Car and driver ford focus rs first driver

But just in case you need onesay, for a skeptical spousewe have you covered. The ford focus rs is a car so special and so emotionally rewarding that it needs no rational justification. Is fords awd megahatch as special as we first thought. Jan 08, 2018 the ford focus rs is americas first rs and the most powerful version of the hatch that has ever been offered. The 2017 ford focus rs is a track car disguised as a practical hatchback. Winter be damned, focus rs drivers can shred snow with first. The focus rs also introduces advanced performance technologies, and is the first ford rs equipped with selectable drive modes including an industryfirst drift mode and. The focus rs delivers a premium driving experience and our school is the perfect venue to demonstrate just what it can do. Winter be damned, focus rs drivers can shred snow with. Thanks to a platform formerly shared by volvo and fords escape, the focus rs has room for a propeller shaft down the middle of the car and a rear subframe that can support a drive unit. F is in the midst of a run of performance cars like we have never seen before. Ford moving 500 units of focus rs a month, mostly in california. Before we discuss the results of our evaluation of the 2018 ford focus, its helpful to understand who buys this compact car, and what they like most and least about it.

The ford focus is a compact car csegment in europe manufactured by the ford motor company and created under alexander trotman s ford 2000 plan, which aimed to globalize model development and sell one compact vehicle worldwide. The focus rs takes the hit pretty well, but it was a harsh enough impact to deploy the side airbags. With a colossal 345bhp and a hightech four wheel drive system, it promises to be one of the most exciting cars of 2016. A sweeping statement, to be sure, but if you look at car and drivers favorites among these sporty but practical small carsthe mazdaspeed 3 and the volkswagen gtithe latest and greatest focus beats them in all respects. Ford has been hyping its allwheeldrive hatchback for pretty much a full year, most recently with a viral video campaign featuring more episodes than many hbo dramas. The perfect hoonigan and drifting legend i spent a couple of intense days driving fords ultimate focus rs. Thanks to a platform formerly shared by volvo and ford s escape, the focus rs has room for a propeller shaft down the middle of the car and a rear subframe that can support a drive unit.

Enthusiasts who wanted an rs for years but could never get one snatched the car up at. The ford focus rs is a car that needs little introduction. The focus st satisfies performance fanatics who cant afford the trackready focus rs or want more power and practicality than the terrific albeit tiny ford fiesta st. Meet the norwegian taxi driver who runs a ford focus rs. Here comes the new focus rs the yobbedup, fullbore version of fords trusty hatch and, just like that, sliding a car on purpose will never be the same again. Focus rs driver driftmodes into a mountain get the. Let me explain what i mean by an m car, first of all. The 2018 ford focus sits near the top of our compact car rankings.

Ford to offer complimentary rs adrenaline academy driving. In its current form, it has been a competitor since the 1997 season, when ford motor companys motorsport arm selected the malcolm wilson motorsport company to run its factory team, entering the ford escort world rally car. The torque vectoring system works with the electronic stability control esc to get the focus to oversteer, but. The focus rs powered by a specially engineered version of fords new. A flashback to when we ran the last ford focus rs in 2009. Ford focus 5 out of 5 stars 1 product rating 1 product ratings fits 20002007 ford focus 4d sedanhatchback driver left rear door window glass. The 2016 ford focus rs comes standard with antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, a driver knee airbag, front side airbags and fulllength side curtain airbags. The focus rx does everything in breakneck pace and in a cloud of burned rubber.

Ford held its first drives of the rs in valencia, spain last weekend. Ford focus rs features and specs at car and driver. Fits 20002007 ford focus 4d sedanhatchback driver left rear door window glass fits. The original focus was primarily designed by ford of europes german and british teams the focus was released in july 1998 in europe, succeeding the ford escort, and. The ford focus rs is the cheapest m car you can buy new. The ford focus rs remains one of the most highlyregarded hot hatchbacks around. Jan 28, 2016 the 2017 ford focus rs is a track car disguised as a practical hatchback. The torque vectoring system works with the electronic stability control esc to get the focus to oversteer, but then helps the driver balance things along. Watch this ford focus rs driver drift mode his car into a cliff wall. Though its been legal in europe for years, the 2016 ford focus rs is just now coming to the usa. May 21, 2018 before we discuss the results of our evaluation of the 2018 ford focus, its helpful to understand who buys this compact car, and what they like most and least about it. The tyres are melted to hell, the brakes stink and my heart.

Bouncy, harsh, inefficient, and with an old interior, i had come to the conclusion that the focus rs isnt much of a daily driver after my first weekend behind the wheel. The first thing i noticed after delivery was the ride comfort. Team prior to 2005, is ford motor companys full factory world rally championship team. Two years later, in 2000, the car model was also introduced in the us. The ford focus first generation is a compact car that was manufactured by ford in europe. We are looking forward to the first season of the rs adrenaline academy, said dan mckeever, president, ford performance racing school. Ford focus rss 345bhp was supercar territory 25 years ago.

