Autocar - First for car news and reviews

What is it?

It’s hard to know where to start when describing the all-new 163mph, 301bhp Ford Focus RS. In simple terms this is the second generation of a car which cost Ford an awful lot of money at the beginning of this century, but that also did lots to restore the public’s faith in the RS brand.

What’s more, the new Ford Focus RS will turn a profit for the Blue Oval this time round – assuming Ford can find homes for the 8000 examples it intends to build over the next two ...Read the full article

Autocar:

The big question, of course, is whether Ford really has managed to develop a front suspension system that enables the RS to deploy its 301bhp and 324lb ft without feeling like an unguided Exocet missile. And we’re glad to report that the answer is a resounding, faintly befuddled “you bet”.

Hmm, ye cannae defeat the laws of physics, BMWs are the dog's knackers, blah blah blah etc.

WOW well done Ford, always been a fan of fast Fords, I think they will have people queueing up round the showrooms if its as good as it sounds and may have to make more than 8000.

Yup, Times Online have also confirmed it - this car is the complete dog's ***. At a stroke VWs, Subarus, BMers are left panting and for dead.

That blue oval has never been so deadly.

manicm:

That blue oval has never been so deadly.

This may be true, but the blue oval doesn't have the class of some of its dynamically inferior competitors.

Dan McNeil:

but the blue oval doesn't have the class of some of its dynamically inferior competitors

This will change in good time, in my country Fords have never been as popular as now - I cannot believe the number of new Fiestas I'm seeing on the road and they're fairly expensive as well.

And I believe the next Focus is gonna blow the joke Mk6 Golf out of the water. For what it is the Mk6 pricing is downright arrogant of VW - there's only so far you can stretch 'class'.

just a minor detail here, whats the top speed? its quoted as 163 at first then 155 in the first drive data.

 It's top speed is 163mph with no governor and when limited it is 155mph, just like most cars in Europe.

 

This is just another reason Ford will be OK without bailout money. They are making all the right moves. This car is a good move because it is small, powerful, fast, drives well and will raise the grade of the Focus (and Ford) brand in the public's eye. Not to mention it is a GREAT looking car. Well done Ford, well done.

I wish Ford would sell this car in the US, but they have so cheapened our Focus, that no one would pay $30,000.00 for a souped up one.  Ford makes good cars in Europe and still misreads the American market, the Fiesta we will get will only come with an automatic transmission, so it will be marketed to women only, I won't buy a 4 cylinder car with an automatic so the next car will be the new Mazda 3 with a 6 speed.  I wish Ford would license the RevoKnuckle to the Mazda Speed 3 since we won't get the Focus RS, but Ford sold most of their stake in mazda and probably will not license the patent.

Well done Ford.....the new Fords recent launched and the next generation will ask big questions of BMW and VW......for BMW will start and struggle and so will VW; I am not 100% convinced, but I think Seat may well be dropped (I will make my mind up in a couple of months).

Anyway it is great to see Ford coming with the right cars and right strategy at the right time.......its split mint perfect timings right across the board......BMW and VW are in a hole......the next two years for both BMW and VW are going to be proper serious....they have some massive questions to answer......BMW are starting to look seriously dodgy

But well done Ford!!.....its being said quite a lot these days!!

White doesn't do it any favours in my eyes - I look forward to seeing it in the metal, in green or blue.

I used to be a fan of Ford, but no more.   I've owned three in the past, and my brother bought an ST about eight months ago.

Ford dealers are terrible in Scotland, he bought from one of the largest independant dealers we have.   Took trips to three different garages before we could find someone who'd could do basic arithmetic and not just try to sell a polish finish before we'd even get a test drive!   It really was a joke, but he wanted the ST after having enjoyed his first generation Focus.

Even then, when the car arrived it didn't have the options he'd waited extra time for.   It took about four months to sort this out.   Every time it was someone else who was dealing with the car.   He'll never buy another car from this dealer nor take it there for servicing.   Promises Delivered?   Not for him they were.

As for the ST I'm not convinced by it's handling or power delivery and it's starting to look second hand already.   Bit are starting to fall off.   Seat squeeks.   There's rattles everwhere.   Even the paint finish seems very easy to chip.

By contrast, I bought a used BMW which is a few months older than his ST.   Both the ST and the BMW have done the same amount of miles, yet nothing has fallen off nor is there any squeeks or rattles.   Quite simply the BMWs and VWs that Ford are trying to target are better designed and put togther.