The new Ford Focus RS can now be ordered at prices starting at 39.000 euros and will be delivered in early 2016. The sporty compact is the first RS model of the brand to have different driving modes, including a drift program.
With its 257 kW / 350 hp, Cologne is significantly stronger than its predecessor, whose 2,5-liter five-cylinder turbo offered 224 kW / 305 hp. The 2,3-liter petrol engine known from the new Mustang with four cylinders now works under the hood of the third generation. The all-aluminum engine in the Focus RS, however, has around ten percent more power. In the speed range from 2.000 to 4.500 rpm, the unit develops a torque of 440 Newton meters, under full acceleration an overboost control increases the maximum torque for 15 seconds to 470 Newton meters. The RS sprints to 100 km / h in 4,7 seconds, with the manufacturer specifying a top speed of 266 km / h.
Also new in the Ford Focus RS is all-wheel drive, which should give the compact better traction and good handling properties. The driver has an influence on the behavior, for example on the steering, the engine response or the exhaust sound through four different driving modes. In addition to normal, sport and racetrack, a special drift mode is now also programmed, which can be used to control dynamic oversteer on the racetrack.
The third generation of the sports car is the fastest RS model from Ford to date and is one of a total of twelve innovations that the brand plans to launch worldwide by 2020. The Ford Focus RS competes against the VW Golf R (300 hp, 39.000 euros), the Audi S3 (300 hp, 39.700 euros) and the much more expensive Mercedes-AMG A45 (381 hp, 51.050 euros).
Author: Adele Moser / SP-X