http://topgear.com/car-reviews/ford/focus-st/23-rs/first-drive

What a ridiculous bit in the Topgear review about being perched on the drivers seat and not down with the car, 

and they are looking at a solution. 'looking at a fix'.

for the 'Optional Fixed-Height Bucket Seats'.  (Adjustable with a spanner Optional Fixed-Height Bucket Seats might be an idea that 'Ford' could have got through Type Approval, or maybe not)

DID THE MEDIA DEPARTMENT PERSON JUST SAY WHAT THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD AT THAT MOMENT?

 

Ken Block was driving the Pre Production cars, being filmed, the top man was worried in the last videos as it was being signed off about pops and burbles, steering feel in the various driving modes etc.

If nobody got in or out the car and noticed the seating position was a bit Ford Focus then they maybe do not know where their ar53 and elbow are supposed to be.

 

*Someone should point out to the Top Guys, the seat is not low causing you to be able to wear a Crash Helmet or Top Hat and still have loads of space between you and the roof, you are just rather short, ie not tall or even average height.*

(Sit on a booster cushion!)

 

Some 15 year old car thieves should be the Test Drivers not some middle aged man that drive fast cars because they can af'FORD' them

and were taught how to drift or go fast by experts and probably only do it on tracks or closed roads.

Leave the cars locked and let the toe rags loose on them and see how quick they can pinch them and with trackers and sensors see how they handle and how many end up in ditches, walls or containers going abroad. 

 

(& Maybe get some more drivers that are a bit taller, fatter, slimmer, female, transgender etc in the cars driving them before sign off. just normal people not Driving Gods,  people that have to pay Cash Money and buy the cars, not ones that FORD pay a salary to and provide with Management Vehicles.)

Proper Focus groups for the New Focus RS rather than Yes People and pure Fan Boys that fail to notice the Fixed Height Bucket seat.

 

Edited 19 January, 201610 yr by GoneOffskiroottoot

I didn't see the bit about high seats? It's all a bit gee whizz self congratulatory BS but you'd expect that from an American corporate video. I think the insurance companies will have a field day with drift mode. I noticed a warning "for track only" so what happens if you drift it off the A465 into a field...? No cover? I'll bet most owners will be trying it out, whereas few of us ever turn off all of the esc stuff

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I wonder how the 2016 Ford Focus RS burning more fuel than it needs to just at the point it does to get the Pops and Burbles works out with the Smog / Emissions Tests in the United States and other World Regions, and what the 'Real World' Emission Tests will show when these are done for Government Agencies, not that they will matter that much in the UK any time in the near future.

It has had its Co2 results from the EU Testing done and no Type Approval was required as it is just a new version of a Ford Focus & not a new model.

 

Great Engine, great power / torque, all good on the road & Track

& 3mins 30 seconds video #2 says it all really, designed to pass Emission & Noise tests as done when not on the road.

Edited 19 January, 201610 yr by GoneOffskiroottoot

It doesn't sound that great to me, when it starts and initial press on the throttle it sounds meaty, but higher up it sounds a bit corsa!  pun intended .Maybe because its a 4 pot and lost the sparkle the 5 pot had .. Suppose its the same with the S3 and RS3, that sounds so much more complex having an extra cylinder too 

It doesn't sound that great to me, when it starts and initial press on the throttle it sounds meaty, but higher up it sounds a bit corsa!  pun intended .Maybe because its a 4 pot and lost the sparkle the 5 pot had .. Suppose its the same with the S3 and RS3, that sounds so much more complex having an extra cylinder too 

 

It'll be interesting to hear what it sounds like in real life, but I think they are always going to have an uphill struggle when the Audi has a 5 pot and the BMW a 6.

Tom's mini does sound great though and the Audi/VW 4 cylinder doesn't sound too bad either (what have I said there!). I only hope that BMW can make a nice sounding 4 cylinder as it's what we are getting in the future of their small cars :(

Edited 19 January, 201610 yr by Lady Elanore

Tom's mini does sound great though and the Audi/VW 4 cylinder doesn't sound too bad either (what have I said there!). I only hope that BMW can make a nice sounding 4 cylinder as it's what we are getting in the future of their small cars :(

Hmm. I'm no fan of the 2.0TSI sound track. Like a well oiled sewing machine in the octavia, and silly farty noises in cupra / R versions. It's a shame in the modern world of emissions regulations that given the technical capability of variable valve timing and lift there isn't a "BDA" button. That would be worth paying for.

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Another review, but possibly too positive.  Comes across that he already loved the car before he even drove it...

 

https://www.carthrottle.com/post/2016-ford-focus-rs-review-the-perfect-hoonigan-and-drifting-legend/

Sniff petrol were having a bit of fun at the Jorno lusting at the RS

 

Sniff Petrol poking fun at Jorno's lust

Videos are starting to come out now...

 

 

It looks like Ford's decision to avoid Haldex and try something different could have been a good one.

Edited 21 January, 201610 yr by BossFox

That looks fantastic! Looks like the most chuckable of the hyper hatch brigade. I doubt they make a 'brave pill' big enough for me to try drift mode though I noticed he mentioned the durability of the overspeed bits and bobs. My A4 was specced with the Audi Sport Diff which has their version of this and I broke it after playing silly beggers in a giant empty car park (would have cost me £7K in total to replace if the car hadn't been in warranty).

 

Unbelievable value for money though! I'll have mine in a subtle metallic Grey-black, no roof spoiler and less aggressive looking wheels please

 

 

 

Sounds great too, even sillier than the A45 perhaps?

