Ford America announce M3 Beating AWD Focus RS

[OZST24]

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/defa...?storyId=10841

FOCUS RS GOES INCANDESCENT

Ford plans a mega-powered, M3-beating RS

It looks likely that the forthcoming Focus RS will have up to 350bhp and 332lb-ft of torque from a high-pressure turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine, driven through all four wheels. That's more than the current BMW M3's 343bhp and 269lb-ft.

According to Autocar, Ford execs are considering a plan to install the Volvo-developed engine in the RS, which is due out in 2007. The unit is an aluminium block, four valve-per-cylinder powerplant weighing just 180Kg.

Three versions will be built:

* 3.2-litre naturally aspirated with variable cam timing for inlet valves only, producing 235bhp at 6,000rpm and 236lb-ft of torque at 3,500rpm
* 3.0-litre low-pressure turbocharged with variable cam timing on all valves, producing 285bhp and 295lb-ft.
* 3.0-litre high-pressure turbocharged with variable cam timing on all valves, producing 350bhp and 332lb-ft.

The added power would put the RS at the top of the European hot hatch power ranks, and gives it massively more power more than the ST, with its 2.5-litre engine making 217bhp and 236lb-ft of torque.

Bodywork modifications include vents in the bonnet and an additional chin splitter.

The only piece of the jigsaw still missing, according to the report, is the right gearbox to handle all that grunt...

Come on Matt please tell us its coming to Aus as well :
Id buy one in a heartbeat!!