Monday 29th March 2010

Ford Reveals Focus RS500

Run-out super-hatch special gets more power and trick paint job

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Ford is to end the production run of the Focus RS in style with a limited-edition Focus RS500 - a name that harks back to the iconic Sierra Cosworth RS500 homologation special of 1987.

As the badge implies, the Ford Focus RS500 will be limited to just 500 examples, each with a hand-engraved plaque on the centre console marking the car's unique production number.

The Focus RS500 isn't just a badge-only special, however. Power from the turbocharged 2.5-litre five-cylinder motor is up from 300bhp to 345bhp, while torque is up 15lb ft to 339lb ft.

The RS500 gets to 60mph from rest in 5.4secs and reaches 100mph in 12.2secs - figures that beat the standard car's Autocar road test performance by 0.3secs and 1.7secs respectively. Top speed jumps 2mph to 165mph.

The chassis set-up is unchanged over the regular model, but with its clever RevoKnuckle front suspension and limited-slip differential the RS should be more than up to the task of taking on a bit of extra power. Just to make sure, though, Ford TeamRS engineers and three Ford-employed racing drivers did 10,000 non-stop kilometres at the Nordschleife.

"We wanted to be sure that serious enthusiasts could drive the Focus RS500 to the limit on track, without any concerns about the car's stamina," says Matthias Tonn, Focus RS500 Chief Programme Engineer. "This meant going beyond our standard test routines, and pushing the car to the edge of its performance envelope. After 500 non-stop laps of the Nürburgring, we are very confident of its durability and delighted at the way it performed, with an eight-minute lap time within reach".

All RS 500s will get matt black 19in alloys and a unique matt black paint finish courtesy of coatings specialist 3M. The standard Focus RS's blue interior highlights are replaced by flashes of red.

Prices haven't been revealed for the RS500, but expect it to cost in the region of £35k. Customers can get their orders in from May.

More info on the Focus RS500 can be found at www.focusrs500.com

 

 

[jackal]

matte black is all bit too 2008 isn't it ?

surely the only thing more corny and old hat is a white car with black alloys ?

Edited by jackal on Monday 29th March 15:01

[Lefty Two Drams]

There was me thinking it might be a 500bhp 4wd "special".

Must Try Harder.

[anonymous-user]

Should be quicker with all that power!

[Fidgits]

Lefty Two Drams said:

There was me thinking it might be a 500bhp 4wd "special".

Must Try Harder.

me too..

for a £10k premium i'd want more than a few extra BHP and a matt paintjob...

[rhinochopig]

I would never ever buy a matt black car. I had a matt black mountain bike which looked stunning until the first ride. Thereafter it looked tatty no matter how hard you cleaned it. Stupid colour for a car IMO.

[Lefty Two Drams]

rhinochopig said:

I would never ever buy a matt black car. I had a matt black mountain bike which looked stunning until the first ride. Thereafter it looked tatty no matter how hard you cleaned it. Stupid colour for a car IMO.

Oh I don't know. I once had a series 3 land rover which the previous owner had painted with blackboard paint. He even used a roller for that lovely smooth finish that you get.

[BUG4LIFE]

The kid in me loves it - I saw 2 kermit green RS's yesterday, but I think I want a matt-black one more now! It's just a crazy crazy car which I'm sure would make me laugh-out-load everytime I drove it, for good and bad reasons. Thank you Ford for building it and showing us cars aren't going to be all boring just yet

Edited by BUG4LIFE on Monday 29th March 15:07

[Tony*T3]

Article said:

Just to make sure, though, Ford TeamRS engineers and three Ford-employed racing drivers did 10,000 non-stop kilometres at the Nordschleife.

Wow, pretty big fuel tank then. Or does it have some kind of 'on the go' refuelling probe....????

[rhinochopig]

Lefty Two Drams said:

rhinochopig said:

I would never ever buy a matt black car. I had a matt black mountain bike which looked stunning until the first ride. Thereafter it looked tatty no matter how hard you cleaned it. Stupid colour for a car IMO.

Oh I don't know. I once had a series 3 land rover which the previous owner had painted with blackboard paint. He even used a roller for that lovely smooth finish that you get.

At least you can write your grocery shopping list on the side of your car I suppose.

1. Fuel
2. More fuel
3. Set of front tyres
4. Set of brake pads
5. Milk and Bread

[Essex Exile]

Apart from the horrible matt paint, what's not to like?
At least the RS500 name on this isn't a travesty, like the Escort Mexico, from a few years ago

[edinph]

If it's as much fun as the three RS's I owned in the past, it'll be worth having!

[EVO6RSS]

Having got a performance blue RS, More power is welcome, but seriously that wrap is rubbish..

[soad]

Do like the general shape of it - not keen on a matt paint job, looks almost plasticky.

Was hoping for a tad more bhp to be honest.

How much heavier is it over a standard RS?

[burling]

Matt black might look good in the brochure but, its not a real world finnish you can live with day to day. Why don't really stir up some interest & make it RWD?

[jonnbb]

More marketing bs from ford. Of course all are probably already sold...

I seem to remember the old rs500 did have a few nice parts to warrent its limited edition tag. Bigger turbo, 8 injector settup etc.

The focus is just rubbish. As said if it was a 4wd special then i would be interested. But its just the same car with tat stuck on.

[y2blade]

Lefty Two Drams said:

There was me thinking it might be a 500bhp 4wd "special".

Must Try Harder.

me too

[Munter]

Tony*T3 said:

Article said:

Just to make sure, though, Ford TeamRS engineers and three Ford-employed racing drivers did 10,000 non-stop kilometres at the Nordschleife.

Wow, pretty big fuel tank then. Or does it have some kind of 'on the go' refuelling probe....????

Not to mention all the seat swapping around without stopping. I think I'd be sick after 10,000km of being thrown around the ring.

[Dr G]

Satin black is trick? Looks like primer to me.

[Riggers]

Tony*T3 said:

Article said:

Just to make sure, though, Ford TeamRS engineers and three Ford-employed racing drivers did 10,000 non-stop kilometres at the Nordschleife.

Wow, pretty big fuel tank then. Or does it have some kind of 'on the go' refuelling probe....????

I assume they stopped for fuel and tyres - much as you would at, oh I don't know, Le Mans... i would say that's a non-stop race...

[jonm01]

It's actually a wrap, rather than a paintjob.