All-New Focus RS Sprints to 62mph in 4.7 Seconds and Hits 165mph

• All-new Ford Focus RS sprints 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds and reaches a maximum speed of 165mph

• Fastest ever Ford RS model now available to order from £28,940 featuring Ford Performance AWD and 350PS 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine

• Innovative Focus RS also offers Drive Modes – including industry-first Drift Mode – and Launch Control; customer deliveries of high performance hatchback starting in Europe in early 2016 

FRANKFURT, Germany, 16 September 2015  –  Ford Motor Company has announced that the all-new Focus RS will sprint from 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds, making the high-performance hatchback the fastest accelerating RS model ever.
 
The Focus RS will reach a top speed of 165mph powered by a specially engineered version of Ford’s new 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine delivering maximum power output of 350PS.
 
Ford also announced that the Focus RS is now available to order with prices from £28,940.
 
The all-new Focus RS optimises acceleration by introducing Launch Control technology to a Ford RS model for the first time. The model also debuts new Ford Performance All-Wheel Drive with Dynamic Torque Vectoring, for outstanding traction and grip with unmatched agility and cornering speed.
 
“The all-new Focus RS delivers stunning performance and innovative technology at a price that will make both our customers and premium automakers look twice,” said Jürgen Gagstatter, chief program engineer for Focus RS. “After experiencing the acceleration and cornering capability of the Focus RS, drivers will question the sense in spending almost £10,000 more on a premium competitor.”
 
The Focus RS Launch Control system configures the vehicle’s chassis and powertrain systems to deliver the fastest possible acceleration, whatever the track conditions. The driver selects Launch Control from the cluster menu, engages first gear, applies full throttle and then releases the clutch. The system then delivers optimum drive – including distributing torque through the AWD system, maintaining maximum torque using turbo overboost function, managing the traction control system, and setting the dampers.
To achieve maximum acceleration through the gears, a performance shift light in the instrument cluster alerts the driver when approaching the optimum upshift point of 5,900 rpm, and flashes if the engine hits the limit of 6,800 rpm.
 
The Ford Performance AWD system uses twin electronically-controlled clutch packs to manage the car’s front/rear torque split, and also can control the side-to-side torque distribution on the rear axle – delivering the “torque vectoring” capability, which has a dramatic impact on handling and cornering stability.
 
The AWD system monitors inputs from multiple vehicle sensors 100 times per second. To deliver optimum driving dynamics, Ford Performance AWD was calibrated alongside the car’s advanced Electronic Stability Control, in particular the brake-based Torque Vectoring Control system that works in parallel with the torque-vectoring AWD.
 
Focus RS drivers can select four different Drive Modes that configure the AWD system, damper controls, Electronic Stability Control, steering and engine responses, and exhaust sound to deliver optimum performance in road or circuit driving conditions. Normal, Sport or Track settings are available, alongside a special Drift Mode to help the driver achieve controlled oversteer drifts under circuit conditions.
 
The new 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine for the all-new Focus RS shares its fundamental structure with the all-aluminium four-cylinder engine in the all-new Ford Mustang and is significantly upgraded for the Focus RS to deliver 10 per cent more power. The engine features a new low-inertia twin-scroll turbocharger with larger compressor, enhanced air intake design, and a large-bore high performance exhaust system.
 
Maximum torque of 440Nm is delivered between 2,000 and 4,500 rpm, with 470Nm available for up to 15 seconds on transient overboost during hard acceleration.
 
The 30th car to wear the legendary RS badge, the Focus RS will be built in Saarlouis, Germany.

 

 

 

And a jazzy vid that doesn't tell you anything not included above.  But looks better.

 

Interestingly they have decided to undercut the price of the Golf R.

While giving more power and (IMO) a better four wheel drive system for enthusiastic drivers with better distribution of torque.

 

£5,000 more than the base model Octavia VRS.  For four wheel drive and 345bhp.

 

Let's hope the interior is half decent.

It would be interesting to see how it does compare to the Golf R, given it's reviews on the whole.

 

Are you comparing the Fiesta ST that you had in the hope that the new Focus is of similar, if not better, ilk in the handling department?

Both this and the new Fiesta RS that I was reading about yesterday have my attention - Drift button - ah yeeeaaahhh!!

It would be interesting to see how it does compare to the Golf R, given it's reviews on the whole.

 

Are you comparing the Fiesta ST that you had in the hope that the new Focus is of similar, if not better, ilk in the handling department?

 

A lot of four wheel drive cars suffer in the fun area due to being too capable at normal speeds.

So the ST is more fun that most of them.

 

But Ford seem to have gone to some lengths to not only make the car practical and capable, but also fun (drift button and rear torque delivery) when required.

So we'll have to see how it compares for fun when the demos start landing at dealers...

If it's similar to the ST for handling/fun it'll be better than it's competitors.

The only thing I'm not liking about the way the new car technology is heading is the "driver sound" that pipes synthesised exhaust notes into the cabin. I'm not sure I've acquired that sort of taste.

The only thing I'm not liking about the way the new car technology is heading is the "driver sound" that pipes synthesised exhaust notes into the cabin. I'm not sure I've acquired that sort of taste.

 

That's what I thought, it annoyed me on the ST.

But after a few weeks I got used to it and quite liked it.

