Filed under: Euro, Paris Motor Show, Hatchbacks, Ford
Paris 2008: Live shots of the Ford Focus RS
Click above for more live shots of the Ford Focus RS in Paris
Ford's new Focus RS has made its second European debut and we've managed to snag some live shots of the new car on the stand. Covered in Ultra Green paint as it is, we could hardly miss it. The new hue is meant to be "a modern interpretation of the 1970's Ford Le Mans Green." In that case, perhaps it should be called Grabber Green? Powered by a turbocharged Duratec 2.5L five-cylinder producing about 300 horsepower and 325 ft-lbs of torque, the new Focus RS is the fastest European Ford ever produced and can hit 60 mph in under six seconds. Front-wheel drive was chosen in lieu of all-wheel as the Blue Oval's 'RevoKnuckle' front suspension system along with the Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing limited-slip differential is said to remove all traces of torque steer. Expect to see the new Focus RS in European dealerships sometime in 2009.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Stumpy 4:37PM (10/03/2008)
It's not easy being green. Other than that, very good looking car. I would SO drive one State-side.
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arturo 4:18AM (10/05/2008)
I love this piccolo green, it already matches my green Kawasaki, and my green polo shirt. lol i am just looking for a green gf.
s13hybrid 4:40PM (10/03/2008)
I like it, but I can't get over the fact that it is FWD. If it had AWD and came to the US I would definitly look at getting one (not in green), and I don't even like Ford.
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Pete 5:09PM (10/03/2008)
Give the "RevoKnuckle" a chance. If it does as they claim, what is the difference if it's FWD or not? Less weight, less drivetrain loss, less cost. The last RS is a legend...one of the best handling cars Top Gear has ever driven. It beats a WRX on the track, so really...no issue. Jeremy Clarkson was raving about it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBHQobVdk9U
JD 5:27PM (10/03/2008)
You know, I agree, I'll give revoknuckle a chance before I judge, but my mazdaspeed3 is FWD and has 263 hp. It's pretty intense. You really need to be paying attention when you hit it, it likes to pull right even at highway speeds when you gun it. My only other gripe is that even assuming revoknuckle works with the handling, with that much power and FWD, it would be awfully hard to get a quick, clean take off in the wet. My car can't be punched in first or second when the road has water on it (even third is a bit of a crap shoot), and AWD would certainly fix that. But again, that adds weight and cost, neither of which is fun.
tankd0g 10:55PM (10/03/2008)
Take a drive in a Speed3 some time, you'll soon realize a well designed FWD with limited slip is all you'll need. Besides, I store my "nice" cars for the winter. There's plenty of AWD beaters around for winter use.
Rev 2:38AM (10/04/2008)
I agree with JD (and many reviewers): I've driven an MS3 twice and it only reinforced my dislike for FWD. I have a WRX - it goes forward and I can modify it with the steering wheel. Very simple and predictable. Coming out of a turn and having all four paws snatch onto the road never gets tiring...
The MS3? A different story. Go over some train tracks or bumps and the front wheels hop around the road, the steering wheel twists and turns in your hands.
And when you try to do any sort of peppy driving it only gets worse. I guess I can't stand the sensation of being dragged around by the front wheels. Worse is forcing your front wheels to try to do both turning and acceleration at the same time. At any point of driving the MS3 it was very apparent and to me, unenjoyable.
Also didn't enjoy the slippery mystery shifter. Especially trying to drive off from a start in 3rd gear a couple times. Hated the droning engine note.
I actually enjoy the regular Mazda3 much more: same interior/exterior (as far as most can tell), it's an easy to drive, economical and practical hatch. That's what I think the 3 shines as...
But for the money, I agree the MS3 is a speedy offering...
I'd rather have a cheap beater and have a AWD/RWD car for fun. Can't see doing it any other way. 20+ years of driving mostly FWD cars is not something I look back on fondly...
knifetramp 4:43PM (10/03/2008)
Seriously nice!!!!
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What the... 4:44PM (10/03/2008)
Reads specs...pauses...closes browser window and places face in hands and weeps like a nine year old girl
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BoneHeadOtto 4:51PM (10/03/2008)
read the price and you'll stop crying / caring i bet
Eric Liberatore 4:53PM (10/03/2008)
Is the car you use in your "By The Numbers" graphic?
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inteller 4:55PM (10/03/2008)
I'd rather get the C30 under development with the Haldex AWD.
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Cornholio 5:01PM (10/03/2008)
Very nice. I'd buy one.
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Yipcanjo 5:05PM (10/03/2008)
VERRRRRY nice, and I would *love* to see those circling around these United States of America.
Pipe dream?
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judd 5:18PM (10/03/2008)
Are they still wondering why they are not making money in the US?
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Torrent 5:25PM (10/03/2008)
Now the race is on to see which can come here first. the RS or the C30 with 300 horsepower..........
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Cardude 5:25PM (10/03/2008)
Oooo! Nice! Hot paint job, cool shape, way to go Ford!
300 hp & 325 lbs/ft, THAT is the proper way to do an American performance car!
Bring it on over Ford to battle it out with the Japanese sport compacts!
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James 5:37PM (10/03/2008)
it might REDUCE torque steer but it won't help the wheelspin caused by 300 horsepower going through the front wheels.
This really should've been AWD.
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tankd0g 10:55PM (10/03/2008)
You prefer the clutch smoke of 300 hp trying to go through 4 wheels? I'm sorry but what you see WRC cars do on TV is not what a production AWD car behaves like. Unless drag racing on dirt is all you do, you're going to be very happy with the reduced weight and drivetrain losses of this Focus over an STI.
RITmusic2k 1:01PM (10/06/2008)
It most certainly will help with wheelspin -
The Quaife differential is sort of like a Mechanical Jesus in your driveline.
It's not technically an LSD, it's actually like a Torsen - as soon as a wheel starts spinning, power is handed over to the other wheel.
So at worst you get a little back-and-forth while each wheel fights to be the one with more traction and you'll spin both wheels on launch (which is not necessarily slower than, and is often faster than a no-spin launch)... but this is only a problem for drivers who have no concept of throttle modulation.