Autoblog

McChip introduces Ford Focus RS with 401 horses - Are you lovin' it?

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Hatchback, Ford, UK

401-hp Ford Focus tuned Mcchip-dkr - Click above for high-res image gallery

There are few things we love more than hooning around in a vigorous, purebred sports car - and that's exactly how Mcchip-dkr describes its 401-horsepower Ford Focus RS. That's the Stage 2 version delivering the "whole-blood athlete," but if you want to work your way up to those heights, you can get the Stage 1 conversion for €799 ($1,142 USD). You'll take your hatch from 301 stock horsepower to 345 and bump torque by about 50 lb-ft to 383 with an ECU upgrade.

But if 401 is your lucky horsepower number and you like the sound of 457 lb-ft. of torque, then you'll need €4,499 ($6,421 U.S.). That pile of pounds will give you access to a new manifold, uprated intercooler, spark plugs, and a sports exhaust as well as the necessary ECU tweaks. Mcchip-dkr thankfully didn't do anything regrettable to the Focus RS' already terrific looks. What they've done with torque steer outside of the stock RS' trick Revoknuckle and limited-slip setup is anyone's guess.

Have a look at the press release after the jump, and there are more images of the car in the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Mcchip-dkr Focus RS

[Source: Mcchip-dkr]

Continue reading McChip introduces Ford Focus RS with 401 horses - Are you lovin' it?

McChip introduces Ford Focus RS with 401 horses - Are you lovin' it? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2009: The rest of the best at the Ford display

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:39:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Ford

The rest of the Ford display - Click above for high-res image gallery

SEMA is an interesting show. We go in knowing full well that 60-75% of the cars we'll be walking past and/or covering are just trash. Sorry if this bombshell offends anyone, but your Chrysler 300C doesn't need 26-inch hoops, nor seventy gallons of sparkle orange paint. Or diamonds. But, as Doyle Brunson might say if he covered cars instead of being the Godfather of Texas Hold 'Em, that's SEMA.

We mention this in the "other Fords" post because some of these custom FoMoCos look fantastic, or at least pretty good. But 60-75% of them, well, we're not entirely sold. Let's start with the good. Despite the two-tone paint job, we're pretty darn smitten with the Fusion T4 by MRT above. More cars need big old intercoolers taking up the whole lower fascia. And while they might be an inch (or three) too big, the wheels are nice. And that white Lincoln MKS? Nice.

But then you got the other cars contained in this here gallery, and... um.... we like the Lincoln MKT, because well, we just like MKTs. But we're not sold on the Focus upgrades, especially since Ford saw fit to bring a Euro Focus RS to the show. Game, set, outmatched. And don't even get us started on the Edge they've cooked up here. Specifically, the wing on the back. No really - see for yourself.

Gallery: SEMA 2009: The rest of the Ford display

SEMA 2009: The rest of the best at the Ford display originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Loder1899 heats up Ford's already cookin' Focus RS

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Ford

Loder1899 Focus RS - click above image for hi-res gallery

Here at the Autoblog, we get accused of many things. From somehow making a living off of the Ford Mustang to dating other male journalists to "FAIL!" we've heard it all. In fact, we hear the latter a lot. One that particularly sticks in our collective craw is the accusation that we somehow prefer American aftermarket tuners to foreign ones. So untrue. It's really a matter of access, as in all the American tuners live here in America (where we do) and they let us drive their cars around. It's hard to do that when a PR budget is tiny and the car's in Dusseldorf. Also, sometimes, things are lost in translation -- we'll get to that later.

Case in point - here's a car we'd give canines and molars to drive - in stock form. Meet the Loder1899 Ford Focus RS. The oddly named German tuner took Ford's 300 horsepower hottie Focus and, to quote Emeril, kicked it up a notch by BAMMING the output to 345 hp. Which is exactly as much horsepower as the Porsche 928 was making in 1995, the last year of its run. And the Porsche had a 5.4-liter V8.

