Official Ford Focus RS & RS500 Thread

[tunersteve]

That cant be true. By 2013 Ford wants 90% of their cars to be Ecoboosted. That would damn near require the focus to get the 1.6 or 1.8L Ecoboosted 4s...

As of right now there is no concrete info on engine choices for the new Focus. Personally, I don't see them using the Ecoboost motors on small cars, since the fuel economy will be pretty solid without FI. There has been a lot of talk about the RS coming over, living in the hotbed of Ford country, it's not hard to find someone who's working on that project.

 

[Crazee D]

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ROFL!

 

[Kymerik]

As of right now there is no concrete info on engine choices for the new Focus. Personally, I don't see them using the Ecoboost motors on small cars, since the fuel economy will be pretty solid without FI. There has been a lot of talk about the RS coming over, living in the hotbed of Ford country, it's not hard to find someone who's working on that project.

That's where the rumormill comes in...instead of running N/A motors with ranges from 2.0-2.5L they'll supposedly be using 1.4-1.8L ecoboost motors that output more with less fuel.

 

[mikeyb]

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[coolmazda5]

^^ Wow, sounds sick

So, a Brit drive testing a Focus RS from Germany on a French road, huh?

Anyway, left-hand drive FTW!

 

[coolmazda5]

No further comments

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[mikeyb]

Ford Focus RS500

We've been waiting patiently for the digital reveal of the stonking new Ford Focus RS500, but apparently others aren't quite so couth. According to one of our inside sources at the Blue Oval, the RS500's site was breached and the pictures have begun leaking out onto desktops in Europe. In response, Ford of Europe has announced that "Due to overwhelming interest shown for the new Ford Focus RS500, Ford has decided to release more information today." Uh-huh. Admittedly, while we can't condone the hacker's methodology, judging by these photographs we can understand their hurry, because Ford's latest limited-edition hot hatch looks to be a real corker.

Powered by a 2.5-liter five-cylinder that gives 350 PS and 460 Nm of torque (that's 345 horsepower and 339 pound-feet to us Yanks), the RS500 offers an appreciable boost over the standard and still bonkers Focus RS and its 305 horsepower and 325 lb-ft. We're assuming that like the 'base' RS that all that power gets funneled through the front wheels, which, even with Ford's trick RevoKnuckle front suspension and Quaife limited-slip differential, figures to be something of a handful. An entertaining handful, we're sure, but a handful nevertheless. Ford hasn't released full details yet, but the current RS hits 62 mph in under six seconds and blasts to 162 mph.

If you see one of these beasties on the road (you'll know them by <STRIKE>the trail of dead</STRIKE> their 19-inch wheels and serialized one-of-500 dashboard plaques, and at least judging by the pictures above, their matte black paint), you might want to take ask for a ride or at least take a picture. The entire 2011 production run will be spread out over 20 European markets, with the U.K. predictably getting the most (101 units), Germany getting 55 cars, France receiving 50, tiny Belgium punching above its weight with 50 units of its own, and trickling on down until the hatches get to the likes of Denmark, the Czech Republic, and Greece (five units each) and Ireland, which will receive just three.

If you're interested in picking one up and you live in one of the twenty EDM markets that the RS500 will be sold in, might we kindly suggest that you stop looking at your computer screen and get on the phone to your local dealer now? For everyone else, you'll want to check back on Wednesday, March 31 when Ford releases more information.

[autoblog/Ford]

 

[kendon]

wow. all that effort and they leave that long ass antenna on the top. it however, is the cars only cosmetic flaw. that is awesomeness!

 

[mikeyb]

It looks like something a Sith lord would drive.

 

[twowings]

Dear Ford,

I would so abandon my Mazda 3 for that !

Sincerely,
twowings

 

[Kymerik]

dear ford,

I'll sell you my soul and all my body parts for one

Thanks

 

[mikeyb]

<TABLE class=BoxStyle border=2 cellSpacing=5 borderColor=#000000 cellPadding=0 width=610 bgColor=#666666><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top borderColor=#666666 width=590 colSpan=2 align=left>Ford Focus RS500 video:

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[fateexceeds]

I must admit that I usually HATE Fords, but that black RS looks nice. The front end looks like a cross between the Scion tC and the Evo X, and while I personally don't care for the back end, it's nice to see something fairly unique looking.

 

[BadBandar]

I like the blue. The green and others are not too appealing to me. Interior looks good.

 

[coolmazda5]

RS500 Video

Boring, but the car looks (yes)

Now that the next generation Focus is on the works and the ST is on the plan, would the RS ever come back?

 

[Kymerik]

Boring, but the car looks (yes)

Now that the next generation Focus is on the works and the ST is on the plan, would the RS ever come back?

the ST is replacing the RS nameplate since the focus is now a WORLD car...at least that's my understanding

 

[tunersteve]

They don't really have that figured yet. SVT and RS are merging globally, along with FPV, so most likely we'll see one nameplate for all going forward. I don't think ST will be it.

 

[Kymerik]

I wouldnt be surprised to see SVT become the Global name...since we've already guarenteed SVT f150s and SVT stangs

 

[mikeyb]

Ford Focus RS500 'sold out'

The limited edition Ford Focus RS500 effectively sold out within 12 hours of being revealed, even though prices haven't been announced yet.

According to a Ford insider, this extraordinary situation occured despite Ford being forced to unveil the car almost 48 hours earlier than planned, meaning dealers were not aware of its existence.

Ford set up a website to tease the unveiling of the car over several days. However, the website was hacked, and the official pictures released 48 hours early.

"From that moment on people were literally walking into dealers or calling them up and placing orders for the car," said the Ford insider. "However, because we had to quickly bring the car's launch forward we hadn't even briefed the dealers on its existence. It led to some quite confused phone calls between dealers and head office."

Ford is now sifting through the expressions of interest from customers to ascertain allocations for dealers, ahead of order books formally opening in May.

The insider said more than 500 expressions of intent to purchase were taken within the UK alone, but confirmed the car will be sold throughout Europe. He added that the interest was enhanced by the residual values of the standard car, which is continuing to sell secondhand for more than its new purchase price.

The Ford Focus RS500 is a limited-edition 500 car run of a 345bhp version of the hot hatch.

Made to mark the end of the current generation Focus RS's production, it gets more power and torque than a standard RS and bespoke interior trim.

The five-cylinder engine has been given improved induction kit and a revised exhaust system, which help to add an extra 45bhp to the standard car’s 300bhp. Torque goes up from 325lb ft to 339lb ft.
These modifications reduce the car’s 0-62mph time from 5.9 to 5.6sec. Ford isn’t quoting in-gear acceleration, but expect the most noticeable changes to come during from 30-50mph in third. Top speed stays the same at 163mph.

The car’s exterior is finished in a matt black paint unique to the RS500. Standard gloss black paint is applied in the factory, and then he cars are shipped to coatings specialist 3M’s site near Frankfurt, where a matt film is laid over the top. The gloss paint is retained on the lower grille and splitter, the rear spoiler and the rear diffuser. Brake calipers are finished in red.

Inside the cars have red detailing instead of the RS’s blue, and a plaque on the centre console with the car’s edition number.

[autocar]

 

[coolmazda5]

^^ Damn, I'll have to wait again (sad2)