Comments on: More pictures of the Ford Focus RS hit the web

By: JohnnyBlazE

JohnnyBlazE — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 09:12:10 +0000

More info from Auto Express:

Top speed 163mph (bye bye Civic Type-R)

Price (UK) – less than £25k

By: Mutant@DCX

Mutant@DCX — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 06:19:57 +0000

SVT is low volume, Ford has averaged 7200 SVT unit sales per year since 1993,

24000 units total when they had 5 product offerings in 2003

so Ford Focus SVT for the enthusiast… full of win.

for USA sales volume, it would be the econobox, poor man’s hatchback that carries the load

By: howsmydriving

howsmydriving — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 05:51:02 +0000

This news story is hideously funny in light of Ford’s promises (now going on 30 years) to produce global cars. For enthusiasts Ford offers only the Mustang, and even that is a pale shadow of the new Camaro.

By: 02WRXPSM

02WRXPSM — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:23:31 +0000

F3INT))AP3X, don’t try the car talk, it is clear you can’t pull it off See my comment about a limited-slip differential? That’s how you solve torque steer, along with attention to the suspension geometry. I’m not familiar with the sensitive throttle issue (haven’t seen it in the Focus ZX3 I helped build as a rally car) but that is a tunable issue also. The Volvo C30 (which has this 5-cylinder motor we’re discussing) does not have e-throttle issues to my knowledge. 300hp + FWD is not necessarily a disaster, unless you are talking about the SRT-4. I’ve driven a friend’s MazdaSpeed 3 wagon with 350+ HP and ironically it tracks PERFECTLY in corners, but gets squirrely at WOT in a straight line. Not enough weight to hold it down? Solvable with a sway bar upgrade.

By: Need4SSpeed

Need4SSpeed — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 01:04:01 +0000

I love the Euro-spec Focus! Especially the RS! If Ford brought it stateside and offered one with 300hp and AWD, I’d really consider getting one.

But I’m sure one like that would probably cost over $30k and I don’t know who will pay $30k for a Focus…

By: andy

andy — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:53:40 +0000

i think it is ugly… but, for what ford was going for, they did a fantastic job, and that engine is going to be gnarly for it.

By: canehdian_J

canehdian_J — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:14:05 +0000

oh and to the comment about torque steer. I say to you

REVO KNUCKLE.

look it up

By: canehdian_J

canehdian_J — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:12:53 +0000

I would pay 30 grand for this car. probably 35 grand. This car doesnt need awd unless its rallying. if you do your homework youll notice that the fwd one is actually faster round the track then the awd car they made and tested. there are interviews.

GIVE ME THE CAR FORD YOU GOD DAMN FOOLS. SELL ME THE CAR I WANT TO BUY

I WILL GIVE YOU MONEY

brilliant concept isnt it?

By: tyler_is_aero_tt

tyler_is_aero_tt — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 22:00:06 +0000

I would buy one of these in a heartbeat.

By: Madcapp

Madcapp — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 21:48:07 +0000

Generation Y just jizzed in their pants.

By: Fastcarguy

Fastcarguy — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 21:36:30 +0000

Yeah, this car needs to come to the US with AWD. You can’t get it over here right now, but the new MazdaSpeed3 shares some stuff with it, right? Ford needs to make some of their cars that aren’t made over here, like the Mondeo diesels, the Reflex concept, and others. Who thinks the Reflex would sell like crazy? It gets 65 mpg and it looks so much cooler than the Prius or Insight.

By: Andre Neves

Andre Neves — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 21:24:03 +0000

No RS for the U.S

See this is why I want Ford to just go out of business already. Or just stay over in Europe with their legions of loyal crowd.

By: Blakkarr

Blakkarr — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:54:16 +0000

All-road Rally is coming up in America, there will be demand for this car.

You are required to produce cars people want, right? MAKE THIS ONE HAPPEN IN THE USA!!!!

By: dorikin_86

dorikin_86 — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:35:38 +0000

Great looking car – man..Ford Europe has consistently had better products IMHO.

F3INT))AP3X:

1) I believe you can use a torque limiter in the lower gears to minimize this.

2) You can fix understeer by playing with vehicle track/tire widths/alignment./suspension – don’t think you can fix understeer by applying power to the front wheels?

3) Good point…never owned a Ford but E-throttle systems blow IMHO

By: F3INT))AP3X

F3INT))AP3X — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:27:11 +0000

300hp is pushing it on a platform like this, FF cars can only handle so much before they become unwieldy and squirrely. I am not saying that this couldn’t be properly handled by someone skilled with FF rally techniques such as flicks and feints but the problem is without those techniques 300hp in FF format is too much. Three predictions I want to make about this car: 1) Horrible torque steer beyond belief. 2) Difficult but beatable understeer thanks to the power. 3) Ford’s famous uber-sensitive throttle response which will end up hindering cornering performance as the only way to properly guide this car speedily through any hard corner will be with awesome throttle control and that can be difficult when a 1k rpm pedal change usually amounts to 3k with a Ford pedal. Cool car but only for the die hard rally or autocross enthusiast with good FF technique, it is just hard to expect the front wheels on a car to steer AND control 300 horses while providing adequate grip.

By: Chunnder

Chunnder — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:24:10 +0000

@ richt62167
I might be mistaken, but I believe that one reverse light is white because in many if not all European cars you can turn on the fog light and reverse light on, on the right side of the car for driving on narrow roads in inclement weather (snow, rain, fog) so drivers going the opposite way can see the outer edge of your car. I know Merc offers that option.

