2016 Ford Focus RS spotted for the first time

Wretched · 12-06-2014, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Ford’s next-generation Focus RS looks to be gaining traction.

The next generation of the on-again, off-again hero car has been spotted testing for the first time in Europe, adding to speculation that it will be revived after Ford’s decision to discontinue the previous model in 2010.

Wearing heavy camouflage, the RS pictured has been cleverly cloaked in bodywork from the more garden variety Focus ST. But photographers noticed one oddity: two bulbous exhausts poking through the bottom of the rear bumper, eschewing the regular centrally-mounted exhaust found on the ST.

Ford has been reticent to speculate on the future of the RS. The blue oval brand initially shelved development of a new model to concentrate on producing a full range of derivatives from the regular Focus platform.

But Ford of Europe chief operating officer Barb Samardzich recently told British magazine Auto Express: “I can’t give you any confirmation today, but let’s say there’s a strong desire” to build a Focus RS.

It’s understood the new model will be powered by a 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder engine – the same as that found on the upcoming base model Mustang. The punchy four-pot is likely to produce between 245kW and 260kW, bringing it into line with the maniacal Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG.

Rumours suggest it will continue to send power to the front wheels via an electronic differential. To counter torque steer (where the steering wheel pulls to one side under heavy acceleration), Ford is said to be utilising its Revoknuckle front suspension which has been designed specifically for high performance front-wheel drive applications.

The shared front-wheel drive design would enable Ford to keep its engineering costs down, meaning the RS could be cheaper than before.

Expect the new RS to widely differ in its appearance from the photographed test mule, too. The RS should receive the usual styling accompaniments including large spoilers, bulging wheel arches and gaping air intakes.

The next-generation RS has been slated for a 2016 release – just ahead of Ford replacing the current Focus in 2017.

A limited edition run of just 315 Focus RS models were distributed to Australia in 2010, priced from about $60,000 plus on-road costs. The 224kW/440Nm front-wheel drive predecessor was offered only in manual guise.

This is gonna be epic!!!

**Polyal** · 12-06-2014, 01:26 PM

I wonder if they are ever going to bite the bullet and go to AWD? I know they mention revo but still...

**DJM83** · 12-06-2014, 01:35 PM

I highly doubt AWD.
Revo is pretty bloody good.

I'm excited to see a new Focus RS.

**Polyal** · 12-06-2014, 02:22 PM

Yeah not saying its not good, but if the competition keeps pushing then I just thought they might have to jump at some point?

Also a 5 Door would be interesting, heck even a RS wagon!

FPV GTHO · 12-06-2014, 04:43 PM

At some point, as good as the revoknuckle may be, they're going to need to look at doing more. Sticking power to only 2 wheels let alone the front wheels which have negative weight transfer on launch has its limitations. I think this nee RS should already have been built off the Fiesta to match the rally car. They may have no choice in the future to get more performance with less weight.

b0son · 12-06-2014, 04:47 PM

Renault's perfo-hub is basically the same system. Its pushing its luck at 180-200kW IMO, 250kw is likely to be for the diehards.

XR8putts · 12-06-2014, 04:47 PM

I hate how Ford waits until so late in the product cycle to release RS versions of the Focus. The current shape will be so dated in 2016, and it will take another 6 months to get to Aus/NZ after that. Furthermore, the all new focus will be due too. I think for two generations running, by the time the RS Focus has reached NZ, the all new Focus had been unveiled in Europe, making the RS feel instantly dated.

It's odd to me because it's not like the RS would steal customers from ST buying pool.

Road_Warrior · 12-06-2014, 04:52 PM

I wonder if this is the same mule that had a big chunk cut out of the front bumper for a dirty great intercooler to sit in. Looked like it had swallowed a pallet of bricks

**DJM83** · 12-06-2014, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FPV GTHO

At some point, as good as the revoknuckle may be, they're going to need to look at doing more. Sticking power to only 2 wheels let alone the front wheels which have negative weight transfer on launch has its limitations. I think this nee RS should already have been built off the Fiesta to match the rally car. They may have no choice in the future to get more performance with less weight.

Valid point.

Have you driven a MKII Focus RS?

FPV GTHO · 12-06-2014, 07:15 PM

No i haven't.

Stefan · 12-06-2014, 08:25 PM

I just can't work car makers out.

Why make manual only? This will simply sway many buyers to the German hot hatches.

FPV GTHO · 12-06-2014, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefan

I just can't work car makers out.

Why make manual only? This will simply sway many buyers to the German hot hatches.

Chances are they dont have a suitable auto transmission strong enough. The diesels would probably have the strongest variant and they have 340nm. The ST is 360NM and that already is manual only.

Franco Cozzo · 12-06-2014, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefan

I just can't work car makers out.

Why make manual only? This will simply sway many buyers to the German hot hatches.

Ford's DSG is a piece of unreliable crap anyway, take a look in the Focus section on this forum and look whats happening.

