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Here, in first official pictures from its Nurburgring development programme, is Ford’s fantastic new performance flagship, the 2009 Focus RS.
Ahead of the Focus RS’s public debut at the London motor show six weeks from now, Ford is honing the new 2009 RS’s performance and handling extensively in Germany at the Nurburgring.
Autocar can now officially confirm that the 2009 RS will be powered by a specially developed version of the Duratec 2.5-litre turbo engine, that’s been ‘significantly re...Read the full article

I realise there's more to it than just the power, but aren't there already aftermarket tuning packages available for the Focus ST which take it to over 300bhp?

It seems to have lost at least 22bhp overnight...

Yeah there are packages for the ST that boost it up to 330bhp... I think there is a kit from Wolf to be specific (WR330). Putting this much power in the ST instantly renders the cars handling pretty much useless though, so I think Ford are being pretty sensible with their performance figures, especially for a FWD car.


 

 

Let's hope they've done something really special with the chassis then, otherwise it looks a lot like a warmed-up ST. If they've made 280bhp and FWD really work, then well done to them.

Erm, Luke who said the handling of a 300bhp Focus ST was useless? I find your glib statement rather annoying simply because people may believe you!I believe these cars in fact received good reviews on account of their value for money. www.grahamgoode.com/evo.pdf People often have irrational subjective limits on the feasibility of certain aspects of cars. 'Too heavy, too fast , too powerful simply because they redefine what is possible or are far from the norm. Basically Luke you have a basic cynicism and a fear of the unknown or the new.It wasnt too long ago when if propositioned with the idea of 150bhp in FWD would say in a generic regional accent with a slight Daily Mail tone ' Urrr, NO that’s fat too much power, it’ll torque steer you into a ditch that will. Silly, it needs 4wd like my 4x4 2.0l Sierra GLS.'Luke, things have moved on since those days.Properly sorted there is nothing wrong with power in a FWD. Even over ten years the Integra Type R handled nearly 200bhp on 185 wide tires! Tires, differentials, traction control and suspension design have come a long way since then. I actually drive a Focus ST and am considering whether to upgrade it or simply buy a different car. The ST needs more power. Oh by the way, many FWD cars actually limit the boost and (therefore torque) in 1st and 2nd gear. The WR cars do this. So in a way it doesn’t matter what the headline figure is as it wont be available at speeds where wheel spin is an issue.It is inevitable that as the ability to contain and use the power increased the fastest FWD cars will have the 330 bhp that you find so unacceptable and i wonder if the Golf GTi of twenty years from now will have 'useless handling'? No I don’t think so. Mass produced cars will always have FWD while they still have an 'engine' and until they drive themselves there will always be hot versions for people to enjoy. If cars get lighter and don’t actually develop over 300bhp for energy efficiency reasons they will still have a power to weight ratio similar a 330bhp hatch of today anyway. Also, I add isn’t there an impending 360bhp Focus ST from Wolf? Don’t say ‘well if your theory is true , one day there will be a 1000bhp FWD car. There will not as by the time it is so easy to produce that kind of power on mass scale cars will: A- be able to drive themselves. B- have 4WD very efficiently and cheaply on the hot hatches, probably via individual electric motors.  I cant answer the question what the most powerful manufacturer FWD car will be before cars change for ever but I wouldn’t bet against 350bhp only 80 or so more than what’s available now.I look forward to the arrival of the Focus RS. I hope Ford is sensible enough to make sure the RS has at least 300bhp.

 

Hi.

what you people seem to forget is its not out right power that's always needed its as Colin Chapman advocated lightness where its needed.This car will probably weigh 1400kg, so 290BHP is plenty, an agile chassis set-up, and some light weight panels i.e bonnet, boot lid, maybe thinner glass, lighter alloys and hey presto! a car that will run with more expensive cars for half the price.of course this all depends on a lot of things,the credit crunch,whether FORD has cliniced the car correctly,and if they price it correctly not like SUBARU who want silly money for there product.FORD could be on to a winner if they listen to us the people who like FMC cars,if they could make it for £25K i would be interested - WHAT SAY ALL OF YOU - please send your pleas to FORD.

If they sell it for £25k then I may very well go and buy one. I love the ST which already goes like a train. Personally, I just wish that Ford would stop talking about it and bloody well make the thing. They've been talking about it for years and years.