Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Video: Ford of Europe shows how the Focus RS 500 comes together]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/08/video-ford-of-europe-shows-how-the-focus-rs-500-comes-together/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/08/video-ford-of-europe-shows-how-the-focus-rs-500-comes-together/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/08/video-ford-of-europe-shows-how-the-focus-rs-500-comes-together/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Ford Focus RS 500 on the assembly line - Click above to watch video after the jump

It takes quite a bit to build one of the world's hottest hatches. We are, of course, talking about the Ford Focus RS 500. While the car may start life as nearly identical to the standard Focus hatch, the hottest Focus quickly sets about a path of factory modification that starts with a unique hood and wraps up with a special intercooler, bodywork, spoiler and wheels - all slathered on by hand. In between, everything from the car's trick flexy bits to the wild 350 horsepower, turbocharged 2.5-liter engine make their way on board via the miracle of the assembly line.

How do we know all this? Ford has released a video, of course. The company recently churned out a quick flick detailing the production of the devilishly fast little hatch at its Saarlouis manufacturing facility. We even get a look at the guys and gals from 3M as they wrap the car in matte black vinyl. Hit the jump to enjoy.


Gallery: 2011 Ford Focus RS500

2011 Ford Focus RS500

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Ford of Europe shows how the Focus RS 500 comes together

Video: Ford of Europe shows how the Focus RS 500 comes together originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Focus RS 500Focus RS500FocusRs500Fordford focus rs 500Ford Focus RS500FordFocusRs500RS 500Rs500VideoThu, 08 Jul 2010 16:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19546451/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/07/08/video-ford-of-europe-shows-how-the-focus-rs-500-comes-together/19546451/article-detail.xml 19546451 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/focus-rs-build-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/focus-rs-build-630.jpg <![CDATA[Ford Focus RS rolls off this mortal coil with WRC-style white wheels]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/16/ford-focus-rs-rolls-off-this-mortal-coil-with-wrc-style-white-wh/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/16/ford-focus-rs-rolls-off-this-mortal-coil-with-wrc-style-white-wh/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/16/ford-focus-rs-rolls-off-this-mortal-coil-with-wrc-style-white-wh/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Alas, poor Focus RS, we knew ye not at all. We're not sure which is the biggest tragedy - the fact that Ford never graced the U.S. with the joy that is the company's wild hatchback or that the three-door is already being sent out to pasture. Either way, buyers in the UK can now equip their new RS models with a set of slick rally-inspired wheels. For the low cost of just $741 at current conversion rates and including the Britain's notorious Value Added Tax, Ford will be happy to install a set of white, 19-inch WRC-style wheels. Of course, that's according to the press release. Something tells us the final price tag could be well north of that figure by the time the dealership gets through with you.

Ford's UK dealers have sold the company's entire allotment of RS 500 hatches, but a handful of the standard RS models are still hanging around. While the white rollers wouldn't completely make up for missing out on the 305 horsepower monster that is the hottest of the hot, they will certainly be a collectors item in a few years. Click past the jump for the press release.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford Focus RS rolls off this mortal coil with WRC-style white wheels

Ford Focus RS rolls off this mortal coil with WRC-style white wheels originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FocusFocus RSFocusRsFord Focus RSFord Focus RS 500FordFocusRsFordFocusRs500RSRS 500RS500Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19519046/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/06/16/ford-focus-rs-rolls-off-this-mortal-coil-with-wrc-style-white-wh/19519046/article-detail.xml 19519046 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/focus-rs-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/focus-rs-630.jpg <![CDATA[With the Focus RS500 sold out in UK, Ford creates official upgrade kit for RS]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/with-the-focus-rs500-sold-out-in-uk-ford-creates-official-upgra/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/with-the-focus-rs500-sold-out-in-uk-ford-creates-official-upgra/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/with-the-focus-rs500-sold-out-in-uk-ford-creates-official-upgra/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2009 Ford Focus RS - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford committed an outright insult to humanity when it only produced 101 examples of the Focus RS500. Even at over $54,000 at current conversion rates, the cars sold out licked-split in the UK, leaving plenty of diehard Blue Oval fans without the hottest of the company's hatches. In an attempt to right that wrong, Ford has released an upgrade kit that will give the standard 305 horsepower RS the teeth it needs to run with the big-daddy RS500.

The engineers at Ford have managed to pull an extra 45 horsepower from the turbo I5 by swapping out the stock intercooler and air box for trick Ford Racing pieces, bolting on a higher volume fuel pump and remapping the stock ECU. The whole kit will set you back around $3,000, which means you could be in an RS500 clone for nearly $10k less than what the real deal would cost you. We'll take ours in Frozen White, please. Hop the jump for the press release.


