Europe to get new Focus RS

[SVT666]

Europe to get new Focus RS

Ford's legendary RS badge returns this summer on the latest-generation Focus, although it won't go on sale until 2009. A concept version of the 300-bhp stormer will be unveiled at the London Motor Show in July to whet the appetites of Europe's motorsport fans.

The project has been constantly under review, but with Ford of Europe just missing out on a $1 billion profit last year, there's sufficient cash in the bank for the car to get the commercial go-ahead.

Power will probably come from a twin-turbo version of the Volvo-sourced 5-cylinder currently used in the Focus ST model, with clever electronics to minimize lag and ensure good in-gear performance. While the RS will boast Ford's Getrag version of a dual-clutch transmission, it will not utilize all-wheel drive. That would have piled on cost and added weight to the car. It will, however, boast a trick electronic differential developed with British specialist Quaife.

Knowing what a good job Jost Capito's Special Vehicle Engineering department has already done with the Focus ST, the RS should be one heckuva road rocket ? and affordable, too.

[Submariner]

Well...we get the Focus with MP3 capibility...so suck on that Europe!

[CALL_911]

It really sucks that we don't get it, but I guess the C30 works.

[MX793]

It really sucks that we don't get it, but I guess the C30 works.

Performance-wise, a Mazdaspeed3 is probably closer to the hi-po Euro Focus than the C30 would ever hope to be.

[hotrodalex]

Performance-wise, a Mazdaspeed3 is probably closer to the hi-po Euro Focus than the C30 would ever hope to be.

Yeah, the C30 isn't close to a MSP3, performance-wise. It's softer and more of a cruiser than a track star.

[Raza]

The Focus RS will likely be FWD, if the spy shots are any indication.  This should be interesting.

[Sigma Projects]

still wished it had AWD... I really wondering when Ford has to produce some homologation version for WRC or has WRC stop needing that?

[FoMoJo]

still wished it had AWD... I really wondering when Ford has to produce some homologation version for WRC or has WRC stop needing that?

There's some information in this link...http://www.rallycars.com/Cars/Cars_Background4.html

It seems that they don't have to produce any 'street legal' homologation specials.

[Nethead]

AWD on said Focus would make a US-legal version well north of $40,000--maybe north of $50,000.  There are reasons they haven't sent the WRC versions here. And Ford of Europe howls every time someone suggests building all of them on a common "world" chassis that meets all European, Asian, Australian, African, and North/South American legislative requirements--arguing no doubt quite correctly that a US-legal version would add complexity and weight but nothing worthwhile--not to mention the constant revisions needed every model year to keep abreast of legislative caprices the world over.  Just keeping ahead of EU legislation is challenging enough, I'm sure.  Within the US there are California emissions standards differing from the Federal emissions standards and numerous states have varying ride-height/road-hazard-clearance standards.  Canada has DRL vehicle regulations, and I've no clue what modifications would have to be made to a Focus to meet Mexican vehicle regulations...and that's just the legal issues to be faced in North America... 

Several years ago it was calculated that making a US-legal version of the top model of European Focus would have to retail starting at $30,000 US. Would anyone here pay $30,000 for a Focus--even a much-improved Focus?  Me neither...and we've had three of them and still have and love one of those three (for which we paid $11,780 plus T&L in 2003).