Ford Focus RS Limited Edition confirmed for Australia

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Customer feedback from across the globe used to determine the enhanced specification Ford Focus RS Limited Edition confirmed for Australia
500 Limited Edition units arriving from November 2017, set to cement the RS’s position as a local performance favourite

Mechnical upgrades include Quaife limited-slip front differential and 19-inch forged alloy wheels with 235/35R19 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres as standard

Focus RS Limited Edition builds on the success of Ford’s local performance line-up, which includes Mustang GT, Mustang EcoBoost, Fiesta ST and Focus ST

MELBOURNE, August 10, 2017 – The Ford Focus RS Limited Edition has been confirmed for the Australian market in what will be one of the most capable, complete hyper hatches ever offered to performance customers locally. The upgrades for the RS Limited Edition are a direct result of customer feedback since the current Focus RS’s launch.

A batch of 500 Focus RS Limited Editions will begin arriving in November 2017, enabled by the strong appetite for the performance hyper hatch since its July 2016 launch. Confirmation of the upgraded version of the Focus RS comes following a raft of media accolades both globally and locally, the most recent coming this week with the RS crowned MOTOR magazine’s 2017 Bang for Your Bucks Champion.

“Ford’s performance models are an important part of our line-up, and we’re excited to offer Australians an even more capable version of the Focus RS, which has struck a chord with driving enthusiasts across the country,” said Ford President and CEO Graeme Whickman.

“The RS Limited Edition is a result of enthusiast customer feedback which helped us create the hottest RS yet with 500 units confirmed for Australia,” added Whickman.

The Ford Focus RS Limited Edition package
The Focus RS Limited Edition adds the following benefits above the Focus RS:
- Quaife limited-slip front differential
- Performance Wheel Pack including 19-inch forged alloy wheels with 235/35R19 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres
- Active City Stop (Autonomous Emergency Braking)
- Recaro shell seats with exclusive Nitrous Blue leather application
- Nitrous prestige paint
- Rear hatch-mounted spoiler, mirror caps and roof finished in Absolute Black
- Privacy glass
- MLP of $56,990

Quaife Limited-Slip Differential
Every Focus RS Limited Edition is equipped with a Limited-Slip Differential (LSD) as standard to improve the RS’s already highly-praised traction and cornering capabilities. Ford Performance has worked with Quaife, a renowned UK-based engineering outfit, to produce a helical mechanical LSD for the RS’s front axle. Unlike a conventional plate-style limited-slip differential, the Quaife differential relies on gears rather than clutches for its operation. This produces smoother operation and means it will not lock harshly, as it automatically biases the torque away from the spinning wheel, across the axle to a constantly varying degree.
“Our new limited-edition Focus RS represents accessible performance at its finest,” said Jamal Hameedi, Ford Performance Chief Engineer.
“Improving on the thrilling driving dynamics of the Focus RS is no small task – but our Ford Performance engineers have delivered a drive-train capable of wringing every drop of performance from the engine,” added Hameedi.
The Quaife differential will be teamed with the Performance Wheel Pack that brings forged alloy wheels, (a $3,500 option on the regular Focus RS). This includes Michelin Pilot Cup Sport 2 tyres, which are fitted to ultra-high performance models such as the Ferrari 458 Speciale.

In the Driver’s Seat: RS Limited Edition
Exclusive Recaro shell-seats are standard in the RS Limited Edition, and include a unique Nitrous Blue detail to match the exterior paintwork. In addition, SYNC 3 including voice-activated Sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard, with a class-leading 8.0-inch full-colour touch-screen.

There is not a single option available to add on the fully-equipped Focus RS Limited Edition, reflecting its hard-core enthusiast raison d'être.

Outside Chance: Limited Edition’s subtle details

The Focus RS Limited Edition is built on the fit-for-purpose no frills mantra of Ford Performance during the vehicle’s development, with minor aesthetic changes designed to maximise the road presence and technical advances of its aerodynamic package.
Denoted by a gloss-black roof, mirror caps and rear spoiler, the RS Limited Edition’s visual changes provide subtle cues that the RS Limited Edition is the ultimate example of a contemporary hyper hatch.
Complementing the standard 19-inch forged alloy wheels and stickier rubber, the RS Limited Edition’s black detailing contrasts its Nitrous paintwork to deliver an intelligent package that can more than match its visual promise.

The Focus RS: a hard act to follow

The RS Limited Edition builds on the success of the Focus RS, which arrived in July 2016 after rave reviews from media around the globe. That formula sees the RS Limited Edition continue with the 257kW 2.3-litre EcoBoost power plant, six-speed manual transmission and Ford Performance AWD.
The sophisticated AWD system enables Dynamic Torque Vectoring, which means that the Focus RS can split its torque not only front-to-rear, but also side-to-side for unprecedented road-holding. The current RS was also the first to offer selectable drive modes that alter steering, engine and exhaust settings, as well as adjustable dampers and Launch Control.

The Ford Focus RS Limited Edition will be offered for a MLP of $56,990 with Australian deliveries commencing in November 2017.

Source: Ford Media