All-new Ford Focus RS debuts with AWD
The third-generation Ford Focus finally receives its flagship performance variant with the all-new Focus RS officially unveiled at Cologne, Germany. Developed by the newly-formed Ford Performance team based across US and Europe, the new Mk3 Focus RS is 30th model to be bestowed legendary badge and the first ever to be sold globally.
Based on the bodywork of the five-door Focus hatchback that was recently facelifted in Europe, the new Focus RS comes with all the pre-requisite cosmetic enhancements that give it visual differentiation over the regular variants. As usual, claims are that the enhancements serve functional aerodynamic purposes in minimizing air drag on the move and optimize cooling.
At the four corners, standard 19-inch rims fill the wheel arches and customers have a choice between two sets of 235/35 tyres, both from Michelin, to choose from – standard Pilot Super Sport for road use or optional Pilot Sport Cup 2 semi-slicks for track.
Ford’s latest all-aluminium 2.3-litre four-cylinder EcoBoost, taken from the new Mustang and rotated 90 degrees for transverse installation, supplies the RS with projected outputs said to be ‘well in excess of 316hp’, up from the Mustang’s 310hp which was already the highest specific output achieved from a Ford engine to date. Ford notes that the engine underwent significant upgrades before being plonked into the RS. The engine red lines at 6,800rpm and is cooled by what is said to be the largest ever radiator ever fitted to a Focus.
Enthusiasts will be pleased to note the offering of a six-speed manual gearbox as the standard transmission for the RS. Components of both the transmission and its clutch have been strengthened to cope with the engine’s high outputs.
Further departing from the template laid by its front-driven forebears, the new RS sends power to all fours via a newly-developed all-wheel drive system with dynamic torque vectoring. Featuring a pair of electronically-controlled clutch packs either side of its rear differential, the system is not only able to vary front/rear torque split, but also left/right distribution between the rear axles.
Depending on driving conditions, the Ford Performance AWD system sends a maximum of 70 percent torque astern; the rear clutch packs can then split whatever torque available to the rear axle evenly or fully direct them to either wheel. When cornering for example, torque is sent to the outer rear wheel to improve turn in and virtually eliminate understeer. Ford claims that the Focus RS has sufficient lateral grip to pull in excess of 1g around corners.
The efforts of this torque vectoring function of the AWD system is further supplemented by the brake-based torque vectoring control system already present in the regular Focus and also its electronic stability control system for optimized driving dynamics.
Uprated chassis hardware complement the advanced software governing the various driver assist systems. Features include sports suspension with spring rates, bushes and anti-roll-bars all of which are stiffer than those found in the Focus ST, and two-mode switchable dampers with a firmer setting for track driving. As with the previous-generation RS, the current day version also benefits from a more rigid front suspension knuckle design and shorter link arms for more confident steering feel and response.
Pictures: Official Ford release.
