Officially Official: 2009 Ford Focus RS
by Alex Nunez on Jul 4th 2008 at 9:34AM 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the new Focus RS
Yesterday brought the sneak peek, but today we've got the real deal. The new Ford Focus RS is is mean and green (we mean that in the literal sense, thanks to its killer-looking paint color), and it will make its debut at this month's London Motor Show. While the RS is still under development, the car being put on display isn't exactly a concept, either. Some details might change here and there before it reaches showrooms in 2009, but ultimately, what you see here is what European drivers are going to get. The wide, low-slung stance, intimidating fascia, racy dual exhaust, and requisite high-mount spoiler are all part of the package. Follow the jump for more
Gallery: 2009 Ford Focus RS (green)
Click any image to enlarge
Pop the vented hood on the Focus RS and you'll find a 2.5-liter turbocharged Duratec 5-cylinder tuned to dish out 300 PS (295 hp) and 302 lb-ft (410 Nm). All that juice is directed to the front wheels -- a passport to Torque Steer Hell under normal circumstances. In the case of the RS, however, Ford has developed a front suspension system unique to the car that it dubs,"RevoKnuckle". It works in concert with a Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing limited-slip differential to mitigate the effects of the torque steer enemy. All-wheel-drive was apparently considered, but weight concerns left it off the table. As soon as the European motor press gets its hands on this rocketship early next year, we'll know exactly how well this configuration works.
Dynamic capabilities are said to live up to the standards of the RS moniker, and to hear Ford tell it, the (fully defeatable) ESP is only there to save your bacon when you really get yourself into trouble. It's not designed to be a handling aid. When restraint is called for, the 19" wheels hide brake discs sized 336mm and 300mm front-to-rear.
The driver's office is also a nice place to be, with color-keyed Recaros; a straightforward IP layout with a supplemental gauge pack atop the center stack; a 6-speed manual gearbox; and plenty of metallic and carbon-fiber-look accents. This is normally where we'd bitch about not having the Euro Focus, but since we now know that it's on the way, we'll just say that we really, really hope that "RS" translates to "ST" in American English.Ford's press release follows below.
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PRESS RELEASE:
NEW FORD FOCUS RS: A LEGEND RETURNS
- London Motor Show preview for exciting new Ford Focus RS
- Genuine RS performance with 300PS
- Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing limited-slip differential and innovative 'RevoKnuckle', for assured handling and traction
- Expressive design exudes high performance intent
The new Focus RS will go on sale in early 2009 and is being created by a small team of dedicated engineers, under the direction of Jost Capito, Ford of Europe's Vehicle Line Director for Performance Vehicles.
For performance road car enthusiasts, the new model will mark a welcome return for the Ford RS badge. This will be the second Focus model to carry the RS mantle and promises another exciting chapter in an exciting 40-year story that began in Germany in the late 1960s and gained momentum across Europe with the launch of the 1970 Escort RS1600.
Capito said: "We want the new Focus RS to be a serious high performance car – as much a car for driving enthusiasts as the one before it and classic Ford RS models of the past. We're staying true to the core RS principles of an exciting, yet affordable performance road car you can live with every day."
Authentic RS presence and style
Before it even turns a wheel, the new Focus RS exudes the presence, sporty style and lowered, 'meaner' appearance expected of a genuine Ford RS. Overt performance styling details mix with subtle revisions to create a planted, powerful stance and the promise of an exciting drive.
The London show car previews the design intent for a final production vehicle, though as development work continues, some final details may change before volume production begins.
The vehicle is finished in a special bright green paint with inlaid metallic flake, a striking, modern interpretation of the 1970s Le Mans Green of the Escort RS1600 era.
The vibrant exterior colour is contrasted with a number of performance styling details highlighted in gloss 'piano black', including the strip at the leading edge of the bonnet, the deep housings for the integrated front fog lamps and door mirrors with integrated side indicators.
Front and rear quarter panels have been revised to incorporate wider wheel arches and a wider track, complemented by revised, deeper side rocker mouldings. In another visual reminder of the car's performance potential, triangular, RS-badged vents sit behind the front wheel arches. Two classic-style bonnet louvres are both a styling hint at the power beneath and a practical requirement, maintaining correct system temperatures.
The completely new front bumper design for Focus RS incorporates a deep front airdam with a large, mesh lower grille in an extended trapezoid. Stylish and practical, this prominent feature represents the latest Ford 'kinetic design' face and also is finished in piano black. Above, chromed xenon headlamps stand out like cat's eyes and are framed by matt-black housings with unique additional vents running underneath.
