Autocar claims to have the skinny on Ford's new Focus RS that may debut as soon as this summer's London Motor Show. The new Focus RS will get all the updates seen on the 2008 Ford Focus in Europe, which means it will combine the standard car's new Kinetic Design styling cues with big intakes, flares and a serious dose of attitude as seen above in the teaser image released last month. Autocar claims the new RS will be powered by the same 2.5L five-cylinder turbo from the Focus ST, but with modified pistons, cams and valve springs, a bigger turbo and a larger intercooler, all of which will bump power up from 222bhp to an impressive 280bhp. Autocar has also confirmed that power will be sent to the front wheels alone, but claims Ford has a new electronic front differential to keep the car steady under power. What transmission will be offered is still up in the air, with Volvo's new six-speed PowerShift dual-clutch gearbox still being considered.
The new Focus RS should be able to reach 60 mph in under six seconds without breaking a sweat, but its top speed will likely be governed to 155 mph. Projected pricing of around £25,000 is aimed squarely at the Volkswagen R32 in Europe, though the new Mitsubishi EVO X and Subaru Impreza STI are also in the car's crosshairs. We're happy for our European brethren that the new Focus RS sounds every bit as good as advertised, and continue to patiently wait until Ford's plan of integrating platforms on a global scale delivers unto us a worthy successor to the late, great Focus SVT.
[Source: Autocar]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Chris @ Jan 24th 2008 11:36AM
This (and all Euro-Ford posts) should come with a disclaimer: May cause depression.
tikirob @ Jan 24th 2008 11:38AM
Agreed!
500 @ Jan 24th 2008 1:45PM
I know that you can't directly compare prices of cars from the UK to the US, but c'mon, how many of you guys would pay $50 grand for this?
We don't know how good we have it in the US. $50K will buy us a nice Audi S4 or S5, Porsche Cayman, Chevrolet Corvette or BMW 335i convertible.
John Johnson @ Jan 24th 2008 2:16PM
From lots of Top Gear watching, I tend to find that US prices in dollars is roughly 1.5x British price in pounds. Often less. They go nuts for a car for 10k pounds. That's the price of a Civic Si over here.
A Golf GTI's base price is a hair over 20k in the UK. That's over $40k! Spec'ed up, it comes to 28,800 pounds. Close to $60k. It's a seemingly absurd amount to pay and I still don't get why they're so expensive over there, maybe someone can enlighten me. But, it's priced like a reasonably optioned GTI.
neko @ Jan 24th 2008 11:44AM
***Gets on knees and begs***
PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE BRING US THIS FRIGGIN' CAR!!! Oh and axe that Focus we have here. K, thanks.
Vel @ Jan 24th 2008 11:50AM
No 4WD? Not again... Living in Europe, that is the worst part of the news :(((
neko @ Jan 24th 2008 12:06PM
True, but have you seen the North American Focus? It is truely hideous inside and out. I think anyone on this side of the pond would be happy with the base model of the Euro Focus, since they are so incline to state that we don't like "high prices", small cars, hatchbacks and wagons. Living in Canada, I can easily say that the opposite is true. The same can't really be said across the border.
zamafir @ Jan 24th 2008 12:12PM
@Vel, I dunno, as much as I love AWD, sometimes it's more potent to go without. Take, for example, a Chipped MKV GTI vs the R32. Both have comparable power, and the R32 is slightly faster on the track, but the GTI has no issues beating it in a straight line and damn hear any practical application while returning better mpg. And with the correct rubber, traction isn't a problem, even with close to 300lb ft tq at the crank.
Vel @ Jan 25th 2008 2:14AM
Well I considered buying a Focus ST, but after taking it for a spin I wished it would have 4WD. Thats why I am waiting for the RS and I still hope they'll do 4WD. FWD messed up the otherwise brilliant MK1 RS. As proven: no matter how good the direffential is, it can't be as good ;)
John P. @ Jan 24th 2008 11:45AM
After the way Jeremy Cluckson raved about the Focus ST, and being the current two in a row WRC manufacturers World Champ. I think they'll have no problem selling everyone they make.
Not to snub the Subaru and Mitsubishi, both great cars, but I'd take this.
Ben H. @ Jan 24th 2008 12:28PM
And on that bombshell...
But seriously. Unless that new differential can handle the massive understeer as the Vauxhall VXR has, AWD would have been a better choice for that much horsepower.
carguy @ Jan 24th 2008 12:07PM
For those who really want a Focus RS - why not get a Mazda Speed3? Same platform but IMHO a better engine - the Volvo sourced 5 cyl is just not that good - and as an added bobus you won't have to endure a Ford dealer to get one.
xspeedy @ Jan 24th 2008 12:48PM
Looks for starters...
Owain Ozymandias Buck @ Jan 24th 2008 9:38PM
Looks +5!
Also, I trust our Ford dealer here more than the nearest Mazda shop. Have to go out of town for a Mazda anyway.
Also, I suspect so many of us focus owners are so disappointed in Ford for the abhorent '08, we won't feel right until they fix it or kill it.
But I promised I wouldn't bitch any more. Last time I did that on a Euro Ford post, I got told to grow up and buy what they're selling! ;)
I just wish they were selling a new focus wagon in 2010.
Scott @ Jan 24th 2008 12:14PM
I'm not sure how impressive 280hp is, when my '04 Volvo V70R has the same 2.5L five cylinder turbo, with 300hp. My guess is they had to detune it to keep from ripping the steering wheel out of your hands with all the power going through the front (regardless of the fancy E-diff).
I'm not sure why they fight adding AWD. That's what people want, that's what would represent a rally car for the street, and the C1 chassis is capable of AWD (ala the S40), so what's the problem? If it's cost, price for it...they already have the ST to take the middle, ground. Why not go after the Evo X, and STI with a full tilt RS model?
ello @ Jan 24th 2008 12:25PM
This Focus RS has as much in common with the WRC version of Focus as Pinto with Ferrari. In P-WRC (class that actually uses modified cars that you can actually purchase at your local dealership) Mitsubishi and Subaru is much better than Ford. While this Focus RS is a good car, it is in no way better than the new Evo X or STI.
JayP @ Jan 24th 2008 12:30PM
280hp to the front wheels is like dancing with your sister.
Owain Ozymandias Buck @ Jan 24th 2008 9:41PM
Well, that depends on how hot she is. I was born in Alabama.
John Johnson @ Jan 24th 2008 1:28PM
FWD ftl. They could have had a real money-maker. Make it AWD, sell it in the States.
It saddens me to see Ford want to be poor. They need to find the guys who decide where to sell these cars and what wheels to drive. Fire them. Hire me. Make dollars.
pmiddle5 @ Jan 24th 2008 1:32PM
5cylinder....yuccckkkk