The Loder1899 Focus RS has but five cylinders, less than half the porker's displacement (a scant 2.5-liters and one humdinger of a turbocharger). However, they've added a Y-pipe for greater growling, a new air filter for better breathing and dropped the ride height by 35 mm (a bit more than an inch). The tires are filled with nitrogen and we love the wheels, too. Plus, they left the Insanity Green or whatever that color's called. Sounds and looks like this side of fantastic to us.

Oh, we promised you more the lost in translation part later on. Well, while Loder1899 has a whole bunch of information on their hopped up Ford Focus RS on their website, it's all in German. But we're living in 2009 baby - no problemo. Just run that stuff through Google's translator, right? Not exactly... world's first NSFW press release after the jump!

Gallery: Loder1899 Ford Focus RS

[Souce: Loder1899 via EVO]

Continue reading Loder1899 heats up Ford's already cookin' Focus RS

Loder1899 heats up Ford's already cookin' Focus RS originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Ford Focus RS falls short of record with 8:26 Nürburgring lap time

Noah Joseph — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Ford

Click above to watch the video after the jump

Point to point, the Ford Focus RS is touted as the fastest vehicle the company has ever made. It reportedly lapped Ford's Lommel test track in Belgium, where we had the chance to sample the second-fiddle Focus ST, faster than the Ford GT supercar. But it's still wasn't fast enough to set a new Nurburgring lap record for its class.

As promised, Ford took its latest hot hatch around the 'Ring in pursuit of the front-drive record currently held by the track-focused Renaultsport Megane R26.R, which set a blistering time of 8 minutes, 17 seconds. Ford's time? 8 minutes, 26 seconds. The session, which you can watch in the pair of videos after the jump, was held in conjunction with German car mag Sport-Auto, whose editor-in-chief Horst von Saurma-Jeltsch, a noted master of the Nordschleife, performed the driving duties. And while the Focus RS may have come up some nine seconds slower than the Renault, you can bet Ford will give it another shot or two before claiming defeat.

Gallery: 2009 Ford Focus RS (green)

[Source: CarScoop]

Continue reading VIDEO: Ford Focus RS falls short of record with 8:26 Nürburgring lap time

VIDEO: Ford Focus RS falls short of record with 8:26 Nürburgring lap time originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Fifth Gear pits Ford Focus RS vs. Mitsubishi Evo X

Chris Paukert — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Videos, Hatchback, Ford, Mitsubishi, UK

Click above to watch the video after the jump

Yesterday, we showed you Fifth Gear's take on the new Audi R8 V10 - notable more for their footage of the gorgeous blue test car than for much in the way of actual performance driving and analysis. In an effort to correct that oversight, we've found you another clip of the UK television show that features not just one enthusiast car - but two cars, Ford's stonking new Focus RS and the Mitsubishi Evolution X. Better still, the fearsome twosome tangle on the track in a pair of tests with hot shoes Tiff Needell and BTCC champion Jason Plato at the wheel.

It's a scrap as the touring car scion takes on the rally-bred hero, so check out the front-drive versus all-wheel-drive pocket rocket madness after the jump.

Gallery: 2009 Ford Focus RS (green)

[Source: Fifth Gear via YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Fifth Gear pits Ford Focus RS vs. Mitsubishi Evo X

VIDEO: Fifth Gear pits Ford Focus RS vs. Mitsubishi Evo X originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Ford passes on bringing current Focus RS to America

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 27 May 2009 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Hatchback, Ford, UK, Specialty

UPDATE: Ford just wrote us to clarify that while the all-new Focus RS just introduced in Europe won't be for sale in the U.S., "Ford intends to bring some new RS' to the US (as we've already seen in the spy photos of the white car) to use as marketing assets for feedback from enthusiasts" and media.

