Spy shots: Ford Focus RS

[vexor]

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As can be seen on these photos, Ford’s racing team is busy developing the hottest version of the Focus model range, the new RS. Almost on the last day of cold weather testing season, Ford came out with this prototype for a short test drive on a frozen lake in Sweden.

The test car has visibly big air intakes in the hood and stretched wheel arches to cover running gear from Volvo S60R saloon. As well as the four-wheel-drive transmission, the Focus RS also gets the S 60 R‘s turbocharged 5 cyl. engine, this one with a bigger turbo, estimated to deliver around 300 HP. However, Ford is expected to limit the performance car’s top speed to approximately 155 mph.

Not much has been said about the release of the new RS, rumours suggest a launch by the end of 2007 and a price tag of 25.000 British Pounds.

Finally Ford got around to making this car... but now it looks very conservative for what it is.

[redbaron]

I already read about this news in the newspaper this morning. I think it is good news Ford is finally building an RS as they have already promised of the Focus Mk1. However this new RS isn't released yet, so they could do the old RS trick again and we end up with a 2wd 250bhp car instead of a 4wd 300bhp rally car....

[taygunho]

St is really good car. Rs would be better. Can't wait...

[McLaren4eVa]

Finally was wondering where this was when they released the ST. 300BHP and 4WD, the Golf R32 Only has 250BHP with 4WD so this things gonna blow its doors off.

[noliebro]

if only they would give us that one in america, still cant believe we have the old chasis over here, and they wonder why they are not selling them. :roll:

[RF1]

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Ford is rumoured to be considering a 350bhp, four-wheel-drive, six-cylinder turbocharged proposal for the next-generation Focus RS.

Three different versions of the engine are planned: a base naturally aspirated 3.2-litre and a pair of performance-oriented turbocharged 3.0-litre units. The former receives variable cam timing (VCT) on the inlet valves, with the latter two adopting a system operating both the inlet and exhaust valves as well as a variable-vane Garrett turbocharger.

In 3.2-litre guise, the new six-cylinder produces 235bhp at 6000rpm along with 236lb ft of torque at 3500rpm – an increase of 38bhp and 26lb ft over Volvo’s current 2.9-litre engine. The turbocharged units deliver 285bhp and 295lb ft in light-pressure guise, with the high-pressure unit pumping out a BMW M3-beating 350bhp and 332lb ft.

It’s this latter specification that Ford’s Motorsport boss, Jost Capito, may use to thrust the Blue Oval back to the very top of the European hot-hatch ranks. If Ford’s plans come to fruition, the new RS will boast a whopping 133bhp and 96lb ft more than the upcoming Focus ST, whose turbocharged 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine generates 217bhp along with 236lb ft of torque.

[dutchmasterflex]

This better be AWD with atleast 300hp... :twisted:

[corpse_grinder0]

the specs dont seem bad, but I still think the car is ugly.

[gucom]

i like it :D this car is way overdue, glad they're finally making it...but 6 cylinders would ruin everything indeed, stick to the rally heritage and make it 4 :) also im not sure if a 6 cylinder engine wouldnt be way too heavy...with car mags complaining about understeer and a heavy nose in the focuses with 5cylinder engines, would the 4WD make up for enough to compensate the extra weight?

[davide]

Hot hatches are always welcome, a good car to use every day but with a little more punch :D :D

[leo_26782]

6-cylinders?? :? quite dissapointing to be honest...

I thought they would use a 2.0... or 2.5 at most, 4-pot turbocharged engine, just like the rallyecar, or the Lancer Evo or the Impreza STi - a 6-cylinder makes this car a hatch for posers, like the 130i or the R32 - not a real racing-focused type of car :?


couldnt of said it any better!!

6banger will ruin everything about the car!! 2.0 or 2.5l the max and 4 bangger only!!

Not over 2.0 for me :?

I am sure it will be a great car, but this is not what should be built using the WRC image to sell :x

[McLaren4eVa]

3.2 liters well i guess it doesn't really stick to the tradition of hot hatches, small fun to drive cars which have a very sensible fuel consumption fugures. But i guess Ford want to build the ultimate hatch and bo does it look good with the ST body kit.

[vexor]

** Bump **

New pics - Oct. 20, '06



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[fsandys]

But i guess Ford want to build the ultimate hatch

Even if that was the case it surely won't be a match for the upcoming RS3 which it will be in the firing line of.

Although, it'll probably be alot cheaper!!

[TopGearNL]

Hope they will make. Looking at how the ST is, this will certainly be a stunning car :twisted:

[gobs3z]

I'm pretty sure Ford wouldn't spend the money to develope a new V-6 when they have a perfectly capable 5 cylinder to use, and Ford does like to save money. One issue i do have is that the AWD system is from Volvo and their system is not sport oriented, it's actually the same FWD oriented Haldex system that VW uses on the R32 and TT.

[fsandys]

Yeh but RS3?

The RS3 as far as I know was/is going to be 350hp ish too and will surely be a higher quality unit? (I'm only guessing)

But it will also probably cost twice as much!

Also, I thought that the general opinion was that Ford would not go with the 2.0 unit and was thinking of a 3.0+ 6-pot in which case whilst it might attempt to challenge the STI, etc. It won't be the same as getting all that power from a 2.0.

Am I right in thinking that if it's the 2.0 they go with we are looking at around 300hp and if they go with the 3.0 it'll be more like 350hp?

[pagani]

I hope this will be the future evo and impreza slayer.
But only is his the right combo rs cosworth than will the next inline after the rally legend ford escort rs cosworth.
So i hope ford will build it.
:) :wink:

[Daggernite]

Anybody can easily upgrade there Fcous ST to 300bhp already in UK at ford specialist tuners and for fairly cheap too. So I cant see why ford would have to hold back with the RS, because its obvious the 2.5t engine can handle it with no problem.

All the pics in this thread are new to me so im instantly goingon a high!! I really hope this car comes out.

[TopGearNL]

Anybody can easily upgrade there Fcous ST to 300bhp already in UK at ford specialist tuners and for fairly cheap too. So I cant see why ford would have to hold back with the RS, because its obvious the 2.5t engine can handle it with no problem.


I can 2nd that, I know someone who has a Volvo with that engine and he tuned it to 310BHP easily :shock: :D

[fsandys]

The grapevine went a bit quiet on this one for a while, but the RS never went away. Though Ford insisted that the Focus RS project had been canned - it said it couldn't profitably make a 300bhp, 4WD car for sale at an acceptable price - the engineers and hot-hatch enthusiasts within the company have continued to push to bring this car to production, even working in their own time to further develop prototypes.

This prototype - caught out testing near one of Ford's engineering facilities in Germany - may look like the ST already on offer, but check out the larger air intakes and slightly wider wheel arches and bumpers.

Our photographer also said that 'the sound of the 300bhp engine was unmistakable, just like the car's fast acceleration with four-wheel-drive and the rally-like sound of that dump valve while shifting gears.' There you have it...

Production may not be far off, as the development work has been underway for a number of years now. An announcement would tie in nicely with the 2007 World Rally Championships season, the Ford Racing team fresh from its manufacturers' championship title this year. Come on Ford, it's the Focus we've all been waiting for.

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[HeilSvenska]

All good and dandy, except the fact that this side of the pond won't get anything like that. I can see the US Focus now...looking like the Fusion that was in the dryer too long...

It's this type of stupid thinking that's putting Ford into the red, surely.

[McLaren4eVa]

^^^^ Hey don't complain because i say exactly the same thing about technology, such as the PS3, you guys get ecerything alot quicker. Arrgghh!