Currently reading: Ford confirms Focus RS for 2009
Ford's 300bhp, road-going rally car to debut at London show

After years of speculation, Ford has finally confirmed that it will build another Focus RS. This official rendering is the first image of the new hot hatch, which will go on sale in 2009, with the concept due to debut at the London motor show in 2008.Earlier this year, concerns over producing a powerful, high C02-emitting hot hatchback were putting the RS’s future in jeopardy, but Ford has eventually decided that it’s worth putting the car into production in spite of them. This time, the car will need to make money. The last Focus RS was estimated to have lost Ford around £7k per car; during the conception of this one, insiders say, the business case has been as important for Ford’s RS division as anything else.However, it looks like the company won’t be compromising on much for cost reasons. The car’s body has been heavily modified with much wider wheelarches, which were thought to have been ruled out as too expensive. The huge lower front intake features unusual secondary vents at either side.Ford will not confirm any of the RS’s technical specification, but the company has said the car is based on the Focus ST. It’s likely to have over 300bhp from a twin-turbocharged version of the ST’s five-cylinder engine, and will have a dump valve as standard. Four-wheel drive is thought to be on the cards, as the ST’s body shell can accommodate a rear differential, but it's not a given. As one Team RS spokesperson told us recently, "there are many ways we can give the RS more traction without adding the extra weight of a four-wheel drive system." A mechanical limited slip differential, then - or even electronically-controlled front diff - seem just as likely.

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Jon Hardcastle 18 December 2007

Re: Ford confirms Focus RS for 2009

I like Kee Law, we often disagree on things but hey thats life.

Maybe he is just responding to our total lack of interest in his BMW's, whatever it is he obviously like the perceived finer vehicles in life.

Tuc 18 December 2007

Re: Ford confirms Focus RS for 2009

scummyplum wrote:

Tuc, Kee Law always makes good posts on this forum - he articulated what it is that bothers him - you just call him names.

WWW.GROWUP.COM

Is it a full moon tonight?

Or is Little Schumi loose again?

Not once did I call him a name - I'd recommend you re-read my post. I said that he sounded like a certain type of individual not that he is one.

All I said in my post is that for somebody posting on a car loving website why is he slating a high performance car and the type of person who'd drive it.

I don't know you'd think he drove a Picasso or somthing and was jealous of people who could afford such nice machinery.

Peace.

Brooklands 18 December 2007

Re: Ford confirms Focus RS for 2009

The problem i have with this is, the Focus has been around for ages and yet the RS won't be around for nearly 18 months. It will no doubt be a limited edition, unlike the competition and will be an out of production has been, not long after it's launch. When will Ford offer an RS in full time production and always available like Misubishi and Subaru offer with theirs?