The ford focus rs is americas first rs and the most powerful version of the hatch that has ever been offered. Jan 18, 2016 the ford focus rs is a car that needs little introduction. The ford focus was first introduced in europe in 1998, replacing the then successful ford escort. That same phenomenon is just beginning to play out in our beloved hothatch segment, a first step on the factoryhotrod ladder onto which go. Ford took its group b rally car and made it street legal. Sep 21, 2016 yup, drift is hardwired into the focus rs. Theres barely a mark against the focus rs in terms of performance. Ford has been hyping its allwheel drive hatchback for pretty much a full year, most recently with a viral video campaign featuring more. The focus rs is a bit underbraked, needing 109 feet in our 600 stopping test, but that didnt seem to hurt its figureeight lap, tied for first at 24. Our test car came with optional michelin pilot sport cup 2s, an extreme racetrack orientated tire thats available on trackready cars such as the. Customers of fords allnew allwheeldrive 350horsepower focus rs will now be able to order a fully certified winter tire kit for great driving enjoyment in the snow. Reportedly the driver of the focus rs was kicked out of the club immediately after the accident. The ford focus is a compact car csegment in europe manufactured by the ford motor company and created under alexander trotmans ford 2000 plan, which aimed to globalize model development and sell one compact vehicle worldwide. In this hyperhatch class, only civic type r truly challenges the rs in flatout performance, and the honda won the comparison test.

In pursuit of speed and driver involvement, it also comes with a few compromises in the. Auditioning to be a hollywood stunt driver ford focus rs. Yes, two years of painstaking research and development and a consultation process that took on board the desires of ken block, us rally driver and selflabelled hoonigan. The power, allwheel drive capability, style, handling, and practicality combine to make an incredible allaround car that can equal or best virtually any competitor. Learn more about price, engine type, mpg, and complete safety and warranty information. Also standard is a manual transmission and allwheel drive. The original focus was primarily designed by ford of europe s german and british teams. The focus has a curb weight ranging from 2,948 pounds to 3,055 pounds. No mere hot hatch, the new rs turns heads on the road and lays down rubber on the track.

The car was an instant hit in europe, probably because of its style and appearance that is distinctly european. Fords allnew focus rs highperformance car pioneers the innovative ford performance all wheel drive awd system, and delivers classleading cornering speed, thrilling performance and unbridled driving enjoyment. The onetime topselling car in the world will also now be among the fastest. Power data for the focus includes feedback from buyers of all versions of the car, including the sporty st, performancetuned rs, as well as. Its the allwheel drive 315plus hp hot hatch with the 2. Car drive update 2020 cars redesign, specs, price, release date. An optional second day of instruction will include the ford mustang gt on the track. The 2016 ford focus was built at the michigan assembly plant in wayne, michigan. Enter your zip code to search used focus listings in your area. The idea that you could get something as fun to drive as the fiesta st. The 2018 ford focus ranking is based on its score within the 2018 compact cars category.

Then, the company set a record with the 1985 ford sierra rs cosworth by selling the first street car with an engine that produced more than 100 horsepower per liter. Mar 14, 2017 ford kicked off deliveries of the focus rs in the united states in july 2016, and the blue oval has sold over 3,500 examples of its rangetopping hot hatch since then. And while some say that, as a paid testdriver for ford, he may be biased, the top gear star does have a. Focus rs driver driftmodes into a mountain get the latest. The options are scarce as the car is fully inclusive, but for r1890 you can get the recaro shell seats, a power sunroof will set you back r6870, metallic paint costs r750 while rs blue brembo brake callipers and gunmetal alloy wheels are both no. All this gives the new focus st a wider bandwidth of ability. Ford focus rs price in south africa the ford focus rs has a recommended retail price of r699 900. The car also benefited from suspension and chassis upgrades, including a shock. The fantastic ford focus rs enters its final year of production packed with performance paraphernalia and ready to. The ford focus is a small car that offers a number of features otherwise seen in larger or more luxurious vehicles. Its the allwheeldrive 315plus hp hot hatch with the 2.

The focus rs picks up where the focus and fiesta st left off, stretching the abilities of a proven chassis and coaxing out a true drivers car. Ford has been hyping its allwheeldrive hatchback for pretty much a full year, most recently with a. Mar 23, 2016 fords family hatchback has never been livelier. Aug 23, 2016 an optional second day of instruction will include the ford mustang gt on the track. Unlike some sports cars or hot hatches, there isnt a central driving theme to the focus rs. The ford focus rs is the worlds best hot hatchback. Power data for the focus includes feedback from buyers of all versions of the car, including the sporty st, performancetuned rs, as well as the electric version. We finally slide behind the wheel of americas first rs model. Former stig ben collins describes the rs as having the beating heart of a rally car. When it comes to the ford focus engine, the 2016 ford focus rs, 2017 ford focus rs and the 2018 ford focus rs all come with a standard 2.

The 2016 focus rs is here, and its an absolute monster. Oct 11, 2016 bouncy, harsh, inefficient, and with an old interior, i had come to the conclusion that the focus rs isnt much of a daily driver after my first weekend behind the wheel. There were delays, and the first cars arrived in march, 2016, but my order. Ford focus quickclear heated windscreen a godsend in cold weather. The new ford focus rs is a purists car designed to push the hatchbacks chassis to its limits. For instance, the focus is the first vehicle in its class to offer active park assist, which can actually guide and steer the car into a parking space if the driver moderates speed with the brake. The allnew ford focus rs is a highperformance road car that introduces the innovative ford performance allwheel drive with dynamic torque vectoring, delivering classleading cornering speed with unsurpassed driver enjoyment. The 2017 ford focus rs comes standard with antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, a driver knee airbag, front side airbags and fulllength side curtain airbags. The traction benefits are clear, the focus st hitting 062 mph in 5. The ford world rally team, also known as the ford motor co. With an rs badge on the rear and recaro seats inside, you know performance is the main aim of this incarnation of the ford focus. Only problem is, weve never been able to buy an rs in the united states. Regulars have nicknamed the car capable of 0100 kmh in just 4.