Ford reportedly turning its back on production Fiesta RS
The Ford Fiesta RS has been canceled before – back in 2005 – and yet the rambunctious little hatchback lived to tell the story. Rumor has it that the hottest Fiesta has been canceled again, but these being changed times (and coming on the heels of news that the factory-tuned Fiesta ST has been canceled) it will be much more difficult for the even hotter RS to play the resurrection game.
If this news is true, the reasons for the RS being canned are the same as it was the time: meager profit potential. The Fiesta ST reportedly has a chance of being revived in 2012, but until then, it's apparently standard models for everyone.
[Source: EVO Magazine via 4 Wheels News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Tango 6:43PM (3/31/2009)
no!
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AZZO45b 8:04PM (3/31/2009)
No is right & "NO" is also my future business with Ford. The RS fit onto my shopping list... now I will shop Ford's competition.
This is a perfect example for the irritating "Buy 'Merican" sheep that question why I don't support my home state industry. The Big 3 always find ways to serve me a Vanilla cone without any sprinkles!!!
The 80's Ford Escort RS?.... nah, we have a U.S. specific model. 90's hot European Ford hatchbacks??... nah we have the econo Focus line. Touring car inspired Mondeo??? ... Nah we have the Contour.
Dear Mr. Ford CEO.... Your WRC Focus is sweet... How 'bout a rally inspired Focus in the USA. Answer: NAH! Americans have no clue what WRC is. Then Subaru & Mitsubishi have sales successes with the WRXsti & the Evo.
I'll buy from a company who caters to my demographic. Thanks & good luck.
GOT 9:10AM (4/01/2009)
Ford turns their back on a hot-hatch (Fiesta or the current pos Focus) and I turn my back to them.
I guess it takes bankruptcy before these pos auto manufactures realize that they need to make something to be desired (I think most of the reason they are hurting is because of their lackluster products, that people have to buy rather than WANT to buy)... or not.
tankd0g 6:43PM (3/31/2009)
It's not like we were ever going to see one anyway.
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Yaroukh 6:54PM (3/31/2009)
Ah, these rumors...
BTW there are also people who claim that there will be AWD Focus RS at last. (I for one don't believe that, but one AWD prototype has been actually built.)
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Bigbuck17 7:01PM (3/31/2009)
That one looks funny anyway the regular Fiesta looks better IMO.
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Alex 9:16AM (4/01/2009)
That looks like the last generation Fiesta RS.
Bloke 7:54PM (4/01/2009)
The Fiesta pictured is a fifth-generation model, not a current sixth-generation Fiesta ... not really that difficult in all honesty.
aaron 7:09PM (3/31/2009)
I'm just glad we're getting the regular Fiesta in the US for the first time since the 80's...
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John 7:20PM (3/31/2009)
Don't forget about the tuners. I believe Ford is already working with them on some hot compacts.
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Rich 7:21PM (3/31/2009)
The Fiesta RS is a hot hatch. A compact is a woman's face treatment.
Yaroukh 7:59PM (3/31/2009)
Ford Fiesta 140 by Mountune Performance: http://www.mountuneperformance.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=86:new-fiesta-140&catid=39:latest-news
Rich 7:20PM (3/31/2009)
Hm. The ST has been cancelled, but that would be less of a reason to cancel the RS, not more. It makes complete sense to keep one hot hatch on the lineup, and it might as well be the hottest.
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fizzandpop 7:22PM (3/31/2009)
This is an age old conundrum. Ford know that any hot Fiesta will cannibalize hot Focus sales. It's why the old XR2 was never an XR2i (back in the days when 115hp was considered hot). The only way to get around it is to make your bigger car f'ugly (see Peugeot 305).
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Yaroukh 8:01PM (3/31/2009)
> Ford know that any hot Fiesta will cannibalize hot Focus sales.
No way. They're both in a different class. Or does BMW M5 canibalize M3?
fizzandpop 8:05PM (3/31/2009)
People don't think in car classes. They think fast small Ford. Know your Europeans before typing.
Yaroukh 8:14PM (3/31/2009)
@fizzandpop: I happen to be one European. And I'm yet to hear anything about Fiesta ST canibalizing Focus ST. I rather heard that ST sales were a pleasant surprise for Ford itself. (1/3 of them sold in not-exactly-cheap Electric Orange.)
Fiesta canibalizing ST is pure non-sense.
Yaroukh 8:30PM (3/31/2009)
@fizzandpop:
http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=22652
"Contributing to this figure was Ford's new high perform-ance Focus ST of which more than 4,000 examples were sold between its production start in October 2005 and the end of January 2006 – exceeding the company's expectations."
Jake B 11:59AM (4/01/2009)
If Ford can cost effectively produce a vehicle that sells some units they need to friggin' do it. Maybe Ford feels spread too thin or something?
Bloke 7:56PM (4/01/2009)
The XR2 received a fuel injected unit in the third-generation car, and badged XR2i. The third-gen RS version however used a turbocharged version of the same engine.