NEWS ARTICLE
Ford Focus RS – SNEAK PREVIEW
This is one of the most eagerly awaited hot hatches of the year – it is of course the Ford Focus RS.
Ford has confirmed that the RS will benefit from extensive engineering knowledge gained through the Company's highly successful Motorsport programmes, notably with the Focus World Rally Car.
We have shots of an early RS prototype undergoing performance and durability testing at the challenging Nürburgring Circuit in Germany, in preparation for its launch in 2009.
The all-new Focus RS features a specially developed, turbocharged version of the Duratec 2.5-litre engine, based on Focus ST, but is significantly revised to generate over 280PS and more than 400 Nm of torque.
The RS has been given various chassis innovations, developed in conjunction with Ford's Advanced Engineering Centre in Aachen and these are being tuned for the new car by the Cologne-based Ford Team RS.
The man behind the Focus RS project is Ford of Europe’s Vehicle Line Director for Performance Vehicles, Jost Capito, whose Team RS development group were responsible for the first generation Focus RS in 2002, and more recently, the Fiesta ST and the new Focus ST.
Capito said: “The new Focus RS is as much a car for driving enthusiasts as the one before it and classic Ford RS models of the past. We’re staying true to the core RS principles of a no-compromise, affordable high performance road car you can live with. The new Focus RS will have the muscles, heart and soul of a genuine RS and will be exciting to drive every day.”
Capito added: "We have no doubt that we can enhance the acclaimed qualities of the already excellent Focus for an even higher performance model than the ST. "Now, we are going through the rigorous job of proving out our technical approach in extensive testing and tuning over a variety of roads including the most demanding track in the world, the "Green Hell" that is the Nürburgring Nordschleife! With two consecutive Manufacturers’ World Rally Championship titles and the success of Fiesta and Focus ST models, we have the knowledge and the experience. The time is right for Ford to deliver a new high performance model for the legions of loyal Ford RS customers around Europe."
The new Focus RS test and development programme is now well underway and will continue for several months, prior to the vehicle being readied for production in early 2009.
Potential Customers will get the first look at a production model vehicle at the world premiere in the London Motor Show in late July.
Simon McBride