Currently reading: Official details: Ford Focus RS
The all-new 155mph Ford Focus RS will go on sale in spring 2009 and cost less than £25k

It’s hard to know where to start when describing the all-new 155mph ‘sub £25k’ Ford Focus RS, for although it may not go on sale until the spring of 2009 this won’t prevent it from stealing most of the headlines at this month’s London Motorshow.The main technical points are as follows: sub £25k price, 295bhp, 302lb ft of torque, front-wheel drive with a Quaife limited slip diff. Zero to 60mph will take ‘less than six seconds’, the top speed will be limited to 155mph and zero to 100mph will take something between 12-13sec.According to its creators the forthcoming Focus RS will rocket straight to the top of its class on performance, handing and roadholding. It is also assured the distinction of being the most potent front-driver yet, thanks to the power and torque produced by its heavily modified 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged engine.So why doesn’t it get four wheel drive? Because ‘it absolutely doesn’t need to have it’ according to the engineering team behind it. The magic chassis ingredient within the front suspension is known inside Ford as the revo-knuckle which, along with the limited-slip diff, allows Jost Capito, the director of Ford’s Team RS, to say that the new RS “has virtually no torque steer at all.”Capito doesn’t do exaggeration: “we don’t just look at the RS as being a souped-up version of the ST,” he explains, “It’s an entirely different car in its own right, with an entirely separate range of values. But it’s still very much a car you can use everyday. For most of the people who will buy it the RS will be their only car, so it has to be comfortable and usable 365 days a year. We could easily have made a more extreme car but, to be honest, we didn’t want to. In any case we’re talking about a car that has to make a profit for Ford. If this car fails to make a profit then, for sure, it will be the last ever Ford to wear an RS badge.”Get under the skin of the new Ford Focus RS.

Steve Sutcliffe

Advertisement

Read our review

Car review

Can the Ford Focus capture the hearts and minds of hatchback buyers, or have its traditional rivals managed to perfect the formula?

Join the debate

Comments
16
Add a comment…
gatecrasher63 23 July 2008

Re: Official details: Ford Focus RS

Am I the only one that is a little disappointed?

This is a £5k price hike over an ST3, which could have Cams and Chips to bring it up to roughly the same spec for a bit less.

I would like to have seen AWD but that's been off the cards for months. At the very least I expected a Sequential Gearbox, something to set it apart and brag about.

I have an Orange ST2 and had a feeling we would see Lime Green. I must admit though I think I would be happier with a kick ass yellow!

Rossco 10 July 2008

Re: Official details: Ford Focus RS

No matter the argument - front wheel drive, 4 wheel drive - 295bhp in a front drive Focus sounds pretty amazing. Jaguar get that from a V8!

You can only really compare the RS with the Impreza at the moment because its now a hatch, at least until the Evo hot hatch comes along. I think with the ST, Ford had moved the game with the torque steer problem compared with the old RS, so maybe this new suspension setup for the new RS will quell that.

No-one will know for sure till they actually get one out on the road which, as per usual, Autocar will get the exclusive test drive!

stuart74 9 July 2008

Re: Official details: Ford Focus RS

Brooklands wrote:
Removing the car from sale early is not the answer for a Ford Focus as it is not a dream car, not exactly a Porsche 911 is it!!!

You say it is not a dream car, but I personally would rather have an RS over a 911 - I just don't like 911s and there are plenty around. Ok, I would rather have an RS and the extra cash if I am truthfully honest but I think some manufacturers don't do enough with their 'halo' cars and leave them out for too long. The RS brand is also probably much stronger for it as well, how many BMWs have been branded 'M something'?

I think with Ford it has been more down to practicalities than anything else, the Cosworth was 'banned', the Focus RS was built at the end of the normal focus production life. Residuals on RSs are probably some of the best of any cars as well.