New Ford Focus RS

B

Breaker

Lifer
Interesting colour!!

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/224523/focus_rs_up_close.html

296bhp and front wheel drive!! :o

"Powered by a highly tuned 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine, Blue Oval engineers promise that the new RS will be capable of sprinting from 0-60mph in less than six seconds. Top speed will be 155mph."
 
No doubt this will be an amazing car but I cant help think they should have opted for 4 wheel drive. Nearly 300bhp is way too much for front wheel drive. When I had my Civic Type-r (200bhp) I thought that was at the limits of what front wheel drive could handle.
 
It's a compromise given the target audience. As they say 4WD would make it too expensive and of course heavier. The special LSD axle should help.

I give it to Ford that they make some exceptional aspirational models for performance to a budget, but sadly to be seen in a shopping mall doing burnouts near to you all too soon
 
cj10jeeper said:
It's a compromise given the target audience. As they say 4WD would make it too expensive and of course heavier. The special LSD axle should help.

I give it to Ford that they make some exceptional aspirational models for performance to a budget, but sadly to be seen in a shopping mall doing burnouts near to you all too soon
Click to expand...
But, keep an eye open for one coming up in your rear view mirror next year! If I was a bit younger (I'm 50 next year!! Would look a little "odd" in that me thinks! Still, you never know though!), I'd be tempted! I like fast Fords!
The Missus has an '07 Fiesta ST. We call it "The Asbo"!! :rofl:
Nice small car. A bit tinny on the build, but solid. :P

Z4 in a different league to fast Fords though to be fair! :wink: :driving:
 
Jas667 said:
No doubt this will be an amazing car but I cant help think they should have opted for 4 wheel drive. Nearly 300bhp is way too much for front wheel drive. When I had my Civic Type-r (200bhp) I thought that was at the limits of what front wheel drive could handle.
Click to expand...

It does look nice (thumbs up to the seats) but I agree that a 4-wheel drive system or maybe branch out and go rear wheel drive. Will this new differential be able to cope with all that power or torque steer? Plus wasn't it the differential that made the last RS "unbearable" for daily driving?
 
Also (and I might sound like a twat for saying this) I dont like these cheap extremely fast cars. I hate it because within a year/2 chavs get ahold of them and the number of times I have seen downright dangerous driving from such cars driven by chavs is unbelievable. And driving a Z4 you get them all crazily close to your bumper trying to egg you into a race :thumbsdown:
 
cj10jeeper said:
It's a compromise given the target audience. As they say 4WD would make it too expensive and of course heavier. The special LSD axle should help.

I give it to Ford that they make some exceptional aspirational models for performance to a budget, but sadly to be seen in a shopping mall doing burnouts near to you all too soon
Click to expand...

Is it just me or does the idea of front wheel drive burnouts sound repulsive? :sick:
 
Jas667 said:
...Nearly 300bhp is way too much for front wheel drive...
Click to expand...

Elberto said:
...Will this new differential be able to cope with all that power or torque steer? Plus wasn't it the differential that made the last RS "unbearable" for daily driving?
Click to expand...
Yep 300 is just way too much for FWD, crazy really, don't care how clever the diff is. And you're right, the diff was the subject of much moaning last time. The Series 1 RS Turbo was the same, so it's nice to see that nothing changes in (nearly) 25 years, just the power outputs that grow from 130 to 300 bhp.
 
Breaker said:
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/224691/new-focus-rs-meets-escort-cosworth.html
Click to expand...

The comparison doesn't really help the RS look any better. The increase in torque is a significant improvement but still not overly impressed considering it's slower than the Cosworth. I know obvious things like safety/emision laws and you will probably get better MPG, if petrol prices stayed the same, make the car heavier. Even with a fair bit more power and I assume it'll be more aerodynamic, doesn't exactly make me want to go out and buy one.

I think there arn't really many improvements made in terms of straight line speed when it comes to more mainstream cars being updated. I used to own an 04 Clio 182 cup before I got my Z and I loved that. When the new shape came out with it's 197 cup, it didn't feel much different in terms of performance. It was a safer and had a much nicer interior than my 2004 one but that wasn't enough.

(having a bit of a rant)
 
At least they got the timing right with the incredible hulk... he can hide on the bonnet and help give the front some traction...
 
Now why the heck don't they bring those to the good ole USofA???? Heck, preZed, I would have bought one! The Focus (Foci???) they give us here are mere shadows of that. :x
 
Hmm. Might go back to Ford next year! Nice car for under £25,000!! :D

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/232554/focus-rs-unleashed.html
 
You can keep adding power to 'normal' cars, but they don't actually get much more fun to drive, and just end up costing more to run, or being held back day to day and just feeling like a very expensive normal car. Only when using the power do you really appreciate them.

At least the BMW 130i gives you a peach of an engine, with great power, torque, response, economy, noise, and a rwd chassis to play with it a little even when not going 10/10ths...
It'll likely hold it's value better, and in my view has a nicer image. The 130i 3dr Msports are probably the most stealthy performance hot hatches going. No one even spots them but they are fantastic on residuals so far, very brisk, nice looking as a 3dr, drift for fun with an lsd, sound really nice, and have BMW build quality :)


I'll take a stealthy used Focus ST and a remap for sub £10,000, and a used Z4 M Roadster for the weekends... best of all worlds :driving: :wink:
 
Breaker said:
Hmm. Might go back to Ford next year! Nice car for under £25,000!! :D

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/232554/focus-rs-unleashed.html
Click to expand...
Yep but next year you'll get a used BMW Z4 sDrive 35i for that kind of money :thumbsup:
 
Wondermike said:
Breaker said:
Hmm. Might go back to Ford next year! Nice car for under £25,000!! :D

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/232554/focus-rs-unleashed.html
Click to expand...
Yep but next year you'll get a used BMW Z4 sDrive 35i for that kind of money :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Or 2 2008 Z4M's!! :P

I just like fast Fords. They always (apart from the last Focus RS with that stupid diff!!) seem to get the balance for the road right between handling, performance, reliability and every day usage. Even if I don't buy one, I'll try and have a test drive in one!

My girlfriend has a 2007 Fiesta ST and I love driving that. :thumbsup:

Mind you, because of work, I haven't driven my Z4 much over the last 2 weeks, but I did this morning and you do forget what a great car that is! :thumbsup:
 
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