Ford Focus RS heading Stateside?

Ford Focus RS Spied in US

By Thami Masemola
May 5, 2009 4:47 PM
Filed Under: American, Ford, Spy Photos

A US user at FocusFanatics.com spotted this white example of the 2009 Ford Focus RS parked outside on a street corner in Royal Oak, Michigan. The car's Michigan number plate suggested that it belongs to someone at the Ford Motor Company. This RS is obviously in the US for a reason but nothing concrete has been said on this so perhaps a little restraint on the bubbling excitement is a good idea. It is kind of strange though not to have the blue oval's fastest and most powerful everyday hatch available in its home country.

The new Ford Focus has a 2.5-litre turbocharged Duratec engine producing 300bhp (224kW) pumped through the front wheels. That makes it one of the most powerful FWD cars in the world today. According to Ford, AWD was not chosen because the system adds weight, costs and is not good for fuel economy. The last Focus RS was produced six years ago.

Source: focusfanatics via autoblog

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Comments

afterace2

May 5, 2009 5:01 PM

My guess is that even the guys at Ford USA prefer to drive the Euro models.

Renegade

May 5, 2009 5:02 PM

Nice, want one.

Bristol411S3

May 5, 2009 5:07 PM

Would this REALLY sell in the US? There is no real history for buying this sort of car, is there?

sub39h

May 5, 2009 5:44 PM

what about the Golf GTI? sure this model is a bit more brash, but then in every market you have 2 ends of the spectrum. i doubt there isn't a consumer for this type of car in the states. after all, the Subaru Impreza is sold there, and they're not a million miles away from each other anymore.

Renegade

May 5, 2009 5:49 PM

Mazdaspeed3 also, and this Focus is way cooler then the boring looking Golf GTI.

Edited by user on May 5, 2009 at 5:50 PM

Targa_Florio

May 5, 2009 5:17 PM

I doubt that since the Focus range is close to the end of its lifecycle. But maybe the Mk2 Focus tooling will be offshored in US to be produced for local markets when Germany will produce the next generation Mk3 in Germany :-P

Edited by user on May 5, 2009 at 5:19 PM

coopergt

May 5, 2009 5:47 PM

i live near the border and you see mexicans driving euopean focuses not american ones, that sure does not make sense to me

loyo

May 5, 2009 8:52 PM

Yes, and you can also find Opel, Seat, Alfa Romeo and Fiat in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, etc. but you won't find those brands in the US, just like you won't find Saturn or Geo in Latin America. Not everybody in America (the continent, that is) thinks american cars are the best thing in the world, and that does make sense to me.

Edited by user on May 5, 2009 at 8:56 PM

hinmonster

May 5, 2009 6:08 PM

Its BAD ASS but I am not so sure it would "sell" stateside...

N20_Purge

May 5, 2009 6:49 PM

There are only 5,000 of them. Keep them in Europe, were they will sell well and were they belong, Ford. Bye!

hata0101

May 5, 2009 10:10 PM

that's how the big 3 loss the battle...they know something good for the U.S. (biggest market in the world) but just not bring it here. instead, look at the U.S. POS Focus! don't we American deserve something better?

coopergt

May 5, 2009 10:28 PM

What i meant was it is strange that as they Build Focuses right there, and yet they bring the euro ones over to sell in mexico not the junk they make and sell in the USA. Sounds expensive to me!

dbehmoaras

May 5, 2009 11:20 PM

I would love to have the RS, but hot hatches aren't so much the way in the US as compact sedans. As much as I want one, it should stay in Europe where it will be properly appreciated. Especially because the last thing the tree-huggers need is another excuse to badmouth Detroit.

afterace2

May 5, 2009 11:43 PM

this Focus is also available as the sedan You know, I think it would really be not a big problem to make an RS sedan as well.

fusion01

May 6, 2009 12:46 AM

Not bringing it to South Africa either, we do however have the Focus ST... RS is just too niche and what with car prices (my MK5 GTI went up 22% in 2.5 years to something absurd at present) they'd only sell a couple... shame as I'd have the most inane grin on my face if I was behind the wheel of this beastie.

joshg_5

May 6, 2009 12:59 AM

This car is great. And there's lots of market in America for it.

...But, it's just sooo expensive! And in that price range, you can get the same power with AWD.

I think they made a bad decision not making it AWD

Bristol411S3

May 6, 2009 1:36 PM

I don't know why you're hung up on AWD. All the reports I've read prove it's not needed. It would just add weight and cost. the UK car mags are actually questioning whether a decent diff on a FWD car could render four wheel drive on all but off-roaders obsolete.

hofmeyer

May 6, 2009 4:36 AM

I read somewhere that one of the Ford execs was getting one for use in the US.

This is a sweet car, but a 300HP $40,000 Focus will sit in showrooms with a $28,000 Mustang GT and still expect to sell. No way.

DeRay

May 6, 2009 5:51 AM

I don't believe it would be around 40k here in the states maybe 23-25k. I think a small number here in the states would not be a bad thing you have loyal Ford Focus Clubs who would just love to have this. I think they could bring the design stateside but make it a sedan as most Americans hate hatches. I love'em.

BabyMilo

May 6, 2009 7:36 AM

Why dont the people in the states get these sort of cars???

scratchy996

May 6, 2009 4:50 PM

they get cheap muscle cars and they like those more than hot hatches.

Hestra

May 6, 2009 10:17 AM

I believe that it is the head of Ford's RS division own Focus, in the new Motortrend, i believe they say that he has the only one in the US

9TNine

May 6, 2009 12:09 PM

Couldn't you personally import it from Europe?

I was once driving down (actually North) the I25 and spotted in the distance what looked to be a Citroen 2CV...

It WAS a 2CV! With US-plates! How it got there from France, I'm not sure but it probably didn't swim.

Beetle

May 6, 2009 1:38 PM

probably a ringer

Prince_Ash

May 6, 2009 3:31 PM

very cool but doubt it would make an impact in the north american car market. there are better choices out there, european also.

howe2002

May 6, 2009 8:07 PM

Yeah but having rear wheels that drive also... WAY more fun than torque-steering front-wheelers!

dougpassat

May 7, 2009 7:02 AM

This is a stunning looking car, I am sure people would buy this car.

hofmeyer

May 7, 2009 8:22 AM

Ford Team RS boss Jost Capito has the only one in the USA.

blksn8k

May 13, 2009 4:53 AM

howe2002, have you read any of the road tests on the RS? They all say there is virtually no torque steer due to the patented RevoKnuckle front suspension and Quaife differential. Why add the extra weight of AWD when this works just as well if not better?

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