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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Re: Ford confirms Focus RS for 2009
Yippie. if Subaru and Mitsibushi can make money on their rally replicas why can't Ford
Re: Ford confirms Focus RS for 2009
Autocar - what is the anticedence to this story?
Sources or speculation?
Fact or fiction?
Re: Ford confirms Focus RS for 2009
Not quite sure what you're intimating. Here's Ford's press release:
FORD CONFIRMS NEW HIGH PERFORMANCE FOCUS RS IS ON THE WAY
COLOGNE, December 17, 2007 – Ford of Europe is confirming its plan to deliver an exciting all-new, high performance Focus RS model for launch in 2009. A design image released by the company today hints at the exciting direction the new model is taking.
The new Focus RS will be based on the dynamic new Focus ST. It will be developed by Ford Team RS, a specialist team led by Jost Capito who, as previously announced, is being appointed to the new role as Vehicle Line Director for Ford of Europe Performance Vehicles from January 1, 2008.
"With two consecutive Manufacturers' World Rally Championship titles under our belt, the time is right to create a new Focus RS," said John Fleming, Ford of Europe's President and CEO. "With the Fiesta and Focus ST models, Jost and his team have proved already that they can deliver exciting and practical performance road cars. The success of these models, combined with Jost's experience in motorsport and Ford of Europe's positive business results, mean that we now have a credible business case for a no-compromise Focus RS roadcar for more enthusiastic drivers."
The basic concept for a new Focus RS has been under development within Ford Team RS under Capito's leadership for some months already. Now that the programme has been given the 'green light', Capito and his team will be concentrating fully on this programme.
"We have reviewed our technical options and worked closely with the Design team on how the car might look, and I'm very excited by the results," said Jost Capito, "Now with the programme going ahead, the hard work really starts as the small team working on the project takes the car from prototype to production."
Stay Tuned
Ford of Europe will not reveal any of the technical details of the new Focus RS until closer to launch in 2009. The company plans to show a concept version of the car publicly for the first time in mid-2008.
"We will use the redesigned 2008 Focus ST as the base for a no-compromise RS model that will become the ultimate road-going Focus," Capito added. "Just as the Focus RS WRC owns the rally circuit, we want the new Focus RS to own the road, so we have the major competitors in our sights as we develop the car's performance, design, handling and braking."
"We're not ready to confirm any of the technical details of the new Focus RS yet - Jost and his team have a lot to do to finalise the exact specification and styling," said Fleming. "But make no mistake, I can assure you that ultimately, the car we plan to launch will be worthy of wearing the coveted Ford RS badge."
ENDS
Any info that appears in our news story that isn't in there has been gleaned from Ford of Europe and Team RS sources on an unattributable basis, and we have a duty to respect that.
So what are you intimating, Scummy? Do you know something about this car that we don't?
Re: Ford confirms Focus RS for 2009
The anticedence of any 'scoop' type information you come across before you publish surely gives credence to it's usefulness. If I'm to take this seriously or otherwise - then I want to establish what's fact and what's fiction.
I presume you do the same when someone comes to you with a little snippit?
Thanks for sharing the press release.
Re: Ford confirms Focus RS for 2009
And about time,i just hope this is not knee jerk response to some of the new kids on the block.What i hope for sorry wish for is a car wich can be driven everyday is durable has decent service intervals (Japan take note) these are rallye/sport cars not supercars with supercar servicing prices!.And finally it would be great if the price was kept under £25K-no harm in hoping is there?.
Peter Cavellini.
Re: Ford confirms Focus RS for 2009
what an utterly pointless car. the ST has more than enough power and this is a ludicrous case of "my bhp count is bigger than yours"
it will be bought by pointless people with underdeveloped sexual organs, who will add yet bigger exhausts, drive too fast in town centres, won't be able to control the power, crash and kill innocent bystanders waiting for the number 24 bus.
Re: Ford confirms Focus RS for 2009
This could be a very special car, if they go for 4WD or RWD and make it a real alternative to an ST. The RS brand is still quite a prestigious brand and they would do well to keep this in line with it.
Kee couldnt you say that about any fast car though? Its not fair to single the ford out just becasue its cheaper than most.
Re: Ford confirms Focus RS for 2009
Lovely, Ford seem to be very good at this type of car and can usually show the Japanese upstarts a thing or two.
2009 will give both Mitsubishi and Subaru time to establish their new models before Ford metaphorically pulls the rug from under their feet with an all singing all dancing limited run model.
Take one look at used prices for the Cosworth Escort to see how well these cars are received by the public.
Re: Ford confirms Focus RS for 2009
I don't really see it being pointless for a car to be honest.
If we was all the same we'd be driving around in electric cars... but were not.
I disagree with your comment about underdeveloped sexual organs, mine is prefectly fine thank you! Some people genuinely enjoy cars and enthusiasts tend to go for the sporty model in the range.
Maybe you collect stamps and you want that ultra shiney one from Japan, it's much the same thing with cars.
Anyway... more to the point... if you feel that way... why bother posting, or even logging onto Autocar!? Am I missing something here???
Oh and another point... I don't see ALL Evos and Scoobies suddenly flying off the road and running over your nan just because they are sporty and have big exhausts 'as standard'.
This car will be great if Ford actually decide to release it, instead of rubbing it in our face and then saying... narrr, we won't bother. Like they did with the Fiesta RS Concept.
I'm waiting to order...
Re: Ford confirms Focus RS for 2009
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />what an utterly pointless car. the ST has more than enough power and this is a ludicrous case of "my bhp count is bigger than yours"it will be bought by pointless people with underdeveloped sexual organs, who will add yet bigger exhausts, drive too fast in town centres, won't be able to control the power, crash and kill innocent bystanders waiting for the number 24 bus.
Kee Law how come you feel this way? You sound like a tree hugger or somebody who writes in to their local paper to complain about children raising their voices whereas they should only be seen.If you feel like that towards the Focus RS then do you feel the same way towards the BMW M3 CSL (over a standard M3) , Audi RS4 (over an Audi S4) etc etc.People buy these cars because they offer more performance and styling etc over the standard 'halo' car in that range and nine times out of ten cost a fair amount of money - defo out of the reach of the people you describe above who sound like the common day "Chav".If you have even the faintest whiff of petrol in your veins you should know that the RS brand has such a huge reputation here in the UK and has produced some legends and your post above is quite frankly insulting to many car enthusiasts.Therefore can you stick to posting your views on websites like carsarejustforgetttingfromatob.com or carsarejustwhitegoods.com
Thanks for reading Kee.



