2016 Ford Focus RS revealed

Mook

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Awww yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

Okay Ford, this is what we like to see. One of our intrepid spy photographers has captured a vehicle that we weren't even sure would see the light of day – the next Focus RS. While this is pretty clearly a mule based on the current Focus ST, as our spy points out, there are a number of giveaways about this hot hatch's true nature.

Indication number one that all is not right with this Focus is the heavily camo'd front fascia, which has been completely reconfigured for duty on the RS. It boasts significantly larger grilles that are meant to accommodate what is likely the 2.3-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder that's destined for the 2015 Ford Mustang. Considering that, then, we can expect around 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque from the hottest of Foci, although it's entirely possible that the production model could climb even higher, to around 330 hp.

The front fascia tweaks are complemented in the back by a modified rear bumper, which fails at hiding a pair of exhaust tips quite unlike the standard Focus ST's center-exit exhaust. Other obvious changes include the wheel/tire/brake package on this particular car. Larger 19-inch wheels are shod in super-sticky Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires in 235/35/19 while the brakes feature what we think are four-piston calipers, possibly from Brembo, up front.

The big question that we can't answer with these photos is, though, whether the next RS will use all-wheel drive. That remains an open question, although hopefully we'll see evidence supporting that theory sooner rather than later. Until then, though, hop up top and take a look at the full gallery of spy photos of the next Ford Focus RS.

ford-focus-rs-spy-1.JPG


2016 Ford Focus RS mule spotted on US soil - Autoblog
 

Thirdgen89GTA

Aka "That Focus RS Guy"
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unfortunately it'll probably still be FWD, i'd be very impressed if it wasn't.

torque steer ftl

Eh, the ST is really good about that, and with the Revo-knuckle front end the RS will do better.

The last gen RS500 wasn't too bad with 350hp. Torque Steer is a fact of life with FWD, but it doesn't have to be the nightmare most make it out to be. The Speed3 is a horrible example of it though. The ST requires only a finger tip on the wheel to control it.
 

Primalzer

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Sep 14, 2006
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Road & Track said:
Some folks are still convinced that the 2016 Ford Focus RS will to be a front-driver, continuing the trend of the previous, RevoKnuckle-equipped RS. But we think it's going AWD, something Ford will only say is "doable" on the record, and now there's video to back up what own sources have been telling Road & Track all along. See for yourself.

This video circulated around the office, and we think it confirms the car is AWD. Senior Editor Jason Cammisa called attention to the attitude of the car between 33 and 36 seconds into the video: "He makes it through the whole corner without lifting off the power. The car understeers at corner entry, and then (key point here) transitions to slight oversteer on the exit. That doesn’t happen on front-wheel-drive cars under power (usually), so I’m calling it AWD."

Further, at 1:30, the car pulls neutrally through a corner without understeer, likely a sign that the AWD system sent some power aft to help the car claw its way through the turn.

The conclusion? We'll be surprised if, after seeing it in action, the RS is actually FWD—because it's certainly defeating typical FWD understeer in a way that generally indicates AWD. And, as mentioned earlier, the notion that the 2016 RS will have AWD is what our sources have been telling us, and it's plausible according to Ford.

:noes:
 

Primalzer

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Sep 14, 2006
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PREPARE YOUR ASSHOLE FOR ITS COMING

Jalopnik via Autoweek said:
We U.S. Americans have never had the Ford Focus RS. That is a tragedy. It is also a tragedy that new Ford CEO Mark Fields says he's going to fix.

Yes, America is getting the Ford Focus RS. GET EXCITED EVERYONE.

This information is brought to us by Autoweek editor Jake Lingeman on Twitter, and it comes from the new man at the top himself today at Ford's end of year event. Suddenly I like Mark Fields quite a bit.

The last Focus RS was powered by a machine gun-esque 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine with 305 horsepower, but a new one — the one we're getting — is currently under development.

The last we heard, it could have a version of the 2.3-liter turbo four in the Mustang EcoBoost, which makes a lot of sense. The word on the street lately is that it will stay front-wheel drive, which I'm okay with because demonic torque steer is a lot of fun.
 
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