It's official... New Focus RS

[Mattchaps]

But, still only going to be fwd!

I think Ford are missing a trick here, as there is so much potential! Why not make it 4wd and give it 300+bhp?

Full story here >>> Autocar News

[cruiser647]

Nice engine.

[330dcoupe]

I quite like the look of the new focus. The RS should be a bit of an animal - so aslong as they can iron out the torque steer.

[Mook]

Originally Posted by Mattchaps

Why not make it 4wd and give it 300+bhp?

It's called cost and competition. Their main competition is Vauxhall and they'll still sell shed-loads of them.

Good call I reckon

[D1MAC]

Originally Posted by Mook

It's called cost and competition. Their main competition is Vauxhall and they'll still sell shed-loads of them.

Good call I reckon

Bad idea I'd say & the main competition is also the existing ST.
For @ £21k, you can get an ST3, remap, exhaust and uprated springs and that will put out the same power and, on the face of it, do 95% or more of the same job. Unless there are lots of other changes that we don't know about (losing a bit of heft would be a start) then it's only the styling (always debatable), the LSD and the badge/exclusivity that you are paying several thousands for. I believe even the LSD is a possible after market fit.

Haven't been on the owners club website for a while but I reckon that the response wil be underwhelming to say the least given that many are already running remaps/exhausts and the like.

[RedRobin]

I want to like it and it certainly sounds good on paper, but it's only 2-door and the wrong image.........................After owning German cars..............

[Nelson_R32]

Originally Posted by Mattchaps

But, still only going to be fwd!

I think Ford are missing a trick here, as there is so much potential! Why not make it 4wd and give it 300+bhp?

Cost is the main reason; VW can afford to do it on the R32 because the base platform is shared with the TT, Octavia etc. A Four Wheel Drive Ford Focus would be rediculously expensive to build and sell.

[_Tone_]

I noticed in EVO that the fastest Hatch around Bedford Aerodrome is now the Focus ST replacing the S3!

It must be pretty good! Although I did find the S3 steering response light, think I'll test drive one of them in due course!

The Astra VXR I drove yesterday was awsome to be honest plenty of power in that mutha!

Tone

[Thorburn]

Originally Posted by Nelson_R32

Cost is the main reason; VW can afford to do it on the R32 because the base platform is shared with the TT, Octavia etc. A Four Wheel Drive Ford Focus would be rediculously expensive to build and sell.

The Focus platform is also used by Mazda and Volvo, and has a 4WD varient in the form of the Ford Kuga.

Ford C1 platform - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[AZURES3]

Originally Posted by _Tone_

I noticed in EVO that the fastest Hatch around Bedford Aerodrome is now the Focus ST replacing the S3!

It must be pretty good! Although I did find the S3 steering response light, think I'll test drive one of them in due course!

The Astra VXR I drove yesterday was awsome to be honest plenty of power in that mutha!

Tone

I read this and was shocked after the S3 had been quite a bit faster before, looking at the fastest cars etc it looks like the circuit has been changed around the chicane section so the times have all started again, hence all the cars in the latest EVO test being the fastest of their type

AZ