Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Earlier this year concerns over producing a powerful, high C02-emitting hot hatchback was threatening on the RS’s future but Ford has finally decided that it’s worth putting the car into production in spite of them.
This time, the car will need to make money. The last Focus RS was approximated to have lost Ford around £7k per car; during the beginning of this one. Insiders say the business case has been as important for Ford’s RS division as anything else.
However, it looks like the company won’t be compromising on much for cost reasons. The car’s body has been heavily modified with much wider wheelarches, which were thought to have been ruled out as too expensive. The huge lower front intake features unusual secondary vents at either side.
Ford will not confirm any of the RS’s technical specification but the company has said the car is based on the Focus ST. It’s likely to have over 300bhp from a twin-turbocharged version of the ST’s five-cylinder engine and will have a dump valve as standard.
Four-wheel drive is thought to be on the cards as the ST’s body shell can accommodate a rear differential, but it's not a given. As one Team RS spokesperson told us recently, "There are many ways we can give the RS more traction without adding the extra weight of a four-wheel drive system."
The new Focus RS will be based on the dynamic new Focus ST. It will be developed by Ford Team RS, a specialist team led by Jost Capito who, as previously announced, is being appointed to the new role as Vehicle Line Director for Ford of Europe Performance Vehicles from January 1, 2008.
"With two consecutive Manufacturers' World Rally Championship titles under our belt, the time is right to create a new Focus RS," said John Fleming, Ford of Europe's President and CEO. "With the Fiesta and Focus ST models, Jost and his team have proved already that they can deliver exciting and practical performance road cars. The success of these models, combined with Jost's experience in motorsport and Ford of Europe's positive business results, mean that we now have a credible business case for a no-compromise Focus RS roadcar for more enthusiastic drivers."
The basic concept for a new Focus RS has been under development within Ford Team RS under Capito's leadership for some months already. Now that the programme has been given the 'green light', Capito and his team will be concentrating fully on this programme.
"We have reviewed our technical options and worked closely with the Design team on how the car might look, and I'm very excited by the results," said Jost Capito, "Now with the programme going ahead, the hard work really starts as the small team working on the project takes the car from prototype to production."
Ford of Europe will not reveal any of the technical details of the new Focus RS until closer to launch in 2009. The company plans to show a concept version of the car publicly for the first time in mid-2008.
"We will use the redesigned 2008 Focus ST as the base for a no-compromise RS model that will become the ultimate road-going Focus," Capito added. "Just as the Focus RS WRC owns the rally circuit, we want the new Focus RS to own the road, so we have the major competitors in our sights as we develop the car's performance, design, handling and braking."
"We're not ready to confirm any of the technical details of the new Focus RS yet - Jost and his team have a lot to do to finalise the exact specification and styling," said Fleming. "But make no mistake, I can assure you that ultimately, the car we plan to launch will be worthy of wearing the coveted Ford RS badge."
This official rendering is the first image of the new hot hatch, which will go on sale in 2009, with the concept due to debut at the London motor show in 2008.