We've been teased twice and now we finally get our first unmasked glimpse of the Ford Focus RS concept, due to debut at the London Motor Show next month. Images of the gaudy green hatch have begun to surface on a few sites across the pond, and the aggressive body work and racy interior mean that Ford's hottest hatch has to be packing some serious kit underhood. It is.
The Focus RS will be equipped with a tweaked version of the turbocharged Duratec 2.5-liter inline-five found in the ST, and will send between 280 and 300 hp, along with 300+ lb.-ft. of torque, through the front wheels via a six-speed gearbox equipped with a Quaife limited-slip differential. With that kind of power, the RS should be able to make the run to 60 in less than six seconds – assuming you don't torque-steer yourself into a tree in the process.
The dynamic body kit, complete with gaping maw, flared fenders, side sills, rear diffuser and wing, and unfortunate fender vents, compliments the lowered ride height, 19-inch, 15-spoke wheels and upgraded brakes. Inside, color-matched, two-tone Recaro thrones join an RS-specific instrument cluster and smaller diameter steering wheel.
More information should be released in the run-up to the show. As always, watch this space.
In the magical lands where the Focus looks cool, otherwise known as Europe, new images of the hotrod 2009 Focus RS have had enthusiasts atwitter the last few days. While the images are clearly 'chops - the wheels and backgrounds look like they're in high speed motion, while the tire tread is statue-still - they're reportedly legitimate mockups that were used to illustrate internally how the car might look. Ford confirmed their legitimacy today when it released two more photos of an actual Focus RS prototype along with a press release. The two new pics show the RS prototype racing around the Nurburgring where it's being tested ahead of its launch in 2009. The press release confirms that the RS will be powered by a Duratic 2.5L engine that's turbocharged to produce 280 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Ford also claims it's got torque steer for this pocket rocket in check with a new front-wheel-drive system and limited-slip differential. As for the design, we'll get to see it for the first time at the 2009 London Motor Show in late July.
The arrival of the production version of the Focus RS won't be happening until 2009, but during the London Motor Show in July, we'll get our first glimpse of Ford's newest road rocket. Top Gear conjured up some unofficial renderings of what the new RS would look like based on the teaser image that was released earlier this year, and by all accounts, it's mix of restrained aggression and planted purposefulness hits all the right spots and leaves us even more frustrated that we won't be seeing it here in the States.
As for output, informed speculation still pegs the RS as making around 280-300 hp from its turbocharged, inline five-cylinder and sending that grunt to the front wheels. Ford has decided to opt out of equipping the RS with an all-wheel-drive system – something that may prove problematic if it still wants to compete with the Evo and STI – but Ford is assuring enthusiasts that a semi-active limited-slip differential will keep torque steer in check.