At the rear, a deep new rear bumper incorporates a large venturi tunnel to its lower edge with small vents at each corner of the bumper, emphasizing the car's width. Two impressive chromed exhaust tailpipes sit each side of the black venturi, creating a purposeful rear view for the car.
Above, a unique, twin-element, black RS rear spoiler sits at the Focus RS' roofline, echoing both RS models of the past and the World Rally-winning Focus WRC that has been its inspiration.
"We believe it's vitally important that a Focus RS looks like both a Focus and an RS – it needs to be individual, distinctive and overt in its performance styling, but it also needs to show a clear progression from and relationship to Focus ST", said Stefan Lamm, Chief Exterior Designer, Ford of Europe.
High performance interior
Inside, this theme continues with a unique and appropriately performance-oriented interior, dominated by bespoke, sculpted Recaro high-performance sports seats, specially designed and trimmed for excellent support, even when driving enthusiastically. Each is colour-matched to the exterior, with ebony leather accents and 'RS' and 'Recaro' logos stitched into each backrest.
Elsewhere, colour brings new excitement to the Focus interior, building on the sporty interior theme of Focus ST with more use of accents matched to the exterior colour, brushed aluminium highlights and overt performance styling. Even the rear seats feature higher side bolsters and a microfibre finish to echo those up front.
The centre console is finished in a stylish gloss, carbon-look trim and metallic highlights abound, from air vents, door grab handles, switchgear and gearshift surround, to unique RS-branded scuff plates on the door sills. These highlights contrast with a black-trimmed roof lining, emphasising the sporty, cockpit feel.
The driver is reminded this is a special Focus at every touch, with a gear lever finished with a six speed gear shift graphic in RS blue, a sporty, three-spoke steering wheel, finished with 'Ford' and 'RS' logos and even aluminium foot pedals. The performance driving environment is completed by three additional gauges from the Focus ST, including turbo pressure, sitting atop the centre console and angled toward the driver's eyeline.
Powerful RS heart
At the heart of the all-new Focus RS is a specially developed, turbocharged version of the Duratec 2.5-litre 5-cylinder engine. Significantly revised for high performance, this powerplant is targeting an impressive power output of 300PS and over 410Nm of torque, contributing to an excellent power-to-weight ratio.
Such significant increases are not simply the result of altering engine management or boost pressure: starting with the Duratec 2.5-litre block, Ford RS engineers developed unique camshafts, a revised cylinder head and gasket and revised intake and exhaust manifold system for the car.
Although the car is still in development, prior to its launch in early 2009, early performance testing indicates a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) time of under six seconds.
A traction 'Revo'-lution
Throughout Focus RS' development, Capito and his team have been keeping a sharp focus on creating a car that delivers excellent performance and traction.
Various innovations, developed as a result of customer feedback from previous performance Fords, have allowed engineers to keep the new Focus RS as front-wheel drive, with a limited-slip differential, while still achieving demanding targets for traction, handling and steering.
The new Ford Focus RS is equipped with an innovative front suspension system known as a 'RevoKnuckle', which is designed to reduce unwanted steering disturbance and torque steer, the impact of torque on steering in front-wheel driven vehicles. Torque steer occurs during hard acceleration, cornering or driving on uneven surfaces, when torque on the driven wheels exceeds grips levels. It is characterised by sudden turning force on the steering wheel and can be exacerbated by vehicles with wide tyres and limited-slip differentials.
In Focus RS, the RevoKnuckle works in conjunction with a Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing limited-slip differential. Ford Team RS engineers have worked closely with Ford's Advanced Research Centre in Aachen, Germany to develop the RevoKnuckle technology specifically for the high performance Focus RS. It allows the simplicity of a traditional McPherson strut arrangement, but with geometry settings that minimize steering disturbances and torque steer, principally a reduction in steering offset.
"The Ford Focus is an excellent base for a high performance car – agile, responsive and stable," explained Capito. "We studied at length how best to enhance these qualities for a high performance model. Our work has shown clearly that our approach in combining a tuned RevoKnuckle with the Quaife differential is an ideal solution for a high performance front-wheel-drive road car like Focus RS.
"As you would expect, we gave all-wheel-drive careful consideration, but by combining and tuning these elements and learning from Ford's expertise in industry-leading handling, we have managed to eliminate the weight of AWD from the car and still have been able to target a class-leading balance of traction, handling and performance.
"The result is a lightweight set-up, that will deliver the right blend of traction and razor sharp controllability – in a way no one would have expected from front-wheel-drive, and we believe we have made the right choice," Capito concluded.
Dynamic, agile and responsive
A genuine Focus RS must maintain and enhance the reputation for responsive, precise handling for which Focus is acclaimed and considerable engineering effort has ensured that the new Focus RS will do just that.