By: bigjimid

bigjimid — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:17:41 +0000

Wow, what a great looking car. And from Ford no less. I hope they come with optional flat black wheels.

By: HoosierHero

HoosierHero — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:00:45 +0000

For your Cubs comment you suck sakio. On the car, if they put 2 extra doors on it, gave it AWD and took away the side vents and riceboy spoiler, then they would have a great wrx competitor. The car looks great and definitely has the engine for it!

By: richt62167

richt62167 — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:54:58 +0000

I have a comment and a question. Ford Sucks!! and thats comeing from a ford guy. Question? why are euro cars back up light red and white??? US cars are bothe white.

By: sakio327

sakio327 — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:45:25 +0000

I like it. Let me place my order now, I can probably have one by the time the Cubs win the World Series…..oh wait…

By: 02WRXPSM

02WRXPSM — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:32:55 +0000

godDAMMIT that is a smoking-hot little hatch. I love that Volvo 5-cylinder, if this ST isn’t going to come stateside I’m going to get a C30 and tune it up to that level instead. 302lbs of torque + FWD will probably mean a limited-slip upgrade and rolling the fenders for 9″ wheels, but it will be worth it seeing the expressions on the faces of the Boxter, Mustang GT and Challenger idiots I blow by.

You’re correct that European emissions standards are now in line with US standards overall; one reason we get so few Euro cars here is that our gasoline sucks and Americans insist on using piss-water 87, while in Europe it isn’t uncommon to find the equivalent of 110 octane at the average petrol station. Higher-octane fuel means more power out of smaller displacement, but it also means less tolerance for knock-prone low-quality fuels. Bring a 50-mpg Fiat over here (with a 1.4 liter turbo motor) and it will get 35 mpg, because they’d have to tune it down to a less aggressive valve and ignition timing setting.

By: christianboy10

christianboy10 — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:19:08 +0000

American Ford dont want those car in the states because its going to expose their inability to produce good cars

By: rallyruss

rallyruss — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:02:54 +0000

Subaru did it, Mitsu did it, VW sometimes does it (R32 but not Scirocco); there is no reason for Ford not to bring this car over, regardless of what happened 20+ years ago with Merkur. If for no other reason, they should import it as an image builder and to make a statement that Ford is in the sole position of any of the Big 3 to be able to do this.

If any of the Big Three are still making decisions based on 80’s public opinion and results, then they are in far worse shape than we could imagine.

By: A4

A4 — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:48:34 +0000

(this blue is the trademark RS color) and dammmmmn does it look good
hopefully it will come in that same metallic orange color as the Focus ST as well

By: 2kPlymouthNeonLX

2kPlymouthNeonLX — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:47:09 +0000

Love the power of the engine, wish it wasn’t a hatchback, not a fan of hatchbacks. The euro-designed Focus is suppose to be used in the USA around the 2010-2012 generation I thought, this RS could come over then? Maybe a nicer looking rear clip then?

By: Struggle

Struggle — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:43:04 +0000

Merkurs were fugly, but you may be onto something there RSG.

By: jl_2

jl_2 — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:32:35 +0000

this car is wack.

By: rsg

rsg — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:22:38 +0000

Exactly my point. The Astra is unsuccesful, among other reasons, because pricewise it is uncompetitive with it’s competition due to it’s European lineage. Lutz acknowledged this a few months ago. The fact that the Focus RS is a limited edition model,as opposed to a high volume model like the Rabbit and Astra makes it more difficult to get the pricing in line to make it competitive here. Obviously, otherwise they’d just import the things if they thought people would buy them.

The whole Merkur debacle in the 80’s might have pemanently ruined this whole idea for them, now that I think about it.

By: Borat

Borat — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:45:15 +0000

The emission requirements in Europe right now just about the same as in US. Ditto for safety standards. It is interesting to see people bitching about cost of compliance to US regulations, when we have Astra by Saturn, manufactured in Belgium for the price of VW Rabbit made in Mexico. I doubt it is the cost of conversions at this point, it is the cost of having design and development department in Detroit, which is not capable of producing anything of this level. So you either have fire this department here or on another side of the pond, why would you have 2 department doing the same function? Brilliant solution: car specific for US market (that is not selling).

By: SVTF

SVTF — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:43:49 +0000

Im sure we’ll see SVT’s version of this in the future… hopefully with AWD.

By: JSurfer1451

JSurfer1451 — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:35:32 +0000

It’s about time, they should of brought it overs years ago when they released the ST in Europe.

By: johnnycanuck

johnnycanuck — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:27:02 +0000

We on this side of the pond are obviously being punished for something. To make amends I will personally flog myself with a limp rad hose from a ‘95 Escort.

By: Payton Byrd

Payton Byrd — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:25:01 +0000

@rsg

You hit the nail on the head. Nice to see a lucid comment around here.

By: Struggle

Struggle — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:24:20 +0000

Can’t Ford just ‘make’ these over here?

It’s not like they don’t have the blue prints or specs for them in the system.

By: rsg

rsg — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:22:33 +0000

I think the problem with these cars being brought over here in the past is the cost of meeting US safety and emission regs plus the monetary exchange rates means this would probably be close to, if not over 30K. NOt bad, but it’d need to be AWD for that kind of price.