Tuning is one of the more divisive practices you can attempt as a car enthusiast. The argument for it usually revolves around production cars being compromised to meet emissions, safety and cost targets, while those against believe that no one individual can improve upon what a team of highly skilled engineers can achieve with an eight-figure development budget. The former would likely argue that a simple remap unlock can unlock the full potential of, say, a VW Golf R, while the latter could point to the delightfully over-engineered Toyota GR Yaris as a rebuttal.
Whichever side of the fence you're on, it’s hard to overlook the independents that really know how to get the very best from a car. And speaking of the GR Yaris, Litchfield devised a sublime upgrade package with Nitron suspension and a bump to 300hp for the rally hatch, an example of which can be had here for £32k. At the other end of the budget spectrum is Manthey, which did such a good job at tuning 911s like this 991.2 GT2 RS that Porsche bought a majority stake in the outfit back in 2013. And while Mountune, the tuner of this Mk2 Focus RS, remains independent from long-time associate Ford, it ranks among the aforementioned as one of the few specialists that can convincingly one-up anything a manufacturer can offer.
That’s no mean feat, given the huge amount of time and resources put into the Mk2 Focus RS. Launching in 2009, five years after the second-gen hatch went on sale and seven from the original, the Mk2 Focus RS was brimming with power and a suite of clever chassis tech aimed at keeping said grunt under control. The Volvo-sourced 2.5-litre inline five turbo engine from the ST returned in the RS, albeit with a hike to 305hp and 325lb ft of torque. That was all given to the front axle to manage, so Ford engineers came up with a trick front suspension device known as the RevoKnuckle which, combined with Quaife’s automatic torque-biasing limited-slip diff, helped keep a lid on torque steer.
As daft as it sounds, the Mk2 RS was another masterstroke and, with it, Ford proved that you shove over 300hp into a front-wheel-drive hot hatch without it completely losing the plot. Mountune, however, decided to up the ante and developed a handful of tuning packages, including the MR375 Clubsport that come fitted to this example. As the name suggests, power has been dialled up to a punchy 375hp - 25hp more than the limited-run RS500 model - courtesy of an uprated turbo, inlet, intercooler, air box, fuel pump and a full Mountune exhaust system. Whew.
While that sounds like a potential recipe for embarrassment, the upgrade pack also included Mountune’s clubsport dampers and chunky 365mm, six-pot Alcon brakes. Not to mention all the cosmetic upgrades, which are at least worth a couple of horsepower each. This Clubsport looks to have pretty much all the Mountune accessories under the sun stuck to it, including a new gear knob, model-specific start button, mud flaps, side stripe and, of course, the tuner’s logos dotted all over the place.
That said, it’s still a very smart-looking thing, particularly by tuned Ford standards. That’s likely down to the cosseted life it’s led, with the dash reading 26k and the service book packing plenty of stamps, as well as noting a cam belt and water pump change in 2020. It’s only covered 1,000 miles since then. It’s up for £38,500, which even by Mk2 RS standards is on the high end. For instance, this very smart Performance Blue example can be had for a £13k discount, albeit with triple the mileage. Then again, this MP350 is only £4k cheaper with just as many miles. Decisions, decisions.
SPECIFICATION |FORD FOCUS RS (MK2) MOUNTUNE MR375 CLUBSPORT
Engine: 2,521 five-cylinder, turbocharged
Transmission: six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 375@5,5750rpm
Torque (lb ft): 405@3,500rpm
MPG: 30.5 (standard car)
CO2: 225g/km (standard car)
Year registered: 2010
Recorded mileage: 26,400
Price new: £24,995 (standard car)
Yours for: £38,500
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