RS across the Range
Wednesday 11th February 2004
RS is Back
Not limited to the Focus either...
Ford's newly formed Team RS division is working on a number of projects that should see the RS badge back on more of Ford's range.
The sporting 'ST' moniker will also find its way across onto more of Ford's range. 'Cosworth' will remain the top of the performance tree though with some extreme machines expected to wear the badge in the years to come.
Jost Capito, the boss of Team RS recently told journalists that a new Focus Cosworth would be rear wheel drive, thanks to power outputs of 220bhp and more. The new Focus is expected to be unveiled in May with performance versions coming some time after.
Capito also revealed that more testing will be done in the UK in future. Testing on the Nurburgring and German roads didn't prepare the recent Focus RS enough for Britain's rough shod highways and byways.
Discussion
dann said:Unless they're concentrating on makin is super-lightweight, keeping the bhp per ton at a healthly level...
Why do i want to spend 25+K on a 2wd Cosworth with only 220 bhp , Ford need at least 276 and 4wd to compete in this market
Otherwise, as you say it'll be beaten by the Golf R32 whike its price would be encroaching on that of the hot Scooby and Evos.
I think it's misquoted.
When did you last hear of a RWD rally car? It's gonna be 4WD, no question. Ford have stated time and again that the lack of a mark 1 Focus Cosworth was mainly down to the fact it was so hard to engineer 4WD into that chassis. The new chassis was designed with FWD and 4WD in mind.
The 12-year old Escort Cosworth was massively detuned for the road (emissions and MPG were two reasons for this). It's a piece of cake to get it back to c.300BHP - and that's on an old engine. It wouldn't suprise me if the Focus Cosworth rolls out with 300BHP as factory spec, and a few mods will enable an asy 25% - 50% increase on that. An unrestricted (though admittedly tuned to the limit) WRC engine puts out c.600 BHP. A reliable, useable road engine at 400BHP+ is possible.
When did you last hear of a RWD rally car? It's gonna be 4WD, no question. Ford have stated time and again that the lack of a mark 1 Focus Cosworth was mainly down to the fact it was so hard to engineer 4WD into that chassis. The new chassis was designed with FWD and 4WD in mind.
The 12-year old Escort Cosworth was massively detuned for the road (emissions and MPG were two reasons for this). It's a piece of cake to get it back to c.300BHP - and that's on an old engine. It wouldn't suprise me if the Focus Cosworth rolls out with 300BHP as factory spec, and a few mods will enable an asy 25% - 50% increase on that. An unrestricted (though admittedly tuned to the limit) WRC engine puts out c.600 BHP. A reliable, useable road engine at 400BHP+ is possible.
I read an interview with the head of TeamRS (in Autocar, perhaps?) that ruled out using the Cosworth badge for even a Mondeo - they're not going to mess with the heritage for the sake of punting a few extra MPVs.
As for ST and RS, I reckon it's unlikely they'll soil it with a Fusion, C-Max or Galaxy. Fiestas, Focus and Mondeos all the way...
As for ST and RS, I reckon it's unlikely they'll soil it with a Fusion, C-Max or Galaxy. Fiestas, Focus and Mondeos all the way...
I just cannot believe they will get any sign of a Cosworth this sorted by May. May which year ? I like the expression extreme, (read Cosworth), versions "in the years to come". I had a deposit down on the Focus RS after having Cosworths for over 10 years. The delays went over years from the initial announcements of a Focus RS and when it finally arrived it was 2 wheel drive. I cancelled my order, (along with many other RSOC fans) and got our money back. The recent Focus RS did not sell well and I was recently approached to see if I was still interested as they were trying to clear them. The Focus Cosworth has just got to be 4 wheel drive and around 300 hp to be serious. It could be a case of Ford down playing it, then anouncing at the last minute it's really 4wd. Who are they trying to kid in this market? Ford seriously really missed a trick during the early 2000's and the Scoobies and Miztis really took over this market.
>> Edited by 44dhr on Wednesday 11th February 14:55
>> Edited by 44dhr on Wednesday 11th February 14:56
>> Edited by 44dhr on Wednesday 11th February 14:58
>> Edited by 44dhr on Wednesday 11th February 14:59
>> Edited by 44dhr on Wednesday 11th February 14:55
>> Edited by 44dhr on Wednesday 11th February 14:56
>> Edited by 44dhr on Wednesday 11th February 14:58
>> Edited by 44dhr on Wednesday 11th February 14:59
julianhj said:Shame they won't be doing a Mondeo Cosworth. The MkIII 7 seater Estate/MPV Mondeo in Cosworth spec would be great for ferrying the sprogs around
I read an interview with the head of TeamRS (in Autocar, perhaps?) that ruled out using the Cosworth badge for even a Mondeo - they're not going to mess with the heritage for the sake of punting a few extra MPVs.
44dhr said:
I had a deposit down on the Focus RS after having Cosworths for over 10 years. The delays went over years from the initial announcements of a Focus RS and when it finally arrived it was 2 wheel drive. I cancelled my order, (along with many other RSOC fans) and got our money back.
Really? Find an official Ford press release giving a date for the release of the RS.
A date was NEVER given for a release, it was the dealers speculating.
Podie said:
I had a deposit down on the Focus RS after having Cosworths for over 10 years. The delays went over years from the initial announcements of a Focus RS and when it finally arrived it was 2 wheel drive. I cancelled my order, (along with many other RSOC fans) and got our money back.
Really? Find an official Ford press release giving a date for the release of the RS.
A date was NEVER given for a release, it was the dealers speculating.
I have several letters from Ford giving me various dates, complete with pre-sales literature, so I don't know what you're talking about. I agree there was also a lot of speculation on the date in the Press due to the various troubles Ford were having with the car, including the Transmission and Exhaust manifold casting. I'm a little bit closer to Ford than you think. Ford RS dealers had a deal whereby you paid a deposit of a minimum of £500 which was fully refundable if the final specification did not match their pre-launch blurb and colour brochure. In the event it didn't, so I got my money back, plus a letter from Ford Marketing to apologise for the continued delay and date changes. The Pre-sales literature should now be worth something though if anyone wants to buy it from me.
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