Ford previews all-new Ford Focus RS

FORD has previewed the all-new Ford Focus RS, a high-performance road car which debuts the innovative Ford Performance All-Wheel-Drive.

That is designed to deliver “class-leading cornering speed, thrilling performance and unbridled driving enjoyment,” say Ford.

The Focus RS – equipped with a special 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine engineered to produce well in excess of 320 PS – is the latest vehicle to be unveiled as part of a new era of Ford performance that will bring more than 12 performance vehicles to global customers by 2020.

“The all-new Focus RS is a serious machine with high-performance technology and innovative engineering that sets a new benchmark for driving exhilaration on the road and track,” said Raj Nair, Group Vice President, Global Product Development, Ford Motor Company. “The RS line has a proud history of technical breakthroughs that have migrated to mainstream Fords to benefit all of our customers, and the new Focus RS is no exception.

“It’s a great example of our passion for innovation through performance and creating vehicles that make people’s hearts pound.”

Developed by a small team of Ford Performance engineers in Europe and US, the new Focus RS is the third generation of Focus RS cars, following models launched in 2002 and 2009. It will be the 30th car to wear the legendary RS badge, following such technology trendsetters as the 16-valve 1970 Escort RS1600, the turbocharged Sierra RS Cosworth of 1985 with its radical aero-dynamics, and the four-wheel-drive 1992 Escort RS Cosworth.

Sporting a dramatic exterior design that delivers enhanced aerodynamics and cooling, the new Focus RS offers technologies new to the RS marque including Ford SYNC connectivity system.

The all-new Focus RS is the first ever RS model that will be sold around the world and will be produced for all markets at Ford’s Saarlouis, Germany, manufacturing plant beginning late this year.

“The new Focus RS represents Ford at its passionate best, delivering innovation, unmatched driving dynamics and stunning performance that was previously the sole province of high-priced performance luxury marques and exotics,” said Jim Farley, President, Ford of Europe, Middle East and Africa.

“We are acutely aware of the benchmarks we have set ourselves with RS performance models through the years, and rest assured that this new car raises the game to a new level.

“Just as important is the fact that with technologies such as EcoBoost, we are able to demonstrate how an innovation that powers almost every car in our range can also be the heartbeat of our finest performance cars.”

Gymkhana and World Rallycross star Ken Block was brought on as a consultant on the all-new Focus RS and joined the Ford Performance team at the preview event in Cologne, Germany – the city where the RS legend was born in 1968 with the Ford 15M RS.