Ford Focus RS $50,990 July 2016

[Sioso]

RS500 may make it's way to Australia:
Sounds like a weapon........

http://www.carsales.com.au/editorial...s-rs-500-54986

Ford Performance secretly readying more powerful RS. WiIl have 260kW, hit 100km/h in less than 4.0 seconds
Ford has already begun working on a lighter, even more extreme version of the Focus RS even though the current car is yet to be launched.

The more powerful Focus, that could once again carry the nameplate ‘RS 500’, is said to come with a tuned version of the current car’s 2.3-litre turbo petrol that will generate at least 260kW.

Factor in the standard car’s all-wheel drive and that will mean the Focus will hit the 100km/h benchmark, from standstill, in less than four seconds.

As well as the power bump, according to Brit mag Autocar who broke the story late last night, the RS 500 could up to 100kg lighter.

According to the mag, the weight savings comes from a carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic bonnet, wings and roof, plus lighter forged aluminium suspension, carbon ceramic brakes and, even, polycarbonate windows.

To cope with the power the more powerful RS 500 is also expected to come with an additional limited-slip differential on the front axle - a similar option is available on the recently updated Mercedes-AMG A45.

Production issues could mean the RS 500 might be a very limited-run model but it is still expected to come here.

It’s not known how much more Ford Performance will charge for the RS 500. Expect it to command a significant price premium over the $50,990 Ford Australia has already announced it will charge for that standard Focus RS when it arrives in the middle of 2016.

[blueoval]

Holy cow. This sounds insane

[Wretched]

I read this morning about it and got to say Ford have really come out guns blazing of late with their performance cars. They're not relying on one or two either, they're going on all levels. Better yet, they're real performance not sticker packs.
I won't be in the market for a RS500 (even if there was one available for me) but to anyone who does, thumbs up!!
Go Ford!!

[DJM83]

260kw? The standard one has 257kw yeah? I have read that the 2.3L EcoBoost is almost at its limit in the standard RS. I dont see the point in 3kw tbh but i understand if there isnt much more. Considering there was around 40hp difference between the MK2 RS vs RS500 i thought we may have seen a bigger gap. But i understand the weight reductions will make a huge difference. God ford have come ahead in leaps and bounds with performance cars, pity they treat OZ like a little back water.

[blueoval]

Originally Posted by DJM83

260kw? The standard one has 257kw yeah? I have read that the 2.3L EcoBoost is almost at its limit in the standard RS. I dont see the point in 3kw tbh but i understand if there isnt much more. Considering there was around 40hp difference between the MK2 RS vs RS500 i thought we may have seen a bigger gap. But i understand the weight reductions will make a huge difference. God ford have come ahead in leaps and bounds with performance cars, pity they treat OZ like a little back water.

Standard RS in the OP says 224kw Dallas.

[Cheech]

Originally Posted by DJM83

260kw? The standard one has 257kw yeah? I have read that the 2.3L EcoBoost is almost at its limit in the standard RS. I dont see the point in 3kw tbh but i understand if there isnt much more. Considering there was around 40hp difference between the MK2 RS vs RS500 i thought we may have seen a bigger gap. But i understand the weight reductions will make a huge difference. God ford have come ahead in leaps and bounds with performance cars, pity they treat OZ like a little back water.

With stripping weight and addition of a DSG style transmission could see a 0-100 time BELOW 4 seconds making it one of the fastest production hatches ever (if not the fastest).

The Focus RS's quoted 0-100 is 4.7 on the Pilot super sports.
Optioning up the track based Cup 2's drops this to 4.5
So I imagine with a DSG or dual clutch system and a tickle in the power department might see a time below 4.0 seconds

[DJM83]

Oh yeah i know the weight reduction will help a lot, but please for what ever reasons Ford do not add a DSG style auto to the RS.

[Tbm1121]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Oh yeah i know the weight reduction will help a lot, but please for what ever reasons Ford do not add a DSG style auto to the RS.

Ford don't care about opinions or 0-100 times, the particular engineers involved care about making a great drivers performance car. They make it about the drivers control and experience and believe an auto wrecks that experience. Look at the gt350, the focus rs, st and fiesta st, all manual, all for the exact same reason.

[xr6turboford]

Originally Posted by blueoval

Standard RS in the OP says 224kw Dallas.

Ford has revised the power output to 257kw and Roush are working on a 370kw 2.3 Mustang so a 300kW+ RS500 is very possible

[Cheech]

Originally Posted by Tbm1121

Ford don't care about opinions or 0-100 times, the particular engineers involved care about making a great drivers performance car. They make it about the drivers control and experience and believe an auto wrecks that experience. Look at the gt350, the focus rs, st and fiesta st, all manual, all for the exact same reason.

The RS development team do indeed care about 0-100 times.

Thet state it in the video series that their aim was to be under 5 seconds.

However, I don't think commercially they can create a manual car that would best the RS3 or AMG 45 unless they go to a DSG.

I agree though the manual will suit the RS as all RS's have a heritage of being manual only and an auto will dull the experience.

[blueoval]

They are setting the RS up to be a drivers car. Which in my opinion is what I would want out of this when driving in the hills. Dont get me wrong a DSG is great for getting up to speed fast. But nothing beats the feeling of swapping cogs yourself when in the twistys.

[El Jay]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Oh yeah i know the weight reduction will help a lot, but please for what ever reasons Ford do not add a DSG style auto to the RS.

The Powershift transmission should slot in just fine, right?

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by El Jay

The Powershift transmission should slot in just fine, right?

Worked pretty well in the 88kw Fiesta so will go awesome in the 250kw RS

[Cheech]

Link to press kits and document releases:

http://focusrs.fordpresskits.com/

[Uwish]

Too funny... Ford and RS heritage.
FFS look at what Porsche has done.... DSG in their GT3 and GT3RS.
Seems to be their best car yet.

[turbo4]

Originally Posted by Uwish

Too funny... Ford and RS heritage.
FFS look at what Porsche has done.... DSG in their GT3 and GT3RS.
Seems to be their best car yet.

Bit of a price difference though

[CSV_LS1]

And a manual option will return in the next generation because of purist demand.

[Wretched]

I love my manual cars but I'd love to see what a well sorted dual clutch can do in the RS.

[timeout]

wow is the eta really july 2016 ? i was going to get one!

[Cheech]

Originally Posted by timeout

wow is the eta really july 2016 ? i was going to get one!

I've been told Q1 2016. So March/April (hopefully)

US RHD model manufacturing starts early January and they expect them late Feb to early March.

I also read somewhere that the price in the UK(?) went up due to the things selling like hotcakes. Not sure if this is fact though.

However, it appears that our pricing here is one of the lowest worldwide.
What I paid 56400 for is the equivalent in the UK of 64000.