Ford says more than 2,300 orders

5 times what Ford sold in Japan in all of 2015 or so. It would be odd if Ford UK dealers could not have pre orders on half a dozen each. And a demonstrator perk, and maybe a staff member buying one. Good value hot hatches, pile them high and sell them at good prices

My bad. They sold 5,000 not 500 in Japan, and are pulling out.

Focus RS build dates have been pushed back around 3 weeks as Ford was not happy with a few things and want to make sure the car is "right".

Time will tell if that might be EU Testing. Co2 Emissions, etc.

Maybe Insurance Group and type issues rather than manufacturing.

 

What are the Published Co2 g/km figures as were being given?

Focus RS build dates have been pushed back around 3 weeks as Ford was not happy with a few things and want to make sure the car is "right".

Any knowledge of what issues? "Front bumper security?"

Bit like Audi RS3 issues ,Unfortunately Audi allowed initial cars to customers. then called them back.

Well done Ford.

Edited 8 February, 201610 yr by vrskeith

Focus RS build dates have been pushed back around 3 weeks as Ford was not happy with a few things and want to make sure the car is "right".

Well just look at this way....another 3 weeks to enjoy the fiesta :-)

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Focus RS build dates have been pushed back around 3 weeks as Ford was not happy with a few things and want to make sure the car is "right".

So loads of rumours abound on Ford Focus RS owners club sites but no communication via Ford UK of actual issues/ reason for the delay in production. RDU problems ?

Unhappy potential owners I read, talking of extending warranty etc.

e.g.

Comments:

nykk

Posted 04 February 2016 - 10:03

Forum User

400 posts

Lancashire

Nick

.

Received an email from my dealer via team RS

Stating NO units are leaving Saarlouis before the end of February due to production delays

Also states insurance group for the car as 40A

Also says to disregard ANY information you have received about Vista build dates or delivery dates

Scoobaru

Posted 04 February 2016 - 10:20

Forum User

147 posts

Colin

.

Bry posted the email in another thread -

Production Update

This communication also addresses production delay rumours which have been circulating online over the weekend. We can confirm that no units are likely to leave the plant before the end of February.

The delays are a consequence of our rigorous manufacturing process which involves close monitoring of the quality of all parts, especially in the initial phase of launching a new car. This process established that some new components did not meet our quality standards. As a consequence we have slowed down production ramp-up to enable our supply base to improve quality to the required level.

At this point I am guessing May delivery for my car at the earliest. This is starting to draaaggggggggggggg

Edited 9 February, 201610 yr by vrskeith

I used to cringe at some of these posts quoting posts on other forums

Now I just chuckle quietly to myself

Must be becoming more tolerant im my middle age

Edited 9 February, 201610 yr by Brimma

Keith, sometimes the ability to correctly quote items outweighs the contained content and would greatly enhance the post if done properly.

I can't believe that Bryan still thinks he's middle aged though! ;-)

So loads of rumours abound on Ford Focus RS owners club sites but no communication via Ford UK of actual issues/ reason for the delay in production. RDU problems ?

Unhappy potential owners I read, talking of extending warranty etc.

e.g.

Comments:

nykk

Posted 04 February 2016 - 10:03

Forum User

400 posts

Lancashire

Nick

.

Received an email from my dealer via team RS

Stating NO units are leaving Saarlouis before the end of February due to production delays

Also states insurance group for the car as 40A

Also says to disregard ANY information you have received about Vista build dates or delivery dates

Scoobaru

Posted 04 February 2016 - 10:20

Forum User

147 posts

Colin

.

Bry posted the email in another thread -

Production Update

This communication also addresses production delay rumours which have been circulating online over the weekend. We can confirm that no units are likely to leave the plant before the end of February.

The delays are a consequence of our rigorous manufacturing process which involves close monitoring of the quality of all parts, especially in the initial phase of launching a new car. This process established that some new components did not meet our quality standards. As a consequence we have slowed down production ramp-up to enable our supply base to improve quality to the required level.

At this point I am guessing May delivery for my car at the earliest. This is starting to draaaggggggggggggg

 

Well that doesn't really say what the problem is at all.  Or mention extended warranty?

 

According someone I know that works at Ford there was a slight issue with the press cars getting a bit warm after a whole day of hooning round track.

They just want to make sure it's right before delivering to customers.

 

But that could be hearsay.

 

All I know for sure is, I'd rather get a car I can abuse and has less chance of breaking and wait a bit longer for it.

 

 

There has been loads of speculation and BS on the Ford sites, which is why I generally don't bother posting there.

More important things to worry about.

Edited 9 February, 201610 yr by BossFox

Boss,

 

Appreciate what you say but Ford signed of  after 2 1/2 years, design and R&D  TESTING etc. :http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1100289_ford-drops-eighth-and-final-episode-of-focus-rs-documentary-series-video

 

So I would presume that the delay relates to either of the following, Production/ Manufacturing/ Assembly or component testing.

 

As  an   aerospace / automotive manufacturing engineer, of some year, and knowing the amount of work that goes into producing a quality product, these issues always puzzle me

The thing is they do so much Global testing, mule, pre production, hot and cold climate, then eventually they have right hand drive cars into the UK, it's like 3rd world fuel, Sh!te roads and real world. Next issue is Ford UK dealership PDI's and then servicing, no wonder it all goes t!ts up so often as cars launch. It's been happening for decades.

Edited 9 February, 201610 yr by GoneOffskiroottoot