Hennessy Ford Focus RS 405BHP !!!

csv8 · 04-09-2016, 11:40 AM

"It’s called the ‘HPE400’, and as the name sort-of suggests, will come with 405bhp. This, hot hatch fans, is a Hennessey Performance tuned Ford Focus RS.

Yup, the American tuner - responsible for the Venom, numerous Mustangs and Corvettes and Vipers and even the Honda NSX - has turned his hand to the year’s hottest hot hatch (and Top Gear’s Car of the Year 2016).

At this early stage, we’ve only been given a few preliminary details. Things like a new engine management system, high flow air filter, stainless steel exhaust with an electronic dump valve, and lots of Hennessey badging. That little lot all adds up to the aforementioned 405bhp (up from 345bhp) and a whopping 425lb ft of torque. No word on performance timing, but for your Internet forum biddings, the standard Focus RS will go from 0-62mph in 4.7s and run on to a top speed of 165mph. Plenty, in any case. This new version - assuming you can get those manual gearchanges right - should make it even quicker.

There’s also the promise of deeper upgrades coming in the future for the RS; stuff like new induction systems, intercoolers, better exhausts, upgrades to the turbo, wheels and even the tyres.

Ford’s official tuner of course - that’s Mountune - already offers an upgrade to the RS that hits 370bhp and drops the 0-62mph time down to 4.5s. Would either of these packs tempt you? Or is the ‘standard’, 345bhp Focus RS swift enough out of the box?

While you deliberate on such an important matter, have a watch of the video below. It’s a TG drag race between the Focus RS, Mercedes-AMG A45 and Volkswagen Golf R…" http://www.topgear.com/car-news/hot-...-ford-focus-rs

chevypower · 04-09-2016, 12:34 PM

I wonder if the upcoming 9 speed auto will be used in that, and if it will reduce acceleration times even further.

Sioso · 04-09-2016, 12:41 PM

Has a Focus RS ever achieved a 4.7 in Aus?
I've seen two reviews, one got 0-100km/h in 5.4 and the other was 5.7.

Bent8 · 04-09-2016, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sioso

Has a Focus RS ever achieved a 4.7 in Aus?
I've seen two reviews, one got 0-100km/h in 5.4 and the other was 5.7.

Nice drag race between the Focus RS and a Mustang 5.0

Focus did 4.7sec to 96kph

http://www.topgear.com/videos/top-ge...-ford-focus-rs

**PepeLePew** · 04-09-2016, 07:18 PM

Launch control or not throw a manual into the mix and times will be all over the place (never mind conditions etc). Anyway sounds like Hennessy isn't really reaching much beyond tune only cars and the price tag is stratospheric. More money in the badges than the content perhaps.

With Hennessy's rep in the US these days not sure how much it means anyway.

adz137 · 05-09-2016, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sioso

Has a Focus RS ever achieved a 4.7 in Aus?
I've seen two reviews, one got 0-100km/h in 5.4 and the other was 5.7.

Not on Australian soil i'm yet to see someone get under 5 seconds to 100 in the RS the best recorded time so far has been 5.2 sec and that was with launch control (see article below). It was interesting to see the STi reach 100 in the same time (5.2 sec) while the Golf R was the quickest with 4.9 sec.

http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-revi...mparison-44121

**PepeLePew** · 05-09-2016, 10:00 AM

"While some enthusiasts turn up their noses at anything other than a stick shift, the reality is twin-clutch gearboxes are better at getting the most out of a performance car"

The unfortunate truth. The test was also unusually done with the Super Sports in lieu of the Cup 2's. The 4.7 can be had, but unlike the Golf there are a list of conditions. I know a couple of lovely fellows run around chest beating with their 'R's and quite rightly, but it takes no talent or skill on their part to make them go fast, they just push the pedal and take their 130kg weight advantage and right foot for a ego rub.

I'm sure a well driven STi could also improve, love the look of those things and they're nice and nasty in a old school way

Uncivilized = more fun for some.

Lot of credit to the auto R though, it's consistent as buggery.

Holty · 05-09-2016, 10:39 AM

👍 well done

Mercury Bullet · 05-09-2016, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PepeLePew

Launch control or not throw a manual into the mix and times will be all over the place (never mind conditions etc). Anyway sounds like Hennessy isn't really reaching much beyond tune only cars and the price tag is stratospheric. More money in the badges than the content perhaps.

With Hennessy's rep in the US these days not sure how much it means anyway.

It will be interesting to see where this goes.

I saw a show on the building of the RS and they had some fairly sizable problems reaching 250kw. They got there eventually (obviously) but they blew up there fair share of motors in the process. It also took 6 months to sort out with Ford Racing running the show.

I'm not convinced these motors have a whole lot of headroom.
Time will tell.

The show was on BeiN sports on Foxtel, well worth a look and Foxtel will replay it at some point, no doubt.

PS. I wouldn't touch Hennessy with a 40ft barge pole after reading some of his threatening rants on the internet.

**PepeLePew** · 05-09-2016, 01:56 PM

Yeah missed that show and couldn't find a copy anyplace, only seen the youtube content. Hint hint to anyone that may know where it can be streamed or something.

Looking at content on the net may be hard to find one in the future that HASN'T been tuned. If something's going to break shouldn't be too long until it's found.

Mercury Bullet · 05-09-2016, 04:33 PM

Can't find it anywhere, sorry.

I've got it recorded on my Foxtel box but I wouldn't have a clue how to get it off.

Mercury Bullet · 07-09-2016, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PepeLePew

Yeah missed that show and couldn't find a copy anyplace, only seen the youtube content. Hint hint to anyone that may know where it can be streamed or something.

Looking at content on the net may be hard to find one in the future that HASN'T been tuned. If something's going to break shouldn't be too long until it's found.

I might have had some luck finding this show.

Try here.
http://fordauthority.com/2016/04/foc...r-this-friday/

Or my google search.
https://www.bing.com/search?q=ford+f...oples+supercar

I'm not up with all this internet tv stuff, but hopefully this can be of help to someone. It was a great show.