Ford Focus RS - Click above for high-res image gallery

In an interview with Jost Capito, head of Ford's global performance, it came out that - yet again - the picture of the Focus RS above is the closest Americans will get to the Blue Oval's hottest hatch. As quoted in UK's Autocar magazine, Capito's exact words are: "Sadly, no. We'd like to, but the base car isn't homologated for North America, and that's too costly a job to carry out just for a niche vehicle like the RS."

Note that this doesn't contradict what was said last time - that the next-generation RS might come to the U.S. since the coming Focus is being developed as a global platform with North American federalization in mind. So let's put this one to bed so we can all get on with our lives and cease pining for the current Focus RS, shall we? We need to turn our attention now to pining for the next Focus RS...

Gallery: Paris 2008: Ford Focus RS LIVE

[Source: Autocar]

REPORT: Ford passes on bringing current Focus RS to America originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 May 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: World's Fastest Jet Pack vs. Ford Focus RS

John Neff — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Etc., Videos, Hatchback, Ford, Humor

Click above to watch video after the jump

We're all for alternative forms of transportation here at Autoblog, and we're not just talking about hydrogen fuel cells and lithium ion batteries, either. We're talking jet packs! Eric Scott is a 46-year-old Go Fast! Jet Pack pilot from Denver who became the first jet-propelled man to cross the 1,053ft-wide Royal Gorge Canyon in his home state of Colorado last year. This past week he also became the fastest jet-propelled man alive when he was clocked going 68 mph at Knockhill Racing Circuit in Scotland. What better way to follow up a record-setting jet pack run than to drag race a Ford Focus RS? The impromptu race occurred at the circuit with BTCC champ Gordon Shedden behind the wheel of the lime green Focus RS. Who do you think won? We'll tell you now because it's not altogether obvious in the video after the jump. The jet-propelled man narrowly beat out the Focus, but considering Scott's rig can only carry 30 seconds worth of fuel, we think the Ford could take him with a little more road.

[Source: YouTube via TarMag]

Continue reading VIDEO: World's Fastest Jet Pack vs. Ford Focus RS

VIDEO: World's Fastest Jet Pack vs. Ford Focus RS originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 May 2009 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill Entry No. 3,256 - North America could get next-gen Ford Focus RS

Noah Joseph — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:27:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Hatchback, Ford, Rumormill

2010 Ford Focus RS - Click above for a hi-res gallery

Could the North American market finally get the Ford Focus RS? According to the latest reports, it could happen. But not until after the next-generation model debuts in a couple of years. Like the new Fiesta, the next Focus is being developed as a global product, with the North American market in mind as much as those overseas. And with the amalgamation of Ford's performance divisions in the United States and Europe - SVT and Team RS, respectively - an RS version could reach American shores in a few years' time.

According to Automotive News, Ford's global performance guru Hermann Salebauch says the potential for a U.S.-market Focus RS depends entirely on demand. That is, if enough American buyers want an RS, it could happen. So what do you think, should Ford give its home market a smokin' hot hatch based on the next Focus? Leave your thoughts in the comments section because... well... who knows?

Gallery: 2009 Ford Focus RS (green)

Gallery: Paris 2008: Ford Focus RS LIVE

[Source: Automotive News]

Rumormill Entry No. 3,256 - North America could get next-gen Ford Focus RS originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Focus RS heads to 'Ring in search of a class record

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:32:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Hatchback, Ford, Renault, Specialty

2010 Ford Focus RS - Click above for high-res image gallery

Pretty soon, it seems like the start of Nürburgring lap time season will take its place on motorsports calendars the same way you find with Formula 1 and NASCAR. The 'Ring season officially began last week, and the title card pitted the 2009 Ford Focus RS against the Renaultsport Megane R26.R. The Ford's numbers are 297 hp and 324 lb-ft; the Renault posts 230 hp and 229 lb.-ft, and the Megane's time stands at 8:16.9 (not 8:12) on its Toyo track-friendly rubber.