If it struggles to hold up under the standard 2L Focus without problems the 2.3L Ecoboost would probably shred it.

Also I believe the team behind the RS and the ST Focus are big on manuals, they mentioned why ages ago in another news article.

chevypower · 13-06-2014, 01:10 AM

If it were AWD, it would be a WRX killer in every single way.

**Polyal** · 13-06-2014, 06:24 AM

Also the AWD thing would tie into past Cossies etc. DJM83 I have not been in a Mk2 RS but id love to down one at some point. They are a properly sorted car but they are going to find it hard sticking with the others moving up, unless the price point is low enough to keep them in the game.

**DJM83** · 13-06-2014, 09:52 AM

Highly doubt there will be an auto Team RS are big on manual only.

Wretched · 13-06-2014, 10:02 AM

Nothing wrong with manual only.
I am jumping on the AWD bandwagon though, not saying TeamRS won't deliver a quality product but with the KW they're aiming for, I would imagine it would be more efficient to utilise an AWD system.
Having said that I am not an mechanical engineer so the above means nothing.

Stefan · 13-06-2014, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FPV GTHO

Chances are they dont have a suitable auto transmission strong enough. The diesels would probably have the strongest variant and they have 340nm. The ST is 360NM and that already is manual only.

I realise they don't have one to fit but they should design one that is suitable that's what building and selling cars is all about.

I'm certain a Ford toploader or 9" diff did not simply appear one day, they had to design and build it.

LeadFoot81 · 13-06-2014, 12:27 PM

If the Focus based Kuga is AWD, why can't the Focus RS be AWD? ;) Come on do it Ford!

FPV GTHO · 13-06-2014, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefan

I realise they don't have one to fit but they should design one that is suitable that's what building and selling cars is all about.

I'm certain a Ford toploader or 9" diff did not simply appear one day, they had to design and build it.

The volume has to be there to justify it though. Look at Mustang even, has to share it's engines and auto transmission with F150 and the manual trans with diesel Transit. The best chance I can see is if Ford want a 400nm+ diesel in the range somewhere, then it might be compatible but the TeamRS/SVT guys have to then choose to use it.

**DJM83** · 13-06-2014, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeadFoot81

If the Focus based Kuga is AWD, why can't the Focus RS be AWD? ;) Come on do it Ford!

I know with the old Kuga it was based on focus but IIRC wheel base on Kuga was slightly longer. Only reason is a company called Wolf tuning in Europe converted a MKII focus RS to AWD using Kuga drive train.

**Fordman1** · 13-06-2014, 04:17 PM

I'll have one in the same Green as the last RS please.

Oh I almost forgot, please include the 19" Ford Motor Sport Rims in a gun metal grey too

**DJM83** · 13-06-2014, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM83

I know with the old Kuga it was based on focus but IIRC wheel base on Kuga was slightly longer. Only reason is a company called Wolf tuning in Europe converted a MKII focus RS to AWD using Kuga drive train.

Sorry to go off topic, but here it is. God i love that noise, i miss my XR5T
Focus MKII AWD. notice the rear wheel location within the wheel arch?
did i mention that noise, better than a V8 IMO, im biased but.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSxZew33_IM

Wretched · 13-06-2014, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM83

Sorry to go off topic, but here it is. God i love that noise, i miss my XR5T
Focus MKII AWD. notice the rear wheel location within the wheel arch?
did i mention that noise, better than a V8 IMO, im biased but.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSxZew33_IM

holy hell that is a nice car, i love the yellow color too. Minus the decals that thing looks brutal.
Sounds fantastic too.
I sometimes wonder did Ford really know what they stumbled upon using that engine.

LeadFoot81 · 13-06-2014, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM83

Sorry to go off topic, but here it is. God i love that noise, i miss my XR5T
Focus MKII AWD. notice the rear wheel location within the wheel arch?
did i mention that noise, better than a V8 IMO, im biased but.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSxZew33_IM

That thing's insane! Sound is at least on par with a v8!

**DJM83** · 14-06-2014, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wretched

holy hell that is a nice car, i love the yellow color too. Minus the decals that thing looks brutal.
Sounds fantastic too.
I sometimes wonder did Ford really know what they stumbled upon using that engine.

I think your right. Almost no body knows about it. Really wish they never stopped using it.

**DJM83** · 27-06-2014, 05:34 PM

So there is another one running around.
http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1...s-rs-spy-shots
Check out the FMIC!

gassed250 · 28-06-2014, 12:05 PM

It would be nice to have AWD and it shouldn't be that hard seeing as theres basically a bolt in AWD kit for the older XR5/RS focus

**DJM83** · 28-06-2014, 01:13 PM

Its exactly a bolt on kit that im aware of (If your talking the Kuga Haldex system) That bolts in but its not a direct fit as such

gassed250 · 28-06-2014, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM83

Its exactly a bolt on kit that im aware of (If your talking the Kuga Haldex system) That bolts in but its not a direct fit as such

thats the one
Im sure the mk3 floor isn't that much different from the mk2