2010 Focus RS - Driven

[BayAreaMS3]

The MS3 is a close cousin of the Focus RS. Just look under the hood there are plenty of FoMoCo parts in the MS3 engine bay. The difference may just be in the body style. The upcoming 2010 MS3 will most likely be mechanically similar the Focus RS. If the MS3 and the Focus RS were both on U.S shores i'd choose the MS3 given it's 4door configuration.

 

[Kymerik]

The MS3 is a close cousin of the Focus RS. Just look under the hood there are plenty of FoMoCo parts in the MS3 engine bay. The difference may just be in the body style. The upcoming 2010 MS3 will most likely be mechanically similar the Focus RS. If the MS3 and the Focus RS were both on U.S shores i'd choose the MS3 given it's 4door configuration.

They're hardly close cousins...

Mazdaspeed3 : 2.3L i4 Turbo DISI motor
Focus RS : 2.5L Volvo T5 Motor

 

[BayAreaMS3]

Do we know what engine the new 2010 ms3 will have? Unless the info has already leaked we will have to wait until next week for the Geneva Show.

 

[Kymerik]

Do we know what engine the new 2010 ms3 will have? Unless the info has already leaked we will have to wait until next week for the Geneva Show.

you can almost guarantee yourself it wont be a volvo sourced t5 like the focus RS

 

[BayAreaMS3]

I just found this source 'mazda 3 revolution. com' Details are scarce but Mazda did confirm that the 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 will pack a more fuel efficient MZR 2.3 DISI Turbo engine under the hood and will make its world debut at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show which takes place between March 3rd - 15th.

 

[happy and angry]

It's already confirmed that the 2010 Mazdaspeed3 is going to have the same 2.3 it has now. It probably won't have the RevoKnuckle suspension. It will probably have the same brakes it has now.

Just because FoMoCo is stamped on a bunch of parts doesn't make the cars "close cousins."

 

[mikeyb]

What I am saying is the US is not ready for a $20K+ for a regular Euro Focus.

 

[BayAreaMS3]

I agree 100%.

 

[happy and angry]

The US is already paying almost $20k for a regular Euro Focus in the base Mazda3.

 

[mikeyb]

The US is already paying almost $20k for a regular Euro Focus in the base Mazda3.

Not for a Mazda3i Sedan $15,368. Sure if its a loaded up 2.3. But people that are Focus buyers will not even look at a Mazda3. Especially since there are not Mazda dealers in every town like Ford dealers. Where I live I am lucky that the closest Mazda dealer is just minutes away from me. But the next closest dealer is 30 to 45 minutes away.

What am I trying to say is that Americans are not ready to paid over $20K for a premuim small car. Yes Minis sell very well but the buyers of Mini are not they tyical small car buyer.

 

[happy and angry]

The Euro Focus, when it's brought over here, isn't going to be priced very different from the current Focus. Or the Mazda3. The sort of relative pricing you see in the UK markets never carries over directly to North American markets. I'm sure a base Focus will be around $15,500, top of the line one right around $18,000, and a loaded one just edging $20,000, same as now. If we get the ST or the RS, I'm sure it'll be priced competitively with the Mazdaspeed3/Cobalt SS and WRX/Lancer Ralliart, respectively. It's not going to be a "premium small car" over here.

 

[Kymerik]

Uhm, sorry to correct you but thats ford's idea...to globalize the Focus, Fiesta, Taurus, Fusion and Transit. There will be slightly different emission differences but ford wants to globalize the product to get a better mass quantity discounts from suppliers as well as consolidate their plants so they dont have plants all over the world producing different cars. The only exception seems to be aussieland

 

[mikeyb]

The Euro Focus, when it's brought over here, isn't going to be priced very different from the current Focus. Or the Mazda3. The sort of relative pricing you see in the UK markets never carries over directly to North American markets. I'm sure a base Focus will be around $15,500, top of the line one right around $18,000, and a loaded one just edging $20,000, same as now. If we get the ST or the RS, I'm sure it'll be priced competitively with the Mazdaspeed3/Cobalt SS and WRX/Lancer Ralliart, respectively. It's not going to be a "premium small car" over here.

I think the next Focus will cost more because the Fiesta is coming to the US. Ford will have tobump the Focus up in class and pricing just like what Nissan did with the Sentra when the Versa come out.

I think the RS will be closer to $30K when it finally makes it here. I just did a regional search for 09 WRX and Lancer Ralliarts. They are all in the high 20s. The Cobalt SS, MS3s, GTis, Sentra SE-R/Spec-V, and Civic Sis are all in the mid 20s.

 

[ms6acton]

if its closer to 30k for u guys, that means itll be closer to 35k if not more for us in canada.. defin wouldnt pick one up then

 

[mikeyb]

if its closer to 30k for u guys, that means itll be closer to 35k if not more for us in canada.. defin wouldnt pick one up then

If you up north get it.

 

[ms6acton]

yea that porbably a big IF.. stupid canada we get screwed out of all the best cars lol

 

[mikeyb]

yea that porbably a big IF.. stupid canada we get screwed out of all the best cars lol

That is not always true. You recieved the euro version of the BMW e36 M3 and the Smart roadster/coupe. You have the Nissan X-Trail which I know is not cool or exciting.

 

[happy and angry]

We get basically everything that is sold in the US except for a few models that (generally) don't meet minor technical technical restrictions like 5 mph bumper tests or emissions tests.

I don't think the Fiesta is going to bump the Focus up at all. The Focus is going to remain firmly in the same class as the Civic, Corolla, Mazda 3, etc. The Fiesta is going to slot in beneath it to compete with the Versa/Echo/Fit, etc, other cars that compare in size.

 

[ms6acton]

That is not always true. You recieved the euro version of the BMW e36 M3 and the Smart roadster/coupe. You have the Nissan X-Trail which I know is not cool or exciting.

yea but we didnt get any evos til the x

 

[Rotary_Powered]

They're hardly close cousins...

Mazdaspeed3 : 2.3L i4 Turbo DISI motor
Focus RS : 2.5L Volvo T5 Motor

Both cars are built on the Same platform as the C30.