The Focus RS is finally here!
After a long wait—and one even longer in the U.S., where the car has never been sold—a new Ford Focus RS is coming! Ford revealed the ultra-high-performance Focus hatchback at a special event in Cologne, Germany, where the car was developed. Yet the company only spilled a mere trickle of information. C'mon, Ford, we're talking about a 316-plus-hp (see? we don't even have final output figures), all-wheel-drive hot hatch here—we need all of the details! Luckily, we cornered a few Ford folks and pressed them for more RS details—read on for the secrets they divulged.
1) High five! We get the same car Europe does!
Ford insists that the U.S.-spec Focus RS will be absolutely identical to the one sold elsewhere, save for safety and homologation equipment.
2) The Focus RS may go racing
When asked whether or not Ford was planning on racing the Focus RS, Ford's chief of global performance vehicle development Jamal Hameedi answered that "it's an incredible platform to go racing with." It didn't end there; when pressed, he added: "Awesome cars always go racing." The takeaway? Look for this car in a racing or rally series of some kind in the next year.
3) No RevoKnuckle necessary
Ford's clever RevoKnuckle front suspension design, which it has employed on high-horsepower front-drive models like the last-generation Focus RS500 to tame torque steer, wasn't needed on the new RS. Torque steer instead is quelled by the all-wheel-drive system and specific suspension tuning.
4) Mustang engine, RS tune
Much has been made of the RS engine's EcoBoost Mustang roots, but it's been comprehensively upgraded for Focus duty. In the RS, the 2.3-liter four-cylinder wears a new turbocharger, a new cylinder head, and a totally unique cooling setup tailored to the Focus's transverse engine layout and differently shaped front end. Official output figures are forthcoming, but we've been told to expect "well in excess" of 316 horsepower. The EcoBoost Mustang, for reference, makes do with 310.
5) It won't have major carbon-fiber parts
As you probably already surmised, the Focus RS will share its basic body with the regular Focus. It also will share that car's complete lack of carbon-fiber body panels.
6) It may be a Ford, but here in the U.S., it'll be an import
Ford will assemble every single Focus RS it sells globally at its Saarlouis, Germany, assembly plant. The RS will be built alongside more pedestrian Foci there, and surely will make those regular Focuses feel insecure.
7) Take a hike, Haldex—this AWD is Ford-only
Unlike its key competitor, the VW Golf R, the Focus RS utilizes an all-wheel-drive system that is said to have been designed entirely in-house. Assuming the RS is traveling in a straight line with zero slip at any of its four tires, the all-wheel drive setup sends 100 percent of the available power to the front axle. When slip is detected or if there is steering input, up to 70 percent of the available power can be sent rearward.
8) Some percentage of the time, each rear wheel gets 100 percent of up to 70 percent of available torque
Like Sex Panther men's cologne, which 60 percent of the time works every time, the Focus RS's rear axle is all about complicated percentages. The all-wheel-drive system is capable of routing up to 70 percent of the available torque to the rear axle. From there, it can be split evenly between each rear wheel, or, in extreme cases, the system's brain can instruct the rear-axle torque-vectoring mechanism's two clutches to direct 100 percent of the rear-axle torque to a single rear wheel. Fun-with-numbers time: 100 percent of 70 percent of available engine torque can be directed at a single rear wheel to help rotate the car in corners. Dooorrriffftoooo!
9) That tricky differential isn't the only thing capable of inducing rotation
While the brunt of the task of shoving the RS's ass end around corners falls on the rear-axle torque-vectoring mechanism, Ford tells us the hot hatch does get some help from the brakes in corners. Working primarily on the front axle, the car's brain can brake the inside wheel(s) when entering and leaving a corner to induce a yaw event—otherwise known as understeer mitigation.
10) Speaking of the brakes . . .
Like practically every other factory performance vehicle these days, the Focus RS's brakes will be supplied by—you guessed it—Brembo.
11) Ford knows what's up when it comes to Saving the Manuals
Don't get us wrong, it makes us cringe to even think the words "automatic transmission" when discussing a car like the Focus RS, but we had to ask Ford whether it planned to introduce an auto-equipped RS. We were told that there are "no plans" for an automatic of any kind (dual-clutch or otherwise), followed with a hearty "You're welcome" from the company's chief engineer of global performance vehicles. Save the Manuals!
12) Ford may have gone gung-ho on the RS's top speed
In our testing, we've found the 252-hp Focus ST loses its fight against aerodynamic drag at 150 mph—not far off of the highest number on the U.S.-spec speedometer, 160 mph. Looking at Ford's photos of the 2017 RS, on the other hand, we can clearly make out that its speedometer runs all the way to 300 kph, or 186 mph. Before you get too excited, Ford slaps a 280-kph (174-mph) speedo on the European Focus ST. Suffice it to say, though, that we're looking forward to personally verifying the car's Vmax.
13) Six speeds, more than one drive mode
The RS will come standard with a six-speed manual transmission, just like the Focus ST. Unlike the ST, the RS has a drive-mode button; Ford hasn't told us yet what modes there are, but are we crazy for hoping one riffs off of the Tesla P85D's "Insane Mode"? Maybe call it "Ludicrous Speed" or something?
14) This is the not-messing-around rubber
Don't be surprised if the RS posts absolutely bonkers grip figures when we eventually test the car—its tires are that serious. Both ends of the car will ride on 19-inch 235/35 Michelin Pilot Super Sports. The front-drive Focus ST, on the other hand, wears Goodyear F1 Asymmetric 2 tires sized 235/40—and it posted 0.96 g on our skidpad. Yeah, the RS is going to be rad.
15) The one thing we don't like about the Focus RS . . . ?
In spite of the number of hot Ford RS models over the years to wear ultra-sweet stripe packages, Ford tells us there are no plans to offer stripe kits for the Focus RS. That's okay, though—we can cut vinyl just fine ourselves.
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