Holy Crap!!!

[SVT666]

Ford to debut 350-horsepower Focus RS500 next week
03/26/2010, 4:42 PM
BY ANDREW GANZ

 
Ford is just 5 days away from debuting a high-performance ?last hurrah? for its second-generation world market Ford Focus. Dubbed the RS500, the high-zoot hatchback is expected to boast a 350-horsepower, 2.5-liter turbocharged inline five-cylinder engine.

That figure bests the current Focus RS (pictured) by 45 horsepower and it?s expected that the RS500 will retain the standard RS? front-wheel-drive setup. Look for a six-speed manual to help put the power to the wheels. According to Auto Express, the powertrain was tuned by Mountune.

Aside from a more outlandish bodykit and some additional matte black touches, the RS500 will likely look and feel a lot like the limited-production RS. Only 500 Focus RS500s are expected to be assembled, with about half allocated for the United Kingdom and the rest mostly going to Europe. A few might make their way into other markets, but the United States and Canada will certainly not be on the official import list.

Ford is set to debut the Focus RS500 on March 31, although it is unclear just where the unveiling will occur. That date coincides with the New York Auto Show, but with such limited production, a North American-specification variant would be highly cost-prohibitive.

Focus RS500 Video

[AutobahnSHO]

the United States and Canada will certainly not be on the official import list.

HOLY CRAP.

[SVT666]

Go here for photos

[nickdrinkwater]

That looks really nice.  The new car will struggle to top it IMO.

Any word on price?  I'm guessing ?30k.  Give me this over the (overpriced) Golf R anyday.

[the Teuton]

I like it, I want it, but I cannot fathom handing all of that power through the front wheels, trick diff or not.

[r0tor]

why go to all that effort and keep it FWD?????

[the Teuton]

Ford has AWD systems that will work for that car.

[Colin]

HOLY CRAP.

No chance........

According to Ford:

101 units of the Focus RS500 will be allocated to Great Britain
3 to Ireland
10 to Portugal
20 to Spain
56 to France
50 to Belgium and Luxembourg
10 to the Netherlands
55 to Germany
50 to Switzerland
45 to Italy
32 to Austria
5 to the Czech Republic
10 to Poland
6 to Hungary
12 to certain countries in Eastern Europe
5 to Greece
10 to Finland
10 to Sweden
50 to Denmark
5 to Norway

[mzziaz]

50 to Denmark
5 to Norway

5 to us, well there's hope.
Wonder why Denmark gets ten times that amount.

Maybe the car is more competetive there?

[Catman]

[r0tor]

^ 2 driven rear wheels short of one completely badass car...

[S204STi]

why go to all that effort and keep it FWD?????

It's still plenty quick.  Search Y0utube for "Focus RS vs Nissan GTR".  There's a review where they run them down some Welsh country roads and find that the Focus is pretty darn quick and entertaining even with less HP and FWD.

At any rate, if I were $$$ with the wherewithal to just collect awesome cars, this would certainly be on the list.

[Colin]

5 to us, well there's hope.
Wonder why Denmark gets ten times that amount.

Maybe the car is more competitive there?

Don't know..... cars are viciously expensive in Denmark, as there is something like a 180% tax on them. I'm sure that Ford have calculated carefully what they think the demand will be.

Mind you, Renault thought they did that with the Megane R26R, and ended up sending several of the UK cars back to France as they could not sell them all in Blighty.

[Raza]

Looks pretty sick!

That looks really nice.  The new car will struggle to top it IMO.

Any word on price?  I'm guessing ?30k.  Give me this over the (overpriced) Golf R anyday.

With only 500 being produced, I wouldn't be surprised to see it top 40K GBP.

[Onslaught]

 

^ 2 driven rear wheels short of one completely badass car...

It's cool and all but I feel it's not as good as it should be.

[Raza]

  It's cool and all but I feel it's not as good as it should be.

While I generally disagree with this sentiment, as AWD cars mostly just come off stodgy, at this power, I have to agree.  I just don't think they'll be able to do their job, trick diff or not.

[the Teuton]

Fortunately, this car is being announced at the same time as the 400 hp Cosworth STI that'll hit 60 mph in 3.7 seconds.

[Colin]

Looks pretty sick!

With only 500 being produced, I wouldn't be surprised to see it top 40K GBP.

They say ?35k in the UK. So, cheaper than the latest Honda Civic Mugen Type R, which is quoted at an ambitious ?38,500.

[S204STi]

Fortunately, this car is being announced at the same time as the 400 hp Cosworth STI that'll hit 60 mph in 3.7 seconds.

Pics or ban!

[the Teuton]

Pics or ban!

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/cosworth-says-its-new-impreza-will-have-supercar-humbling-perf/



This ^^^ is NOT the STI sedan. It can't be. Look at the rear. That's the Cossie.

[r0tor]

Pics or ban!

dont you ever go to nazipoop.com?

[Onslaught]

While I generally disagree with this sentiment, as AWD cars mostly just come off stodgy, at this power, I have to agree.  I just don't think they'll be able to do their job, trick diff or not.

I'm not a power crazy person. It gets to a point with some cars that I think you can have too much. I'd rather see a really light car with less power.

[S204STi]

dont you ever go to nazipoop.com?

Nazicock is pointless anymore.

[BimmerM3]

They say ?35k in the UK. So, cheaper than the latest Honda Civic Mugen Type R, which is quoted at an ambitious ?38,500.

What else is in that price range in the UK? As cool as this car is, it seems like a lot of money.

[the Teuton]

Nazicock is pointless anymore.

I was never a fan of Nazicock. Their site and members all suck.

Even when I get another Subaru, I will still avoid Nazicock.

[omicron]

How come a whole continent of Communists with hamster-powered nations and draconian speed regulations are getting this here RS500, and proper fire-breathing countries like Austrialalia and United Americanada aren't? I mean, 50 to Belgium and Luxembourg, for goodness sake!

[Catman]

How come a whole continent of Communists with hamster-powered nations and draconian speed regulations are getting this here RS500, and proper fire-breathing countries like Austrialalia and United Americanada aren't? I mean, 50 to Belgium and Luxembourg, for goodness sake!

[SVT666]

The RS500 sold out in 12 hours.