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Nice!

Can we have a repeat of the "quickest car in the real world" article from a few years back where you closed off a section of country road? I remember the Porsche 911 turbo narrowly beating the Noble back then, woould be good to see that repeated with the above plus the porsche, F430, Gallardo and a few less exotic things in there.

In general a great test. Not to mention a great idea. Congrads on doing it, giving the starving public something to seriously dream about!

Its funny, this issue about confidence when you push it on challenging roads. You guys rarely discuss this issue in most of your road tests- esp not like you just did here in this video! Indeed isn't it ironic that Mr. sutters has gone on and on about the GT-R being peerless on any road versus any car. I believe it was crowned b-road champion many months back. And now we are told its too big to place on a b-road! Wasn't this always the truth??

Come on guys either it is or it isn't? Which is it really? Its always hard to read/view autocar articles/videos like this; we always first hear that X new supercar is sublime an untouchable only to eventually be told well "not so much really".

Last, Mr. Prior did a back to back with the Megane and Cayman a few months back, which again was a good idea- though he gave very few details of any real difference in the handling of the two- (read mid-engine/rear drive vs front/front not the same!), indeed it would be interesting to hear how both (it would seem) would stay with this Focus, not to mention the Impreza sti and Lancer. And just as importantly how their unique handling styles would contrast!! Not just their both fast, but this one feels that bit more special.

So reading between the lines it would seem that the test, good idea as it was, was fated from the start! The Skyline is the better handling car on all but super narrow roads as Mr, Sutters has said all along; however its just simply too big to fit on thin roads...but shouldn't we all have known that from the start?

So lets have some more beef to the articles in future sirs (you are the most expensive auto magazine in the world (month to month)) , more of this context as you give us now. Context not just to bring fanfare to a great new car like the RS, but to all the great cars you test, lest we continue to think that as well Ferrari's newly modded 599 is the 911GT-2 killer we just heard it was from you!! JL

Any chance of knowing which roads in N Yorks you use and are worth going for a drive on?

" Any chance of knowing which roads in N Yorks you use and are worth going for a drive on?"

Based on the video, it looks as if the roads were (while certainly winding and heavily twisting up and down) mostly SMOOTH and DRY. Staff, please chime in here if the video indeed did not show the full measure of those roads. And this, if true, is a bit of a shame as we all wanted to know how the RS deals with bumps and slips in the road, that other rally bred machines can do! Could it be the RS losses its competence on a broken surface, will we find out soon, or I assume this is for the next test? thanks JL

The vid was shot in largely dry conditions but shows only a tiny fraction of what we actually used for the assessment because if we'd filmed all of it, we'd still be up there. The roads were never streaming wet but we did encounter both bumpy and damp roads (not to mention a very great deal of fog), neither of which put much of a dent in the Ford's composure. All we did discover was that when conditions were at their trickiest, the car was slightly easier to drive cleanly with the extremely discreet electronics turned on. Most of the time however, it was quicker and funnier to run unencumbered, which gives an idea of just how well the Focus copes with all that torque.

Andrew F:

which gives an idea of just how well the Focus copes with all that torque.

Still think they should have used 4WD hardware from the Kuga - same floorpan isn't it? Earl McPherson would turn in his grave if he saw what they've done to his struts.

TheStig:

Very good test I have to say. I do wander if the RS is the fastest car you can drive 'with confidence' on such roads.

TheStig:

Very good test I have to say. I do wander if the RS is the fastest car you can drive 'with confidence' on such roads.

Uncle Mellow:

Still think they should have used 4WD hardware from the Kuga - same floorpan isn't it? Earl McPherson would turn in his grave if he saw what they've done to his struts.

Jost Capito said that they tried the 4WD hardware and it made the FRS too sluggish and not as agile as they wanted.  The Revo Knuckle seems to work so why bother with expensive and heavy 4WD?  All the reviews against 4WD opposition seem to suggest the FRS is just as capable on real roads as these 4WD options.