For the first round, the detuned 250 hp Focus RS test car managed 8:27 on "standard Continental tires," so Ford is reportedly looking at the full-fat 297 hp car to do around 8:15. Word is if they can get that close, they'll consider adding the Toyo Cup tires to the customer options list, which could subtract at least three seconds from the Focus' time and allow it to take home the 'Ring trophy for hot hatches. Ford will be back at the 'Ring next week to give it a go. Cheating? Perhaps. Pointless? Maybe. Fun for us to watch? Definitely. Hat tip to yaroukh

Gallery: 2009 Ford Focus RS (blue)

Gallery: Renaultsport Megane R26.R

[Source: Driving Spirit]

Ford Focus RS heads to 'Ring in search of a class record originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Will the new Focus be Ford's last RS?

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 19:25:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Ford, UK, Rumormill

Rumor has bubbled up that this latest Ford Focus RS will be the last. That, however, isn't the most outrageous part of the story - after all, just a couple of years ago there were rumors that the RS badge would disappear on the MkII. And the reasons for the rumor aren't wild, either: the cloudy state of world finances and the pressure of emissions laws means hi-po gas-powered rockets have no place to grow.

The most outrageous part of this rumor comes when it's written that "all the firm's focus will be on economical and eco-friendly vehicles such as hybrids and electric cars." Not some of Ford's attention, but all of Ford's attention. A Ford source apparently bolstered that by saying "it's likely to be the last car of this type you will see from Ford." Not just the last RS, but "the last car of this type."

We hope this is just a sales ploy, some planted hysteria to boost RS sales. Because if it isn't, and Ford really won't be doing any hot little cars, that will mean a far sadder state of affairs than merely the loss of the RS line. Unless, of course, Ford means that the next Focus RS will be 300 hp, 302 lb-ft... and electric?

[Source: iMotor Mag]

Will the new Focus be Ford's last RS? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Mar 2009 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda3 MPS/Mazdaspeed3 rumored to appear at Geneva Motor Show

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Mazda

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Mazdaspeed3

We've already seen the 2010 Mazda3 in sedan and five-door form, but as much as we love the standard model in all of its guises, there's one variant we're anxiously awaiting. The 2010 Mazdaspeed3 (or MPS to our friends abroad) is on the way, and according to our sources, it's coming to the Geneva Motor Show in March.

The 2010 MS3 has some huge shoes to fill after we fell in love with the current model during its time in the Autoblog Garage. We've gotten confirmation that the prototype spied at the Nurburging in October is, in fact, the new Mazdaspeed variant, although it's still unclear what turbocharged engine is being fed by that massive hoodscoop.

Early reports indicated that Mazda's boffins were hard at work retuning the current turbo'd 2.3-liter four-cylinder for duty in the 2010 model, but why invest the time in an upgrade when there's a perfectly suitable - and hugely powerful - 2.5-liter five-cylinder available from the Ford parts bin? The turbocharged Duratec fitted to the 2010 Focus RS seems like the obvious choice, with 295 hp and 302 lb-ft of torque being channeled to the front wheels through a six-speed manual and limited slip differential. We can hope - no, pray - this is Mazda's plan. And we're going to find out in just over two months time.

Gallery: 2010 Mazdaspeed3 - spy shots

Mazda3 MPS/Mazdaspeed3 rumored to appear at Geneva Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Focus RS starting abroad at �24,995

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Ford

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Ford Focus RS

The 2009 Focus Rallye Sport has a price: £24,995 when it goes on sale in the UK in March. That will put you about £4,000 over a Focus ST3, but for that extra money you get a car that could be much closer to Ford's WRC competitor than it is to its ST3 sibling. The 300 horses and 325 ft-lbs is channeled through a six-speed manual to the front wheels, and a wider track joins beefier driveshafts, thicker anti-roll bars, tuned springs and uprated dampers.

