Ford Focus RS
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ford Focus RS | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Manufacturer | Ford Europe |
| Parent company | Ford Motor Company |
| Production | 2002-2003 4501 produced |
| Assembly | Saarlouis, Germany |
| Body style(s) | 3-door hatchback |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Platform | Ford C170 platform Ford C1 platform |
| Engine(s) | 2.0 L I4 Zetec-E turbo 2.5 L I5 T5 twin-turbo |
| Transmission(s) | 6-speed manual |
| Related | Ford Focus SVT Ford Focus ST |
The Ford Focus RS was a low-volume high-performance version of the first-generation Focus, available in 21 European countries. A future Focus RS based on the second-generation Focus is confirmed for production.
Contents |
[edit] Focus RS Mark I
The Focus RS Mk I was produced from 2 October 2002 to 11 November 2003 and was Ford's return to the RS badge after the demise of the tweaked Escorts, particularly the fabled Ford Escort RS Cosworth. Production was limited to about 4500 from the outset, and the car was built on its own assembly line in Ford's Saarlouis plant. The RS was offered all over Europe, but 2147 were sold in the United Kingdom, by far its largest market.[1]
[edit] Design
More bespoke than the prior Ford Focus SVT (rebadged the Focus ST170 in Europe), the Focus RS upgraded or replaced 70% of the standard Focus mechanicals. The turbocharged I4 engine produced 212 horsepower (158 kW) and 310 Nm of torque, which was then mated to a 6-speed Getrag transmission. Mechanically, most notably, the car incorporated a Quaife automatic torque biasing differential to improve traction from the front-wheel drive setup. It was this differential that gave the car its largely undeserved reputation for extreme torque steer. The steering used the same quick ratio rack as the ST170 while the brakes used fixed calliper four piston Brembo units with 325mm discs at the front and single piston callipers and 280mm discs at the back. Wheels were 18" alloys specially developed by OZ Racing. The engine was heavily modified with forged aluminum pistons, forged connecting rods, hardened valve seats, sodium-filled exhaust valves and a stainless steel exhaust system. The forced induction system comprised a Garrett turbocharger in conjunction with a water-cooled charge air cooler and an electric water pump. To transmit the higher torque was an uprated AP clutch.
[edit] Styling
All Focus RSes had a solid blue paint scheme. In terms of bodywork, the look was visually similar to the standard Focus or to the ST170, but the RS featured unique front and rear bumper assemblies required for the wider wheel arches which accommodated the 65mm wider front track. Internally, the theme is blue and black with sections of blue leather trim on the door trim panels, the steering wheel and the Sparco seats which were trimmed in blue/black leather and Alcantara. A green starter button starts the engine. The instruments have a blue background and in place of the coolant temperature gauge, the RS was equipped with a boost pressure indicator (up to 1.5 bar). The gear lever knob, handbrake lever and pedals were all custom made by Sparco.
[edit] Performance
All-around performance was equal or better than its other competitors, including hot hatches such as the Honda Civic Type R and four-wheel drive cars in the same price field such as the Subaru Impreza. However, power was a diminished priority, and the handling on a track, courtesy of the front differential, was considered by most observers to be the most important characteristic. In a Top Gear review, Jeremy Clarkson noted that "it lacks the straight-forward oomph of a Subaru Impreza. [...] The reason it was so quick round our track is simple: this car handles like it's in a cartoon." However, Clarkson and other motor journalists also doled out some criticism of the differential for causing torque steer and wobbliness on bumpy roads.
[edit] Figures[citation needed]
- 0-60 kilometres per hour (37 mph): 3.1 s
- 0-100 kilometres per hour (62 mph): 6.4 s
- 0-130 kilometres per hour (81 mph): 10.1 s
- 0-180 kilometres per hour (110 mph): 19.6 s
- 100 miles per hour (160 km/h)-0: 4.1 s (1.0 g in braking)
- Top speed: 232 kilometres per hour (144 mph)
- 40 kilometres per hour (25 mph)-100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) in 4th gear: 12.1 s
- 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph)-140 kilometres per hour (87 mph) in 5th gear: 14.1 s
[edit] Focus RS Mark II
When Ford completed the production run of the Mk I, Ford of Britain's managing director Paul Thomas said "We always knew Focus RS would be a sales winner, but we could never have predicted its fantastic reception and the effect it had in re-igniting passion for the Ford RS brand." Implied was the assumption that the RS badge would return to a next-generation Focus.
In December 2007, the plans for a Focus RS Mk II were acknowledged by Ford[2], which stated that the Mk II would appear as a concept at the British International Motor Show in London for 2008, with production in 2009. Spy photos[3] and rumors of purported RS Mk II test mules had already been in circulation for some time. Though there is no official statement of specifications, the car is speculated to have a revised twin-turbo version of the ST's 2.5 L I5 T5 engine, sourced from Volvo, which will produce 300 horsepower (220 kW) and be coupled to a four-wheel drive system from the Volvo S60 R. The RS Mk II is expected to be competitive in performance with the Subaru Impreza STI and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ NUMBER’S UP FOR FORD FOCUS RS. media.ford.com (2003-11-11). Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
- ^ FORD CONFIRMS NEW HIGH PERFORMANCE FOCUS RS IS ON THE WAY. media.ford.com (2007-12-17). Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
- ^ "Focus RS]", autoexpress.co.uk, 2006-11-28. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
- ^ "It's official: Focus RS on the way", topgear.com, 2007-12-17. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| City car | Ka I | Ka II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supermini | Fiesta I | Fiesta II | Fiesta III | Fiesta IV | Fiesta V | Fiesta VI | Fiesta VII | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Small family car | Escort Mk3 / Orion I | Escort Mk4 / Orion II | Escort Mk5 / Orion III | Escort Mk5b | Escort Mk6 | Focus I | Focus II | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Large family car | Cortina V | Sierra | Mondeo I | Mondeo II | Mondeo III | Mondeo IV | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Executive car | Granada II | Scorpio I / Granada III | Scorpio II | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coupé | Capri | Puma | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Probe | Cougar | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crossover SUV | Kuga | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mini MPV | Fusion | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact MPV | C-Max | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Large MPV | S-Max | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Galaxy I | Galaxy II | Galaxy III | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||
