VIDEO: Fifth Gear wrings out Ford's new 300 HP Focus RS
Click above to watch video after the jump
Ford officials who are already sick of American enthusiasts carping endlessly about how we fail to get the "good" Focus in the U.S. may want to consider signing up for some bigger mailboxes. The 2.5-liter, 300-horsepower RS model is just now going on sale in Europe, and videos like this new one from Fifth Gear probably won't help to stem the tide of invectives headed their way.
According to Fifth Gear, the RS returns a somewhat timid-sounding 0-60 mph time of 5.9 seconds, but the RS promises keenly balanced performance elsewhere, with turbo lag that can actually be deployed to assist handling(!). In sum, the UK television program refers to the Blue Oval's 163-mile-per-hour hatch as nothing less than "a bomb in a greenhouse." Excuse us while we go take up gardening...
[Source: YouTube]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
Hike15 8:05PM (2/25/2009)
So how will thi scompare to something like the mazdaspeed3 or cobalt ss...
Reply
alexacoon 8:13PM (2/25/2009)
Lets just say the Cobalt doesn't handle anything like this; the Mazda 3 is the same platform as the Focus but as far as I know they havn't promised anything quite like this under the hood.
Jake B 8:29PM (2/25/2009)
From my understanding the Cobalt SS handles superbly.
montoym 8:30PM (2/25/2009)
So I assume you mean the Cobalt handles better then?
If you are saying otherwise, there had better be some proof to back it up since many tests have proven the Cobalt SS to be an extremely well-handling vehicle. Basically, probably THE best handling FWD vehicle out right now.
LaughingTooHard 8:45PM (2/25/2009)
I beg to differ, you can knock the Cobalt for many things but handling isn't one of them.
In most of the comparisons I've seen the Cobalt in Sedan or Coupe holds its' own vs the MazdaSpeed 3 - acceleration, handling, braking and fun to drive.
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/car_shopping/quickest_cars_0_60_mph/the_quickest_cars_of_2009_20_000_to_25_000_feature
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=125288
Where the Cobalt falls flat on its' face is styling/materials and honestly, I do have to give the nod to the MS3 - it is just a better layout for most people and that includes me. Overall it is hard to fault the MS3's mix of power, space and styling.
That being said, if I can pick one up on the used market, the Cobalt SS would be a fine addition to the stable, but a Ford Focus RS would shame both the Cobalt and the MazdsSpeed3 in every way.
Noidor 8:59PM (2/25/2009)
RS is likely to be way more refined than Cobalt and a bit more ahead of Mazda MPS3. We already know that regular Focus has a superb interior, sound deadening materials, and overall low NVH levels.
As this car being popular in US...yes I firmly believe it would take fight to Mini S, Mustangs, EVOs, STis and so forth. I think it would be wrong to maintain that us having a Mustang would somehow detract from Foci.
Market is getting more and more fragmented and younger people want more and more variety in new products. Whether green, sporty, hardcore sport, suv, MPV, Cabrio, hatch, etc etc.
Also someone had mentioned that if car enthusiasts ran car companies then all that those companies would offer would be all out sports cars...that's very stupid comment to make...that type of thinking is precisely what got domestics into trouble in first place!
why not the LS2LS7? 9:43PM (2/25/2009)
noidor:
What actual info do you have to back this up?
Ben 9:44PM (2/25/2009)
Cobalt??? HAHAHAHAHAHA!! I beat that even with the SVTF.
Andrew L 10:29PM (2/25/2009)
The RS has that new suspension setup that kills Torque Steer which is a huge advantage over the Cobat SS
http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/journal/?p=2934
That's the link to the new setup... quite impressive
bigford87129 10:57PM (2/25/2009)
Just ask The Nordschleife in a few months.
why not the LS2LS7? 11:15PM (2/25/2009)
Torque steer is not caused by the suspension and it cannot be cured by suspension changes. It's not a huge problem on tracks anyway. You don't make tight 90 degree turns in 1st gear very often on tracks, and torque steer goes down (as torque goes down) in higher gears.
Power-on understeer is a bigger problem on tracks than torque steer.
Noidor:
I reread your post and I now think I understand you mean the interior will be more refined than the Cobalt, not the handling.
Noidor 12:29AM (2/26/2009)
@why not the LS2LS7?
That's a total strawman comment and you know it...
Noidor 12:45AM (2/26/2009)
Here's the autocar review:
http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Ford-Focus-2.5-RS/238343/
and www.4car.co.uk also has a review...both praise its accessibility of grip
mkevin88 12:59AM (2/26/2009)
@ben : troll begone!
on a side note, i need to get out of college and get into a career so i can afford a car other than the one my dad gives me.
( i do work as a sleep tech, but only 2 days a week so i can possibly pass my courses...and i yes know some of you brilliant minds out there worked 2 jobs 7 days a week in college, but i cant)
why not the LS2LS7? 3:05AM (2/26/2009)
Oh, seriously, you were saying the Focus is going to be more refined to drive than the Cobalt SS?
Okay, I have to go back and ask again then. Where is your information to back this up?
You post a review that likes the car. Wow that's great. There are plenty of reviews that like cars. This is true of the Cobalt SS also. Do you have anything explaining how this car sets a new bar for refinement in the class?
jonjwlee 5:50AM (2/26/2009)
I've never driven a Euro Focus or a Cobalt SS, but people who doubt the RS is better-handling than an SS are underestimating the incredible reputation Ford has garnered in Europe for superb road manners. Not for nothing the Focus ST is tied with the Golf GTI as king of hot hatches.
And while it's true that the Cobalt too has great reviews, so does a Nissan GT-R. And do you really think a $23k Chevrolet with crude rear suspension can beat a 470bhp sports car?
BigMcLargeHuge 8:06AM (2/26/2009)
jonjwlee,
Why the hell would you bring up the GT-R here?
I'm tired of people inserting "GT-R" in place of "(insert any applicable comparable car)" in sentences.
It just doesn't make sense to start talking about handling and finishing with HP.
Ben 8:32AM (2/26/2009)
@mkevin88
You're kidding me, right? A Cobalt to beat the SVTF or even then Focus RS? I've had one for lunch and I'm sure the FRS will do more than that.
Ben 8:47AM (2/26/2009)
Oh wait...why am I arguing with a kid?? (mkevin88)
Facepalm.
MikeW 11:06AM (2/26/2009)
The '09 Mazdaspeed3 needed wider tires, 215/45 18 are for show. It should of had 235/45 17.
This car has 235/35 19 (page down a bit) (where's the sidewall?)
http://www.autozine.org/0_News/Archive/2009_01/News.html
Why not, torque steer[ing] comes from applying power to the front wheels unevenly. I highly suggest you look at the virtual axis steering of your A6 2.7tt