Focus RS coming to America!

2779 Views 19 Replies 15 Participants Last post by Toto, Dec 12, 2014

AutoGuide.com

Discussion Starter · Dec 11, 2014

Ford’s RS forthcoming hot hatch will finally be sold in North America.

“We’re announcing a new Focus RS will be coming to the market and it will be coming globally,” Ford CEO Mark Fields said in Dearborn during a press conference today.

Previous rumors suggest the Focus RS, which will sit above the ST in the product line, will arrive for the 2016 model year with Ford’s turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine. Details on the new Focus are still light, but the same engine makes 310 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque in the 2015 Mustang. Rumors suggest Ford will actually tweak the engine for slightly more power in this application because the lighter car will allow a more aggressive state of tune without throwing fuel economy entirely out the window. Apart from being significantly more powerful than the ST, the Focus RS will also come with all-wheel drive to be a direct competitor with the upcoming Volkswagen Golf R.

Fields confirmed today that the Focus RS will be sold globally under the company’s “One Ford” product strategy. The previous generation RS model was based on the European Focus that skipped this market. The U.S. Focus is built at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant, but the RS model will likely be built in Europe and exported to the U.S. and other markets, which could mean a limited supply.

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2014/12/ford-focus-rs-officially-confirmed-for-us.html

See less See more

Save

1 - 20 of 20 Posts

Envoy4Life

· #2 · Dec 11, 2014

Awesome!!!

That's three different flavors of FWD, affordable performance Ford has given us. Yet, we don't have any from GM...

Save

Mentat Bashar

· #3 · Dec 11, 2014

See less See more

Save

91fairladyZ

· #4 · Dec 11, 2014

That the Astra VXR or OPC didn't come to America in some form is a crying shame. Not everyone wants a Camaro. People are willing to spend coin on a hot hatch that is also practical.

Save

Reactions: 2

This very well could replace my cobalt ss/tc. I will wait to see what performance packages are available for the T4 Camaro when it comes out. This should make GM either bring something over as a buick or offer a 1LE package for the T4 Camaro.

Save

voyager

· #6 · Dec 11, 2014

The Focus RS is a rare example of cutting corners. Ford, evidently not too happy with those awful-looking tail lights (who is?), pasted a piece of plastic, et voila:

See less See more

Save

Envoy4Life

· #7 · Dec 11, 2014

I've always thought the tail lights on the Focus Hatch look like a huge hand with its middle fingers up...

Save

Edge

· #8 · Dec 11, 2014

If this thing ends up being FWD, it'll be a deal breaker for a lot of people, myself included. The ST has acceptable levels of torque steer and power in a FWD chassis. This needs to be AWD.

Save

erasmus

· #9 · Dec 11, 2014

Edge said:
If this thing ends up being FWD, it'll be a deal breaker for a lot of people, myself included. The ST has acceptable levels of torque steer and power in a FWD chassis. This needs to be AWD.

Apart from being significantly more powerful than the ST, the Focus RS will also come with all-wheel drive to be a direct competitor with the upcoming Volkswagen Golf R.

from the article

Save

igor

· #10 · Dec 11, 2014

Until now the RS has alwasys been FWD .... the rumors of AWD circle every generation, so I will hold on proclaiming this being an STI competitor until the AWD is confirmed. The RS is always angrier and sharper than the sporty, but mild ST.

Save

wallus13

· #11 · Dec 11, 2014

Edge said:
If this thing ends up being FWD, it'll be a deal breaker for a lot of people, myself included. The ST has acceptable levels of torque steer and power in a FWD chassis. This needs to be AWD.

Reading is FUNdamental!

Save

wallus13

· #12 · Dec 11, 2014

Any ideas on price? I would like a different 3rd car to run around in.

Save

Cobaltss_King

· #13 · Dec 11, 2014

wallus13 said:
Any ideas on price? I would like a different 3rd car to run around in.

I would guess around 35k

Save

Edge

· #14 · Dec 11, 2014

wallus13 said:
Reading is FUNdamental!

And if you had READ some of the other pieces about this, there are conflicting reports as to whether it'll be FWD or AWD.

Save

doh

· #15 · Dec 12, 2014

Edge said:
And if you had READ some of the other pieces about this, there are conflicting reports as to whether it'll be FWD or AWD.

I read between the lines.

#1 Why have a Focus ST Capable of over 300 HP with some mild AM Tweaking?

#2 What does the R stand for in RS? Maybe Rally? Rally cars are AWD. My bet is a 300+ HP AWD Focus.

Save

paul8488

· #16 · Dec 12, 2014

Veeeeery cool! So how many ST Ford are there? Just the one RS? It would be nice if they could build a small family of each, even 3 models. Fans of cars like this are typically pretty hardcore and faithful; once you have them hooked you just have to keep slowly but steadily improving the breed. Would the ST treatment make sense on a Fusion?

Oh, and am I the only one imagining an ST Flex...?

Save

Edge

· #17 · Dec 12, 2014

doh said:
I read between the lines.

#1 Why have a Focus ST Capable of over 300 HP with some mild AM Tweaking?

#2 What does the R stand for in RS? Maybe Rally? Rally cars are AWD. My bet is a 300+ HP AWD Focus.

So you assumed.

And there have multiple generations of Focus RS now. They've all been FWD.

Save

Ruperts Trooper

· #18 · Dec 12, 2014

doh said:
I read between the lines.

#1 Why have a Focus ST Capable of over 300 HP with some mild AM Tweaking?

#2 What does the R stand for in RS? Maybe Rally? Rally cars are AWD. My bet is a 300+ HP AWD Focus.

RS Fords came out in the Escort RWD era, before the Audi Quattro started dominating.

In any case, RS Focus is there as a halo model for the other FWD Focus models.

Save

wescoent

· #19 · Dec 12, 2014

voyager said:
The Focus RS is a rare example of cutting corners. Ford, evidently not too happy with those awful-looking tail lights (who is?), pasted a piece of plastic, et voila:

Ford hasn't released any photos of the RS. That's a speculative rendering from AutoExpress.

Save

Toto

· #20 · Dec 12, 2014

doh said:
I read between the lines.

#1 Why have a Focus ST Capable of over 300 HP with some mild AM Tweaking?

#2 What does the R stand for in RS? Maybe Rally? Rally cars are AWD. My bet is a 300+ HP AWD Focus.

Rally cars are FWD, RWD or AWD like in any other motorsport.

Save

1 - 20 of 20 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month