Devotees of the World Rally Championship (WRC) will be familiar with the Ford Focus RS. Now Ford Australia has secured 315 examples for local sale.
While it doesn’t have the computer-controlled all-wheel-drive systems of two direct rivals, in high performance cars, often ‘simple’ is what the purists demand. This is true of the Ford Focus RS – it’s simply sensational.
Stickered at $59,990, the Ford Focus RS is nearly three times the price of the entry-level Focus CL. But don’t be surprised if the Ford Focus RS is a rapid sell-out because performance car fans, hot hatch enthusiasts and Ford aficionados have been crying out for this beauty.
It’s pure WRC looks, raucous exhaust note and blistering performance make this European Ford one of the star cars for 2010.
The Ford Focus RS shapes up as the hottest hot hatch we’ll drive for some time. For starters the Ford Focus RS with its 224kW/440Nm eclipses even the Subaru Impreza WRX STi Spec R’s 221kW/407Nm and Mitsubishi Lancer EVO (217kW/366Nm) and easily accounts for the Volkswagen Golf R (188kW/350Nm) and Renault Clio RS (147kW/215Nm).
Ford Focus RS Overview
They used to be called ‘Homologation Specials’ – limited edition cars built in the numbers required to qualify for motorsport rules. The WRC still has some limited throwbacks to road cars (even more so from 2011) and the Ford Focus RS snares the wild looks of Ford’s rally-prepped machines.
But its no stripped-out lightweight with little creature comfort – the Ford Focus RS delivers a stylish leather-trimmed interior, climate-control air-conditioning and even rain-sensing wipers.
Ford Focus RS Engine
Ford Focus RS employs the latest version of Ford’s (and Volvo’s) 2.5-litre, five-cylinder turbocharged engine. Maximum power is 224kW and peak torque of 440Nm arrives from as low as 2300rpm. In the compact Focus, this is a monstrously powerful engine, which drives the front wheels via a six-speed close-ration transmission.
Previous versions of the Ford Focus RS have been criticized because all that power pushed the ability of the front-wheel-drive-only chassis.
For the latest Ford Focus RS, Ford employed a Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing Helical Limited Slip Differential and its patented ‘RevoKnuckle’ driveshafts. Put simply, this keeps the front wheels vertical, reduces wheelspin and understeer.
A heavy right foot and wet conditions will test any car and any system. However we found by adopting your driving style and taking into account the characteristics of the engine and drivetrain, the Ford Focus RS was still blindingly fast and satisfying to drive – even when pushed to the limit on wet roads.
Ford Focus RS Interior
Discard any thoughts of standard Ford Focus models; inside the RS is pure motorsport with body-hugging, leather-trimmed Recaro sports seats bolted directly to a frame, which does not adjust for height. Even so, with the thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel adjusting for rake and reach, a superb driving position is assured.
The Ford Focus RS rear set too is individually shaped and all carry the RS embroidered logos.
Center dashboard, above the standard-looking audio and climate-control air-conditioning controls is an extra three-instrument binnacle (angled towards the driver) with gauges for turbo boost pressure, oil pressure and oil temperature. In front for the driver, Ford Focus RS delivers an RS-badged speedo and tachometer.
Audio is a Sony six-disc CD system with Bluetooth, iPod/MP3 integration.
Amongst its direct rivals, the Ford Focus RS presents the most pure motorsport-themed interior.
Ford Focus RS Exterior & Styling
Cleverly, Ford supplied our Ford Focus RS test car painted in white – the hallmark colour for Ford’s RS vehicles dating back to the 1970s. There are only two other colour choices for the Ford Focus RS – Ultimate Green and Performance Blue.
But it’s the aggressive looks of the Ford Focus RS which are a standout. The massive rear wing, wildly flared wheel arches covering the racy 19-inch alloy wheels (with unique low-profile Continental tyres), the bonnet with its bold cooling ducts, side skirts, low front splitter and the massive rear diffuser with a huge exhaust…it all adds up to pure WRC and one of the hottest-looking hot hatches ever seen.
Ford Focus RS On The Road
It rained most of our time in the Ford Focus RS – the ultimate test for transmitting the turbo five-cylinder’s 224kW/440Nm to the road. And yes, stomping on the throttle away from traffic lights or in slow corners over the mountains…well not even the RevoKnuckle front suspension and Helical LSD could cope with all that power.
But as they say in motorsport – if you look fast (lots of wheelspin and sliding), you’re going slow.
And that’s the key to extract the most from the Ford Focus RS. Understand the characteristics of the engine’s torque curve and the chassis dynamics, maybe even short-shift on the gear changes in the wet, and the Ford Focus delivers – big time – with breathtaking performance, superb chassis balance and precise cornering…all accompanied by that crackling, burbling, turbocharged exhaust note.
Back in the city, those massive wheels did have one drawback – not much steering lock. So streets where you normally u-turn required a three-point turn – a common occurrence in many high performance supercars.
Ford Focus RS Challenges
There’s no denying an all-wheel-drive system would transform the Ford Focus RS into a supercar.
Ford Focus RS Verdict
Simply brilliant. For those - like us - who rate the World Rally Championship coverage as must-see TV, this is the car for you.
Ford Focus RS The Competition
For most, the Ford Focus RS squares off against the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO and Subaru Impreza WRX STi. But in some ways that’s not a direct comparison as the Focus is a three-door hatchback while the EVO and STi are four-door sedans.
So in comparable three-doors, you’re looking at Volkswagen Golf R, Renault Clio RS and Honda Civic Type R. But that’s not really fair either because the Ford Focus RS is fair whack of extra dollars.
In our minds the Ford Focus RS scores points because of its pure, no compromises World Rally Championship looks and brilliant, crackling exhaust note (not even the WRX STi or EVO can match the sounds of the Ford Focus RS). And the history of the superb range of European ‘RS’ badged Fords even precedes Volkswagen’s famous GTI moniker.
Ford Focus RS Likes:
Stunning looks; superb interior; raucous exhaust noise; breathtaking performance.
Ford Focus RS Dislikes:
Good as the chassis and driving dynamics are, all-wheel-drive would make it brilliant.
