us Autoblog!
On the same page of the 2008 North American Fords with JC Whitney grilles on the Shelby Mustangs, rebadged Five Hundreds and other shit cars, you show us a truly sweet car the Europeans get, but not us.
Ford, you suck!!!!
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Don 3:42PM (7/02/2007)
Yes, 28,000 British pounds is equal $56,000 dollars...and NO it wouldn't sell for $56,000 dollars. Don't take exchange rates so literally.
Ethan 12:51PM (6/30/2007)
£28,000 is about $56,000 US
judd 12:31PM (6/30/2007)
Maybe someone will buy Ford and will be smarter than the current folks running the place and bring the "better" euro cars. 3 letters Ford should look into. WRX.
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bmoredlj 12:32PM (6/30/2007)
Unlike the homely new WRX, this Focus's design is focused, purposeful, and handsome. I can also only conclude that...somebody else...designed the USDM 08 Focus.
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Clint 12:55PM (6/30/2007)
Is there a way to either import one to the states or maybe buy one used from someone here in the states? There's got to be at least one running around over here.
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Infinihertz 1:25PM (6/30/2007)
I've heard you can import products from Europe, but that shipping and other fees (probably emissions testing and whatnot) are at around $2000. Not sure how accurate that is though; I may have even heard it earlier on Autoblog.
ckm 2:36PM (6/30/2007)
I looked at importing an Audi S2 years ago. If the body has passed US crash tests and the engine has been certified in the US, you can import the combination. It will cost around $40k in certification fees.
If not, you have two choices. Buy a dozen or so cars and crash test them, have the engines EPA certified (in this case, it probably is as the engine was in some Volvos) or try to import the car under the Bill Gates exemption, e.g. as a historically significant low production 'for show or display', with a 2500 mile/year limit. See this PDF http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/ShowDisplay/showdisplay.pdf
Anyway you slice you are talking a lot of money. You can always buy an R32 for less.... Although, I agree, that is one hot car, and I might break my 'do not buy new cars ' rule for it if it ever showed up here.
Chris.
Ethan 1:19PM (6/30/2007)
Hmm, having trouble replying to comments so I'm just gonna put a new one up.
Actually, I factored in the whole Cars Are Cheaper Here thing.
Look at http://volvocars.us and http://volvocars.co.uk and tell me there isn't more than an $8000-9000 difference between the US and Euro S40/V50 (same platform as the Euro Focus).
Bringing the Euro Focus over here with no guaranteed sales figures ("you're telling me this here Focus is as fast as an STi?!") would probably put the RS around $45,000. That's more than a Corvette
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Peter 2:41PM (6/30/2007)
Ok, so let's use volvocars.com/co.uk to convert the prices.
C30 t5: 22700 USD, 21495 GBP (without looking at the opitons list, standard equipment in Europe is usually a lot more frugal). Scaling this up, 28000 GBP would then mean about 36500$. Corvette starts at 45k (93000$ if you're crazy enough to want one in the UK BTW).
Don 3:43PM (7/02/2007)
Are you insane or just stupid?
Do you honestly believe a Focus would sell in the States for $45,000?
Ethan 4:22PM (7/02/2007)
No I don't. That's why I think they're not going to bring it over
Noidor 1:44PM (6/30/2007)
Once again...just because it's 28k in BP it doesn't mean it would be double that in US. If that were the case every import would be double. How stupid people are is beyond me.
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tr 1:56PM (6/30/2007)
here's an idea: don't bother bringing this over. just put the guts into a Volvo C30. now that would be a fun car.
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Joe 5:05PM (6/30/2007)
Is this not built in Europe? So with the added transporation costs and taxes and all other misc spendings (marketing, dealer markups, parts support, etc. etc.) ...I HIGHLY doubt it will cost under 30k if Ford were to make this model available here.
And besides, the aftermarket potential for the Evo and Sti in the US is very solid. The avg enthusiast wouldn't waste 30k for a FOCUS....they'd get a second-hand Evo/Sti for 15k-20k and put in about 10k in mods and destroy the Focus.
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