The car comes with a bodykit that only an RS could wear, as well as things like heated door mirrors and windshield, xenon headlights, Recaros, and Ford's Easy Fill fueling system. Only a few options are available, the ritziest one being the Luxury Pack that will give you things like automatic climate control and rear parking sensors. Thankfully, based on how popular these cars are among the five-finger set, an alarm is also standard. You can check out the full release after the jump and the gallery of high-res photos below.

Gallery: 2009 Ford Focus RS (blue)

Continue reading Ford Focus RS starting abroad at �24,995

Ford Focus RS starting abroad at �24,995 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty: Ford Focus RS gets its blue on

John Neff — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Ford

Click above for high-res image gallery of the Ford Focus RS

The most popular car color in Europe may be Black, but the new Focus RS isn't one for blending in a crowd. Until now we've only seen images of the car in a bright, almost Kermit-like green color, but now thanks to iMotorMag.com based in the UK, we have a gallery's worth of new images that shows off the fastest Ford ever produced for Europe. iMotorMag tells us that we still have to wait until this Friday, December 12th, for official performance specs and pricing from Ford, but they do let slip the new RS will reach 62 mph in 5.9 seconds. That may not sound so fast for a car brandishing a 296bhp turbocharged five-cylinder engine, but remember that European Fords are famous for their balanced handling over brutal straight-line speed. That's why we're so excited Ford's turnaround plan for North America involves selling the next-gen European Focus here in the U.S. Maybe one day we'll know what it's like to drive the extroverted Focus RS. Until then, have fun in the gallery below.

Gallery: 2009 Ford Focus RS (blue)

[Source: iMotorMag.com]

Pics Aplenty: Ford Focus RS gets its blue on originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paris Preview: 2009 Ford Focus RS revealed... again!

John Neff — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:20:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Ford

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Focus RS

Though it first debuted the 2009 Focus RS at the London Motor Show in July, Ford of Europe will do it again at the Paris Motor Show next month and today has given us even more info about the fastest European car to ever wear the Blue Oval badge. The '09 Focus RS is powered by a turbocharged Duratec 2.5L five-cylinder producing about 300 horsepower and 325 ft-lbs of torque and can reach 62 mph in less than six seconds on its way to a top speed of 162 mph. The front-wheel-drive pocket rocket will channel all that energy to the ground through a Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing limited-slip diff and what Ford calls the 'RevoKnuckle' front suspension. We couldn't explain how it works, but Ford found the system so effective at reducing torque steer that a heavier all-wheel-drive was taken off the table during development.

While we first saw the '09 Focus RS in July, Ford has released even more images of the car including details shots of the diffuser, hood louvers, wheels and fender vents. Ford has also revealed that in addition to 'Ultimate Green', buyers will be able to order their RS in Performance Blue and Frozen White. Those orders will be fulfilled sometime in early 2009 when the cars begin arriving in dealerships. Check out the new pics in our gallery below and read Ford's official press release after the jump for all the info you'd ever want to know about the 2009 Focus RS.

Gallery: 2009 Ford Focus RS (green)

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Paris Preview: 2009 Ford Focus RS revealed... again!

Paris Preview: 2009 Ford Focus RS revealed... again! originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: 2009 Ford Focus RS

Alex Nunez — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 09:34:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Ford, Misc. Auto Shows

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)

Continue reading Officially Official: 2009 Ford Focus RS

Officially Official: 2009 Ford Focus RS originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jul 2008 09:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Chop or not? Ford Focus RS revealed in Autobild

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 09:04:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Hatchback, Ford

We've already seen the teaser put out by Ford of its new Focus RS, but the crew at Autobild - a bastion of journalist integrity in Germany - has reportedly dropped the first ever shots of Ford's hottest of hot hatches. Rolling on 18-inch OZ wheels and sporting many of the front-end elements seen in the teaser, our first reaction to this supposed exclusive first peek was, "That looks like a Focus ST with a nose job and some photochopped wheels."

