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We now know that a new Ford Focus RS will be definitely be with us, and what a stormer of car it looks like being giving Ford's history of producing some fab RS cars.

However, what about sticking the RS badge on a Mondeo and produce a 400Bhp+ rival to the M3, C63 AMG, Lexus IS-F etc. The Focus RS will sell well and should be more than able to challenge a 135i, Audi S3, Evos and Sti etc but would the RS badge cut it in the class above, even if such a car was brilliant? What do you reckon?

Not since the Sierra Cosworth have we seen an RS badge on a mid-size Ford, while Ford probably knows more than any other marque, along with BMW's M divisison, how to produce a well-sorted, proper and benchmark performance variant.

 

Well could be a good idea, but of course Vauxhalls answer to that is the Vectra VXR and literally about FIVE people own one!

Is there actually a market for these?
 

The ST220 got a lot of praise from the motoring press, but did it sell?

I think part of the problem is that if you were going to spend X thousand pounds on a thirsty, petrol-powered saloon you'd want something a bit more upmarket than a Ford Mondeo for your trouble. Also, it would need to be rear or four wheel drive to compete with the cars you mention which is also quite unlikely to happen.
 

Would agree with above post, for the money they are likely to want - just buy a German saloon, with better dynamics, i;e RWD. Ford just don't get it, do they? Have they heard of RWD or 4WD. As for the Focus RS, sorry, it's just a glorified modded ST. If it was a true RS, it would be 2L Turbo 4WD - just like the RS WRCar - which it's supposedly based on.

 

whilst not 400bhp, the Accord Type R gathered a cult following and still attracts decent prices despite being nearly a decade old.  This is counter intuitive as this suggests there is a market, but Honda never replaced it in the UK.  Perhaps the market is too small?  (which supports the VXR comment earlier).

 

 

Again the current climate surely means we wont see a Mondeo RS, even if VW have the Passat R36 and Vauxhall have the Vextra VXR soon to be Insiginia.Lets see that 2.2tdci engine pushed upwards of 200bhp and still return decent MPG then they will be onto a winner.