2015 Ford Focus RS details come into focus

2009 Focus RS

The Frankfurt Motor Show that took place in September 2011 saw the debut of the Focus ST. It was the new global model's first foray into high performance. We now expect the American auto maker to work on a peak performance Focus RS, but it will not hit the market until 2014 as a 2015 model.

According to a report by Top Gear, we can now bring you some tentative details of what to expect. Under the hood, Ford will be using a turbocharged 2.3-liter direct-injection engine. It should produce at least 320bhp ( 238 kW / 324 PS ) and a de-tuned version will also make its way into the 2014 Ford Mustang.

The Focus RS will only be available in front-wheel-drive. It has been decided that the extra weight that results from the all-wheel-drive system isn't what the market wants. Additionally, it wouldn't fit alongside the lowered sports chassis without hacking away at the floor.

The Focus RS will only be available as a five-door hatchback when it is launched.

Source: top gear

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GRAVE

320 hp is very nice. We can expect nice competition between Golf R and this car.

February 16, 2012 12:15 pm

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RayChan

I still haven't come to terms with the new ford focus looks, and to hear from WCF that the new RS is only available in five door thats pretty disappointing really to hear.

February 16, 2012 12:16 pm

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ToneCV

Please Ford: four whells drive and 2 door !!!

February 16, 2012 12:28 pm

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3 replies

pzigly

might as well just get a infinity g37x

-2

February 16, 2012 12:38 pm

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AG4

Ford has announced from the beginning that there will be no 3-door Focus for this generation.

February 16, 2012 2:01 pm

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pzigly

Thumb down me all you want, but at the end of the day would a girl go a infinity or an inmature looking focus? you can get the same fun out of both, but the infinity can drive in the snow, has a wide amount of power upgrade options, and has rear wheel drive until it feels the need to activate the front wheels. At the end of the day you dont look like a child but u can have the fun of one at the same time with the tap of that throttle. If you think about it, inifinty has the cheapest 2 door sports car with awd right now, and its luxurious

February 17, 2012 7:49 pm

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N20_Purge

The looks of the 5 door is disappointing, But 320hp more than makes up for it! Eat your heart out, Astra VXR.

February 16, 2012 12:40 pm

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Dolomight 74-86

320 bhp + FWD = Understeer. Ford doesn't understand what the market wants or else they would make this RWD.

-1

February 16, 2012 1:30 pm

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7 replies

Willi.S

Really? The "current" RS has 305hp and does pretty well for a FWD. Only 7.000 units were planned, but due to strong demand they ended up at 11.000 units. So I guess they are not that clueless what the market wants.

February 16, 2012 1:56 pm

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LBento

The FWD on the Ford RS is probably the best FHD in the market, I have seen a lot of RHD understeering more than a RS

February 16, 2012 2:59 pm

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Prestige15

Have you seen a Golf GTI W12 on topgear and see how badley it handel because its RWD with a short wheelbase? When your asking a RWD hothatch with that much power what your really asking for is a trip to jesus

February 16, 2012 3:59 pm

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2 replies

Dolomight 74-86

1. selling 11000 units for a car company is nothing, many companies take losses on such low volumes. 2. All things considered it Probably understeers less Than lets say a Vauxhaul Astra VXR. 3. From your logic Lotus Esprit owners must be in short supply since that is a relatively short wheelbase car with a ton of power. Also prepare to change your front tyres alot since all the steering and braking and acceleration forces have to go through the fronts to move and stop the car. I have no Idea why you people worship front wheel drive soo much. They didn't create that drive system for performance.

-1

February 16, 2012 6:06 pm

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JMac

And not to mention the fact it had a v12 engine in the rear.

February 17, 2012 12:29 am

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Mr_U

FWD can be the fastest around a circuit depending on the circuit. If you watch fifth gear, they did a test with a renault megan hatch, and a 370z in the rain, the Z was slower than the renault due to the lack of a grip during transactions. Sure FWD is very limited as a performance car, however that doesnt mean it cant be one. If you watch BTCC, most the cars there are FWD. If im not wrong, i recall Top Gear naming the Focus RS500 one of the best FWD handling cars out there despite it being way over powered for a FWD car. Anyways i dont think anyone really worships FWD, however they serve their purpose, and somethings they do it better than others

February 16, 2012 8:00 pm

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1 reply

Dolomight 74-86

Sorry I don't really watch BTCC, I do watch the WRC and F1. I will say FWD cars have came a long way in improving handling but you cannot rewrite the laws of physics. In a FWD all the weight is in the front end which renders the car really nose heavy. This means the car will not want to naturally change directions at speed. Anyway Replace the 370z (which is really heavy btw) with an s15 Silvia and the results against that Renault Megane would be different. For a performance platform for me FWD doesn't make sense.

-1

February 16, 2012 8:32 pm

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DBaskov

This needs to be in US market.

February 16, 2012 4:37 pm

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ljstevens

Does the 2.3 litre turbo engine mean it could be using the same one from the Mazdaspeed 3?

February 16, 2012 5:09 pm

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2 replies

Mr_U

troll..? if not, no it does not mean that its the same engine from the Mazdaspeed. I think ford has only like 4 percent ownership left in Mazda, and Mazda trademarked their skyactiv engine. And the 2.3L was develope by Ford Europe i think...

February 16, 2012 8:03 pm

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1 reply

ljstevens

No troll bud. I own a Mazdaspeed 3! I am very interested in the logic, and when you see odd size engines, that in themselves are distinctive, sometime it leads you to wonder would there really be 2 completely unrelated 2.3L turbo engines out there. Either way it's a good engine. I just wish it had better fuel economy! :)

February 17, 2012 1:16 pm

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AWD isn't what the market want? Really Ford, really?

February 16, 2012 9:49 pm

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Julle85

Too bad isnt 4WD :/

February 16, 2012 11:50 pm

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fgb8387

AWD!! too much torquesteer with 320hp

February 17, 2012 6:00 am