Thursday 2nd June 2005

Focus RS goes incandescent

Ford plans a mega-powered, M3-beating RS

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Ford Focus RS: hottest of the lot?

It looks likely that the forthcoming Focus RS will have up to 350bhp and 332lb-ft of torque from a high-pressure turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine, driven through all four wheels. That's more than the current BMW M3's 343bhp and 269lb-ft.

According to Autocar, Ford execs are considering a plan to install the Volvo-developed engine in the RS, which is due out in 2007. The unit is an aluminium block, four valve-per-cylinder powerplant weighing just 180Kg.

Three versions will be built:

• 3.2-litre naturally aspirated with variable cam timing for inlet valves only, producing 235bhp at 6,000rpm and 236lb-ft of torque at 3,500rpm
• 3.0-litre low-pressure turbocharged with variable cam timing on all valves, producing 285bhp and 295lb-ft.
• 3.0-litre high-pressure turbocharged with variable cam timing on all valves, producing 350bhp and 332lb-ft.

The added power would put the RS at the top of the European hot hatch power ranks, and gives it massively more power more than the ST, with its 2.5-litre engine making 217bhp and 236lb-ft of torque.

Bodywork modifications include vents in the bonnet and an additional chin splitter.

The only piece of the jigsaw still missing, according to the report, is the right gearbox to handle all that grunt...

[Munter]

Hello is that quaife? Hi Ford again, could you do us a gearbox to go in the new Escort Cossie replacement!

Assuming it's 4wd and retains good handling that should be a nice car! It's just that somehow these things never really seem to happen.

[wedgepilot]

Finally, they've stopped messing about with FWD and gone for a 'proper' solution... hopefully they'll use some of that WRC know-how and get it right this time.

And even the 'entry-level' model has enough grunt to be fun with a well set up AWD chassis

[julianhj]

That's more like it. I'll be putting a deposit down as soon as it's available.

[klassiekerrally]

It's ridicoulous!
I love it!

[4WD]

I'd prefer he Audi RS3 which is coming out sooner.

[joephandango]

What's the betting the 350bhp version never materialises... g'wan Ford, go the whole hog for once!!!

[bosshog]

Will this still be going through front wheels? or is it AWD?

>> Edited by bosshog on Thursday 2nd June 13:04

[cotty]

driven through all four wheels

[mondayo]

bosshog said:

Will this still be going through front wheels? or is it AWD? >> Edited by bosshog on Thursday 2nd June 13:04

I think you might have missed this bit from the article!

"It looks likely that there the forthcoming Focus RS will have up to 350bhp and 332lb-ft of torque from a high-pressure turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine, driven through all four wheels."

[anniesdad]

But will it be based on the old shell as the new shell's a bit of a dog IMHO.

If it's based on the old shell, where do I sign up? Mind you I'd have to see the finished article before making a final judgement.

The hardware sounds the business though doesn't it!

S

[dinkel]

the Volvo's V8 eh? That could be serious fun. Maybe Yamaha could tweak it even further . . .

Didn't Ford have a V8 muscle Focus a few years back?

Anyways, this looks more than yum . . .

Noble could use this engine(s).

[Munter]

dinkel said:

the Volvo's V8 eh? That could be serious fun. Maybe Yamaha could tweak it even further . . .

The engine quoted is an inline 6 cylinder one....

>> Edited by Munter on Thursday 2nd June 13:34

[dinkel]

Munter said:

The engine quoted is an inline 6 cylinder one....

Yep, I know. But Volvo has that Yamaha V8 as wel . . .

[Andrew Noakes]

anniesdad said:

But will it be based on the old shell

Hardly likely, is it?

[telecat]

Don't much like the five door shell but the Three door could be sharpened up nicely!

[4WD]

It's still a Fast Ford when all is said and done. The brand and actual car image is rather less than inspiring. It would have to be a real big bargain to face the Audi RS3 down. By 2007 there will also be the new super fast small subaru and mitsubishi packing similar punch. This Ford will stand out no more in 2007, than the current Focus RS does now.

[anniesdad]

Andrew Noakes said:

anniesdad said: But will it be based on the old shell Hardly likely, is it?

Agreed, IIRC the newer shell is much stiffer than the old so they'd be fools to base it on the old shell. My "question" was rhetorical in that my opinion of the old model's looks are far greater than the new.

[julianhj]

I really dislike the Mk2 shell compared to the Mk1 - it's just so bland. However, the mock-up pictured looks excellent, and with the right paint job would be a winner for me (maybe gunmetal or possibly an irridescent colour similar to the EsCos Mallard Green?)

As for the price, the Mk1 Focus RS lost Ford money on every car sold. I'd expect to see a £30k price tag for the new one. The EsCos was £27k new 10 years back, so it's not unreasonable IMHO. How much will the RS3 be up for? £35k-£40k? The new RS4 is £50k, right? I'm sure Ford will face stiff competition, but as I said, I'll be putting an order in if it goes ahead. With regard to residuals, a decent EsCos will still fetch £16k-£18k, sometimes more, ten years down the line. I'd be very happy if the new RS was kept as a limited run similar to the Mk 1...

[nelly1]

Yeah, yeah, yeah!!!!!
Heard it all before I've got magazine articles every two years for the last 8 years promising the same thing......

Maybe if the engineers stayed in their jobs for more than 6 months at a time before moving on, they might actually finish one.......

[alextgreen]

Turbo 6 cylinder and 4x4. Skyline anyone?