Driving quality developments for Focus RS include a 40mm wider track, stronger, longer driveshafts, revised springs and dampers and a thicker, longer rear anti-roll bar. At the same time, the steering system has been retuned to provide an even sharper steering response and very precise feedback.
Brakes also have been uprated, with 336mm ventilated front discs and 300mm rear discs generating vice-like stopping power on road or track. Large calipers peek out from behind unique 19-inch wheels, wrapped in 235/35 low profile Continental tyres.
A special version of Ford's ESP system has also been developed for Focus RS, designed to allow a very sporty driving style before activating. Intensive work to refine the natural handling abilities of the car has allowed the ESP system to carry a full de-activation option for enthusiast drivers and especially for track use.
"We are refining all the handling characteristics of Focus RS without ESP, to hone its natural responses, rather than use ESP to help its handling. In Focus RS, ESP is a pure safety device", explained Capito.
Reliable and durable
In creating the new Focus RS, Ford's Team RS engineers have had to meet the same stringent targets for durability and reliability as those set for the rest of the Focus range.
Despite its many bespoke engineering and styling elements, Focus RS will be built entirely on the main Focus production line in Saarlouis, Germany and offered with a standard Ford of Europe warranty.
A great heritage
The new Focus RS represents a significant moment in the heritage of both the Focus and Ford RS brands.
It is 10 years since the Ford Focus was first revealed to the world at the Geneva Motor Show in 1998, paving the way for a range of Ford vehicles whose exciting design was matched by class-leading driving quality. Since this time, more than 5.3 million Ford Focus models have been built in Europe, including Russia, with the car also built and sold in North America and Asia.
At the same time, the new Focus RS marks the return of the famous but rare Ford RS badge, last seen on the first-generation Focus RS in 2002 and with a distinguished heritage stretching back 38 years including Fiesta, Escort and Sierra models.
"RS is uniquely important to us in terms of our performance heritage and World Rally Championship success, while the Focus has played a major part in establishing Ford's excellent reputation for driving dynamics," said John Fleming, Ford of Europe President and CEO. "The all-new Focus RS will embrace and celebrate both of these – it will be a genuine RS and a genuine Focus and I'm confident it won't disappoint in either area".
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
bakka 9:37AM (7/04/2008)
LUV that colour! Yummy!
Reply
Dave 9:44AM (7/04/2008)
I've driven the euro Focus in Finland on a long distance trip. Great car and great interior. If they had the euro Focus here now I would definitely consider it...as it stands now I will be ignoring Ford.
Reply
geo.stewart 10:10AM (7/04/2008)
All I can say is WOW. that could take on so many brands here and outclass.
I REPEAT, Does Ford want to know what to do with Mercury? this is it. small volume Euro-level niche vehicles.
someone at Ford get on here and tell me why not
why not the LS2LS7? 1:33PM (7/04/2008)
geo.stewart:
That's the same plan GM has for Saturn. Right now it isn't working out that well. Maybe things will change though.
jgp 2:31PM (7/04/2008)
Well, there's always the Volvo S40...
It's as close to the Euro Focus as you can get in the US.
grummyso 9:48AM (7/04/2008)
It's a great car. But don't you think it's too...green? I mean...I don't know. I like the spoiler that is not at the same colour with the bpdy car, the front grill it's great.
Yeah, looking good looking good mama, but the colour...
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steveo391 11:11PM (7/04/2008)
I'll take a blacked out version
Brent 9:53AM (7/04/2008)
Is that Kawasaki Green!?
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saken 9:57AM (7/04/2008)
It's a pity that they made it FWD. But anyway , it looks zero cool, best looking small hatch I have seen.
It should be called "Green Snake". :)
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/355630822_9b4aa9bd81.jpg
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Dave 10:41AM (7/04/2008)
I loved my NX2000 with FWD and limited slip. Was great fun to drive!
Is the extra weight of AWD worth it just for low traction situations?
Paul Bensman 10:20AM (7/04/2008)
Wake up ford, the US need your European models now. Not when your running a going out of business sale!
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renmimby 10:45AM (7/04/2008)
Did someone say "understeer"?
295bhp through the fronts + damp or wet road surface = twenty odd grand wrapped round a tree
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Chase 12:06PM (7/04/2008)
Did someone say "armchair expert"?
Understeer is caused by bringing too much velocity into a turn -- not by acceleration. So, it really doesn't have much to do with the FWD layout, but more to do with the way suspensions are designed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Understeer
Note that the Cooper S and GTI have lower understeer ratings than plenty of RWD cars.
