What's the news?
Ford has brought some early Christmas cheer to the CompleteCar.ie offices (and the lives of fast Ford fans the world over) with the announcement that a new Focus RS is to go into production. The news was announced alongside details of the unification of Ford's various performance divisions - Team RS, Ford SVT and Ford Racing - under the umbrella of Ford Performance, which has been tasked with delivering twelve Ford performance models to the world market by 2020.
But back to the Focus RS, the car Ford describes as the "ultimate performance version of the world's best-selling global nameplate." The new hot hatch is set to be powered by the turbocharged 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine from the Mustang with a power output of 330hp. This power will be delivered to the front wheels via a limited-slip differential with Ford's 'Revo Knuckle' suspension system further employed to keep the power in check. Bigger brakes, stickier tyres and a lower, tauter chassis will separate the RS from the current ST model.
For the first time the RS will be offered globally as part of the company's 'One Ford' strategy and being based on the current Focus the RS will be five-door only. These are two of the components that have made the business case for the Focus RS possible - existing platform, existing (Mustang) engine and worldwide sales.
Anything else?
The production version of the Focus RS is unlikely to arrive until 2016, acting as a swansong for the current generation car, but there are hints that we could see an RS concept car at the Detroit Auto Show next month.