The profile shot is the most glaringly obvious design foible. It's hard to imagine any production model with its wheels shoved that snug up against the fender liner - not to mention the horrid lighting. Another noteworthy skepticism includes the fact that the OZ rollers don't have the blue center-cap that's shown on the rolling shots. So we're calling "foul," unless one of our German-speaking readers can give us translation of the text where Autobild admits that it's a mockup. Top tippage Joe!

[Source: Autobild via FocalJet]

'Chop or not? Ford Focus RS revealed in Autobild originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Feb 2008 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Details of new 280bhp Ford Focus RS revealed

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:26:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Ford

Autocar claims to have the skinny on Ford's new Focus RS that may debut as soon as this summer's London Motor Show. The new Focus RS will get all the updates seen on the 2008 Ford Focus in Europe, which means it will combine the standard car's new Kinetic Design styling cues with big intakes, flares and a serious dose of attitude as seen above in the teaser image released last month. Autocar claims the new RS will be powered by the same 2.5L five-cylinder turbo from the Focus ST, but with modified pistons, cams and valve springs, a bigger turbo and a larger intercooler, all of which will bump power up from 222bhp to an impressive 280bhp. Autocar has also confirmed that power will be sent to the front wheels alone, but claims Ford has a new electronic front differential to keep the car steady under power. What transmission will be offered is still up in the air, with Volvo's new six-speed PowerShift dual-clutch gearbox still being considered.

The new Focus RS should be able to reach 60 mph in under six seconds without breaking a sweat, but its top speed will likely be governed to 155 mph. Projected pricing of around £25,000 is aimed squarely at the Volkswagen R32 in Europe, though the new Mitsubishi EVO X and Subaru Impreza STI are also in the car's crosshairs. We're happy for our European brethren that the new Focus RS sounds every bit as good as advertised, and continue to patiently wait until Ford's plan of integrating platforms on a global scale delivers unto us a worthy successor to the late, great Focus SVT.

[Source: Autocar]

Details of new 280bhp Ford Focus RS revealed originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Focus RS could beget Volvo C30R

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 10:03:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Volvo

Mere minutes after receiving word that Volvo would begin producing the C30 hatch, we've been speculating about the possibility of a performance version that would evolve the stylish three-door into a GTI competitor. The announcement that Ford is developing a new Focus RS has given us even more reason to be hopeful. Pure speculation and performance prognostication says that the 2.5-liter turbocharged mill shouldn't be an issue since it's already fitted into the C30 and its platform siblings, the Focus ST and S40, plus, all-wheel-drive could be part of the equation.

A 300 hp C30R has the potential of joining the Mazdaspeed3 as another way of satiating our desire for a hot Focus, and if the price, we're smelling a hit.

[Source: Swedespeed]

Thanks for the tip, Paul!

Ford Focus RS could beget Volvo C30R originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Dec 2007 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One less to pine for: Ford Europe drops MkII Focus RS plans

Alex Nunez — Fri, 25 May 2007 10:57:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Ford

Click image for a gallery of the 2002 Ford Focus RS

One of the most desirable pieces of forbidden fruit from the Ford of Europe stable was the Focus RS. Based on the Mk1 Focus, the RS sported WRC-inspired looks and handling, and was powered by a turbocharged 215-horsepower 2.0L Duratec that spun the front wheels. Auto Express is now reporting that the next RS, which was to be based on the freshened MkII Focus coming in late '08, expected to boast 300 horsepower and 4WD, has been scrapped.

A UK buyer who had placed a deposit told the publication that his money was returned, saying the dealer informed him that the project was scrapped due to emissions concerns. Ford has dispelled that notion, telling Auto Express that a sound business case for the car simply couldn't be made at this time. Before our European readers get too upset, the mag says that the RS could come back on the radar for the MkIII refresh scheduled for sometime in 2010.

At least we'll be spared the ignominy of being taunted with another awesome Europe-only Focus for the time being.

[Source: Auto Express]

Gallery: 2002 Ford Focus RS (EU)

One less to pine for: Ford Europe drops MkII Focus RS plans originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 May 2007 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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