Gallery: 2009 Ford Focus RS (green)


Gallery: 2009 Ford Focus RS (blue)


[Source: Ford]

Continue reading With the Focus RS500 sold out in UK, Ford creates official upgrade kit for RS

With the Focus RS500 sold out in UK, Ford creates official upgrade kit for RS originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Focus RSFocus RS500FocusRsFocusRs500FordFord FocusFord Focus RSFord Focus RS Upgrade KitFord Focus RS500FordFocusFordFocusRsFordFocusRs500FordFocusRsUpgradeKitRS Upgrade KitRS500RsUpgradeKitUpgradeMon, 19 Apr 2010 16:20:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19445216/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/04/19/with-the-focus-rs500-sold-out-in-uk-ford-creates-official-upgra/19445216/article-detail.xml 19445216 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/focus-rs_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/focus-rs.jpg <![CDATA[Ford Focus RS500 already sold out?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/06/ford-focus-rs500-already-sold-out/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/06/ford-focus-rs500-already-sold-out/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/06/ford-focus-rs500-already-sold-out/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


2011 Ford Focus RS500 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Well, that didn't take long, did it? We knew the new 2011 Ford Focus RS500 would move fast, but not quite this fast. Powered by a 2.5-liter five-cylinder that produces 345 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque, Ford's hottest hatch one-ups even the already bonkers Focus RS with its piddly 305 horsepower and 325 lb-ft. Considering that the RS is capable of a 0-62 mile per hour sprint of under six seconds and a top speed of 163 mph, the RS500 should clock in around 5.6 seconds.

What we didn't expect was the fact that the RS500 would sell so quickly. With their matte black paint, 19-inch wheels and all that performance on tap, we certainly expected them to be a hot commodity, but if Autocar is to be believed, the whole run of 500 units has already sold out - some 12 hours after the reveal. Sales will be spread out over 20 European markets, with the UK getting 101 units, Germany getting 55 cars, France receiving 50 and Belgium scoring 50 units, with Denmark, the Czech Republic and Greece getting five units each, while Ireland receives three.

The best part of the story is the fact that all 500 units are already spoken for, even before prices have been announced. Ford is said to be sorting through the letters of intent from customers to figure out dealer allocations. And don't forget, the order books don't formally open until May. With the regular RS trading above sticker on the used car market, we're guessing there will be more than a few flippers in the initial owner group.


Gallery: 2011 Ford Focus RS500 (Europe)

2011 Ford Focus RS500 (Europe)

[Source: Autocar.co.uk]

Ford Focus RS500 already sold out? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 focus2011 Focus RS5002011 Ford2011 ford focus2011 Ford Focus RS2011 Ford Focus RS5002011 RS5002011Focus2011FocusRs5002011Ford2011FordFocus2011FordFocusRs2011FordFocusRs5002011Rs500focus rsFocus RS500FocusRsFocusRs500fordford focusford focus rsFord Focus RS500FordFocusFordFocusRsFordFocusRs500Rs500Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19428378/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/04/06/ford-focus-rs500-already-sold-out/19428378/article-detail.xml 19428378 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/630-focus-500rs_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/630-focus-500rs.jpg <![CDATA[Five days to the Ford Focus RS500]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/26/five-days-to-the-ford-focus-rs500/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/26/five-days-to-the-ford-focus-rs500/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/26/five-days-to-the-ford-focus-rs500/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ford Focus RS 500 on the test track - Click above to watch video after the jump

On March 31 we're going to find out about a thing called the Ford Focus RS 500. The Blue Oval has posted a video of the even-more-hotted-up Focus doing a twilight round of its European test track in Lommel, Belgium. And it sounds rather... fierce. We're trying to figure out exactly what the 500 stands for: Units? Horsepower (don't be silly!)? Something else?

While we stew, you can follow the jump and listen to the sound of it in the video. And if any of you know what's coming, feel free to let us know in the comments.

[Source: Focus RS 500]

Continue reading Five days to the Ford Focus RS500

Five days to the Ford Focus RS500 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>focus rsfocus rs 500FocusRsFocusRs500ford focusford focus rsford focus rs 500FordFocusFordFocusRsFordFocusRs500videoFri, 26 Mar 2010 12:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19415882/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/03/26/five-days-to-the-ford-focus-rs500/19415882/article-detail.xml 19415882 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/focusrs500tese_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/focusrs500tese.jpg -1 2