True Blue: First Focus RS rolls off Ford assembly line in Germany
Click above for a high-res image gallery of the Ford Focus RS
Ford reconnected this week in earnest with the 38 year history of its RS badge when the first production Focus RS rolled off the assembly line in Germany. The 300 horsepower front-drive hot hatch is being built at Ford's Saarlouis plant, alongside the rest of the European-spec Focus line-up, but with the performance bits (including a trick differential) installed by a dedicated team of technicians.
The Focus RS is the most extreme performance version of the company's staple hatchback, taking the Focus ST we drove in Belgium as its point of departure, and then dialing it up to 11. Unfortunately, while 20 European countries are slated to receive the Focus RS when it hits the market in April, it isn't slated to reach the American market; at least not in its current incarnation. But with Ford's new focus (sorry) on integrating its products globally – including the merger of the European (TeamRS) and American (SVT) performance engineering divisions – maybe, just maybe, we could see an RS version of the next Focus Stateside.
Gallery: 2009 Ford Focus RS (green)
Gallery: 2009 Ford Focus RS (blue)
[Source: Motor Authority]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Franz 4:36PM (1/21/2009)
If Ford NA sold this car, I think it'd definitely sell well.
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Flashpoint 9:37PM (1/21/2009)
I'm not sure why they don't sell this in America. Perhaps they enjoy losing market share to Civics.
Randy 11:30AM (1/22/2009)
I think it's on its way! Give Ford 365 more days for them to take their gloves completely off after regaining their stance like Rocky in round 15 versus Ivan Drago and to start swinging like an American Bad Ass and taking back market share, swing by swing and hit after hit.
Yo Adrian! I did it!
why not the LS2LS7? 4:36PM (1/21/2009)
I seriously don't get the excitement. It's still FWD. Although that's not the end of the world, if I wanted a FWD hot car I could have been driving a Cobalt SS or Mazdaspeed 3 for years now.
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Red 4:52PM (1/21/2009)
Ford claims it's RevoKnuckle is better integrated than many AWD systems. We'll see, but Car Magazine says their claims seem to be spot on.
Gomi 5:01PM (1/21/2009)
yea, why would anyone want a fun little car with power, great handling, that looks great? morons!
AEIOU 5:03PM (1/21/2009)
The old Focus RS (still FWD) made it around the Top Gear test track in 1:32.2...which is faster then a Audi TT 3.2 Quatro (1:32.7) and VW Golf GTI R32 (1:33.3)....both AWD setups. Now, add 75 hp to that same clever diff and look out!!! While I agree power to all four wheels would be nice, I don't think it would make the car much better.
I'm thinking this car might dip into the 1:29's in the hands of the stig, putting it in the same class as an Evo VIII!!!!
ack154 5:29PM (1/21/2009)
Last time I looked at a Cobalt SS, it still looked like a Cobalt; awful.
This, on the other hand, strikes my fancy quite well.
At this point though, I'd settle for a Focus ST to the States.
pmiddle5 5:52PM (1/21/2009)
Also its a 5cyl which is just sinful to me
ajmalzx 6:13PM (1/21/2009)
I pity the fools who kept saying FWD is slower than AWD. Obviously you guys never driven the FD Civic type R. It'll keep up with a stock Evo 8 easily B-roads even with a 80bhp deficit.
why not the LS2LS7? 7:35PM (1/21/2009)
AEIOU:
Again, I'm not saying you can't make an FWD performance car. I mentioned two good ones that also are very fast, almost certainly faster then the TT you mention.
I'm saying why is this one a big deal when we already have several good ones?
Red:
Steering geometry cannot fix the problem presented by the traction circle.
ack154 8:00PM (1/21/2009)
"I'm saying why is this one a big deal when we already have several good ones?"
I think there are two reasons...
1) It's a Ford.
2) We can't have it.
Ya, you could get a Mazda 3 that could be technically be a Ford... but it's just not the same.
pmiddle5 1:21AM (1/22/2009)
^^^ word.....
If we diddnt get the Cobalt SS it would be the best car everrrrr....
I do think the suspension stuff is nice for torque steer but this thing will still power understeer like a beast and will not really have traction until the top of 3rd gear I'd guess
moa 7:09AM (1/22/2009)
maybe revoknuckle does wonders but still 300hp sport hatch rs has the same 0-60 as 230hp awd family hauler - forester.
SimbaDogg 4:19PM (1/22/2009)
you're an idiot. you'd be awfully surprised that a japanese civic type r, FWD w/ 220 hp was actually faster on the track than an ap2 s2000 (240 hp). trust me, FWD cars setup correctly could easily your cherry 86 IROC t top.
phoenexius 4:36PM (1/21/2009)
ahh, the ol' http://asdf/ link
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Farmboy 4:40PM (1/21/2009)
That blue is gorgeous. Better than the green. Still, Ford has beautiful paint colors right now.
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firstplace 4:40PM (1/21/2009)
well, it would be nice with awd, but I guess not enough people would buy them here.
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Alex 4:57PM (1/21/2009)
Nicely done - we'll have to wait and see how long it will take for it (and if) to reach the states...let's say...2025? Any bidders...?
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revvo 5:08PM (1/21/2009)
2025? That soon? Impossible!
Ford still believes that this focus would not sell here because of its high pricetag that it would carry. Engine's made in England and everything is assembled elsewhere in Europe. It would cost an arm and a leg for us to buy a Euro Ford when you consider all the import bs fees that would get into it.
By the time it gets here ready for us, your better off buying a bimmer or Audi