It's handy for telling you how much load the engine is under, as it directly relates to that.

Interesting spec and pricing..... watching with interest.

 

Thanks for posting this up

I would be interested on which bit / stretch of road you could do 165mph here in deepest Cornwall with no motorways..LOL

I would be interested on which bit / stretch of road you could do 165mph here in deepest Cornwall with no motorways..LOL

 

Some people do track days.

165mph top speed means at 120mph on the main stright at Brands it'll still be pulling well, or 140-150mph at Silverstone.

 

I would imagine your Fabia VRS can crack 70mph.

<snip>

 

£5,000 more than the base model Octavia VRS.  For four wheel drive and 345bhp.

 

<snip>

 

 

Exactly. Not even in the same class are they? If you can stretch that extra £5k you'll be getting an almost infinitely better package all round.

Wow. This will probably be what I replace the S3 with. I wonder if there'll be a Montune kit for this.

Wow. This will probably be what I replace the S3 with. I wonder if there'll be a Montune kit for this.

 

I think you can guarantee there will be.

They do one for every other RS and petrol ST.

 

With 15% more cubic capacity than most of the other cars in this class running a 2.0 there should be decent gains to make.

IF they can knock on the door of 400bhp and keep the warranty (as Mountune do with their stage 1 kits) that would be pretty cool.

Is there a RS configurator yet available for potential customer to spec and price?

Is there a RS configurator yet available for potential customer to spec and price?

NO! :-(

Is there a RS configurator yet available for potential customer to spec and price?

 

2 days and there will be.

Then you can compare it to your Golf R.

Cheaper than a new mini clubman with a few toys. Hope its as good as it is being hyped up to be.

I think you can guarantee there will be.

They do one for every other RS and petrol ST.

With 15% more cubic capacity than most of the other cars in this class running a 2.0 there should be decent gains to make.

IF they can knock on the door of 400bhp and keep the warranty (as Mountune do with their stage 1 kits) that would be pretty cool.

That's exactly what I'm hoping. 400bhp, warranty, decent AWD and manual. For £30k it doesn't get much better does it.

 

So we'll have to see how it compares for fun when the demos start landing at dealers...

If it's similar to the ST for handling/fun it'll be better than it's competitors.

And god, how I already pity that poor Ford salesman that gets to go shotgun on that test drive.

 

As a Ford man at heart i'm really looking forward to this one coming. 4wd was always shunned on previous RS models due to the added weight and fun factor reduction... but there comes a point where big power is a total waste on fwd so hopefully its the right decision... knowing Ford, they just wouldn't release an RS product that didn't major on driving thrills. Nice to see they've also not just taken an off the shelf awd solution such as Haldex 5 but worked to enhance it to deliver a better driving experience. Also, I think the price point is pretty aggressive. Golf R/S3 as mentioned are more but this is priced over 1k less than the Cupra Sub 8 which is fwd and 280ps 'only'!

Will be interesting to see if these follow the usual ford trend of holding their value extremely well and in the future non molested examples going for mega money.

Will be interesting to see if these follow the usual ford trend of holding their value extremely well and in the future non molested examples going for mega money.

 

This could be it's downfall.

I think it depends on the PCP quotes and the Ford backed future values.

If they future value is too high the RS will be too cheap (like the Golf R was on the special deals) resulting in them selling very well.

Which means there will be some impact on used values.

 

Apparently the Focus RS will not have a limited production run to a set number of units.

So if they do them too cheaply on a PCP there will be loads of them around, just like the Golf R of which I see 2 or 3 every day.  I see more mk7 Rs than GTIs.

That is surprising regarding the run not being limited, I always remember going to a Ford Dealership and seeing a mk2 RS going for near enough £20000 and I am aware of Fords such as the Mk1 Escort even the bog standard ones going for thousands and the Mk1 Escort Mexico/Rs going for ridiculous money. 

 

It is a shame as they seem really decent cars but potentially there could be a flood of them to the market?

 

Find an unmolested ST for my brother was quite a challenge as most of them had been remapped, new exhausts etc, 

That is surprising regarding the run not being limited,

Was the mk2 RS a limited production run? (I didn't think it was?) I know the limited edition RS500 only had 101 head to the UK but I thought the order books were unlimited and throughout the normal RS's  life cycle.

Was the mk2 RS a limited production run? (I didn't think it was?) I know the limited edition RS500 only had 101 head to the UK but I thought the order books were unlimited and throughout the normal RS's  life cycle.

My apologies I thought it was a limited production run, one of the few cars I have seen that seems to hold its value extremely well

Interestingly they have decided to undercut the price of the Golf R.

While giving more power and (IMO) a better four wheel drive system for enthusiastic drivers with better distribution of torque.

 

£5,000 more than the base model Octavia VRS.  For four wheel drive and 345bhp.

 

Let's hope the interior is half decent.

Do you think that at the base price, the specification would be acceptable?

 

Ford do offer different equipment / price levels for their ST, models, but I'm not aware of similar pricing for the RS variants.

 

As for comparing it with a vRS Octy, that's a tad unfair, IMVHO.

 

The current vRS is just a warmed-up variant of a very useful family car & is priced accordingly.

 

Probably better value than any Focus or Golf, especially in estate form, but no way intended to be a properly quick car.