Torque steer, however, is a major problem with FWD cars.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torque_steer
However, this RS has an LSD in addition to that special axle, which together should all but eliminate torque steer. It would probably be able to handle 500 hp with few drawbacks. In smaller cars with well made suspensions, FWD is just as fast or even faster than RWD or AWD because of the weight savings.
renmimby 12:41PM (7/04/2008)
If you accelerate too hard in in the middle of a corner in a 295 horsepower front-wheel drive car, the front wheels will lose traction, and the car will try to go in a straight line.
Alfa 147 GTA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1RozImNvzk
@2:14
Vauxhall Vectra VXR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPHNPmfTopQ
James Sonne 12:50PM (7/04/2008)
And who cares about understeer/oversteer anyway?! The point of racing is to maintain as much traction as possible at all times.
Also, it doesn't matter which characteristic your car has, you compensate. If your car understeers, you turn in early and accelerate early through a turn. If your car oversteers, you turn in late and accelerate late through the turn. No matter which characteristic, the car still accelerates for the same amount of time. And FWD vehicles are more efficient because of fewer drivetrain components, so you get more of your power to the ground and use less fuel meaning you can lap more, spending less time in the pit.
Torque steer is a quality of poorly designed suspension, and is present no matter which wheels are being driven. If you gun it from a stop in a RWD vehicle, the tail end spins sideways and you lose your line and have to compensate via the steering wheel. The FWD vehicle also loses grip and the front end spins sideways, and the same correction methods prevail. An LSD is not by rule of thumb a cure for torque steer, as it simply diverts power to the wheel with the most traction (possibly exacerbating the problem is poorly matched to the vehicle), but could via control mechanisms compensate.
The true issue is the wheel's toe and camber qualities. FWD with slight front toe in and camber out should alleviate torque steer, and RWD with slight rear toe in and camber out should do the same. Concomitantly, the reverse is also true. FWD with rear toe out and camber in will induce oversteer, RWD with front toe out and camber in will produce understeer.
It has nothing to do with the drive wheels, but with your vehicles suspension. And who goes to a track or autocross without proper suspenssion anyway? Who cares what the car does from the factory? They design cars by US Federal Highway safety regulations for understeer by law, because they believe it's easier for people to understand and recover from.
Again, nothing to do with the drive wheels.
James Sonne 12:51PM (7/04/2008)
And who cares about understeer/oversteer anyway?! The point of racing is to maintain as much traction as possible at all times.
Also, it doesn't matter which characteristic your car has, you compensate. If your car understeers, you turn in early and accelerate early through a turn. If your car oversteers, you turn in late and accelerate late through the turn. No matter which characteristic, the car still accelerates for the same amount of time. And FWD vehicles are more efficient because of fewer drivetrain components, so you get more of your power to the ground and use less fuel meaning you can lap more, spending less time in the pit.
Torque steer is a quality of poorly designed suspension, and is present no matter which wheels are being driven. If you gun it from a stop in a RWD vehicle, the tail end spins sideways and you lose your line and have to compensate via the steering wheel. The FWD vehicle also loses grip and the front end spins sideways, and the same correction methods prevail. An LSD is not by rule of thumb a cure for torque steer, as it simply diverts power to the wheel with the most traction (possibly exacerbating the problem is poorly matched to the vehicle), but could via control mechanisms compensate.
The true issue is the wheel's toe and camber qualities. FWD with slight front toe in and camber out should alleviate torque steer, and RWD with slight rear toe in and camber out should do the same. Concomitantly, the reverse is also true. FWD with rear toe out and camber in will induce oversteer, RWD with front toe out and camber in will produce understeer.
It has nothing to do with the drive wheels, but with your vehicles suspension. And who goes to a track or autocross without proper suspenssion anyway? Who cares what the car does from the factory? They design cars by US Federal Highway safety regulations for understeer by law, because they believe it's easier for people to understand and recover from.
Again, nothing to do with the drive wheels.
AngeloD 10:47AM (7/04/2008)
Impressive sports coupe.
If Subaru finds a market for the WRX in N. America I don't see why Ford couldn't sell the Focus RS here in numbers also.
It looks like the perfect replacement for my old Escort GT
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Torrent 10:49AM (7/04/2008)
I like the color. I guess the closest thing we'll be getting to this is the Verve. *sigh*
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Jonathan Diggs 11:06AM (7/04/2008)
ford is so stupid !! this car is not comming to the USA! you let mitsu/ subaru have a market all to themselves and you have a silver bullet to shake up the mix,,, and its a wonder you are having trouble staying relivent in the car market
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Matt 5:14PM (7/04/2008)
Yes Jonathan, because the ENTIRETY of the U.S. car market is dependant on a few entries into the thrity five thousand dollar ricer niche...