2009 Ford Focus RS official details
4 Jul, 2008
83 Comments 
The world’s most anticipated hot-hatch of the year has finally made its official debut, with Ford today releasing the official details of its new Focus RS.
The all-important performance figures stand at 220kW – compared to 166kW for the XR5 – and peak torque of 410Nm from its 5-cylinder turbocharged engine.
Early performance testing conducted by Ford place the acceleration to 100km/h at less than 6.0 seconds.
Unfortunately, previous reports were accurate with the RS model featuring front-wheel drive rather than the popularly speculated all-paw configuration – albeit with the addition of a Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing limited-slip differential.
In addition to this, Ford has also developed a unique front suspension setup, an innovative ‘RevoKnuckle’ system is designed to reduce unwanted steering disturbance and torque steer – apparently eliminating the need for AWD according to Jost Capito, Ford Europe’s Director for Performance Vehicles.
“Our work has shown clearly that our approach in combining a tuned RevoKnuckle with the Quaife differential is an ideal solution for a high performance front-wheel-drive road car like Focus RS”, said Jost Capito.
“As you would expect, we gave all-wheel-drive careful consideration, but by combining and tuning these elements and learning from Ford’s expertise in industry-leading handling, we have managed to eliminate the weight of AWD from the car and still have been able to target a class-leading balance of traction, handling and performance. The result is a lightweight set-up, that will deliver the right blend of traction and razor sharp controllability” Capito concluded.
The Focus RS also features a host of handling and suspension upgrades including a 40mm wider track, lengthened driveshaft, revised springs and dampers, a thicker, longer rear anti-roll bar, retuned steering system and Ford’s ESP system featuring a custom calibration designed specifically for the RS.
The exterior treatment truly speaks for itself – hardly what you would call a subtle sports hatch, making its debut in a flamboyant hyper green finish with contrasting gloss black highlights to the front bumper, grille, side inserts and high-mount rear spoiler.
The cabin of the RS also receives a sports makeover with two tone Recaro race bucket seats, carbon-look centre console and brushed aluminium accents.
The new Focus RS will go on sale in Europe in early 2009, with Australian sales likely to come shortly after – possibly under the FPV nameplate.
Source: CarScoop
Location: Home / Australian Car Industry News, Car News, Ford, Gallery / ...
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July 4th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
looks really good, shame no 4wd though, … would the weight of a 4wd sytem really be a concern to a small car like this with 220kw/410nm? doesnt seem to bother the wrx!
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
well booter the size of the car is what makes adding 4WD an issue, if the car was larger the added weight wouldn’t be significant. Having said that hope that front diff is good, coz 220kw through the front wheels will be ‘interesting’ on rough and/or wet surfaces.
Does look the shit though, I’d probably rather the orange rather than green.
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Apart from the green colour, that looks bloody cool!
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Bad choice not going AWD – doesn’t matter what marketing mumbo jumbo words go on the suspension/diff components! I am very interested in real world reviews on claims that they’ve got 410Nm thru the front wheels under some sort of control…
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Maybe development costs hindered what could be done
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Wow! What a looker!!
I agree with J, the real testament of success will come from independent reviewers… like CarAdvice!
Any word on this green machine making it to Oz?
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
I have to agree with J in that they should have gone AWD. Otherwise the car looks great & if the Recaro seats are anything like the ones they currently use in the current Focus XR5 they should be great.
Cheers !
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
WOW! Looks hot! Could do without the rear spoiler, but damn that looks good. Hope FWD doesn’t make it a dog to drive tho
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
This car has, in its appearance, attitude. I would be interested to read on this new type of front suspension(?) which helps them put 220kw/440Nm to the ground.
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
If this new FWD setup is as good as Ford say it is, it will start a revolution in performance hot hatches. That much controlled power with the weight of AWD will be pretty special if it works.
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
*Should be WITHOUT the weight of AWD
Looks great too!
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Hot! Although the interior is still nasty.
I’m willing give them the benefit of the doubt as far as FWD goes; although hope it is not like the old RS Top Gear tested way back in 2002 or so, that had some issues. The FWD was fine and it was an excellent handler, but on rough roads it absolutely went to shit. Hopefully they fixed that.
220 kW is an impressive number, why isn’t it faster to 100? Should be able to pull a low five/high four with that. I fear traction problems already.
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
PHHWWWOOOAARRRRRRR!!!
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
This is a real head turner! SEE….Subaru?…..it’s not that hard to make a good looking car!!!!
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Bright solid colours are back in big time it cycles like fashion mmmm guess im showin my age with that call eh !!! But im with most looks fat lets hope the front end can cope with the grunt
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Man, that’s a load of torque at the front wheels…. I s’pose they’ve got torque steer under control. The car does look hot stuff and until proven either way, I’ll go with the belief that they got the front end sorted. It has some attitude and terrific looking seats. I like the overall symetry. It’s amazing, it’s a hatch, but way less of a daggy grandpa pig dog hatch as the WRX. Wonder if Subie will take a closer look at this RS and redesign their current dogs breakfast of a hatch.
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
I would envisage that this (hot looking beast) would have a similar system to the MPS3.
Vote:By having the power and torque electronically reduced in first and second gear, it should allow for some semblance of sanity when launching hard.
July 4th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Nice but AWD should of been part of the package. Although I’m sure Ford would of gone through all the scenarios and this was probably the most efficient.
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
4th picture makes the Ford XR5 RS look like its sad and crying! :) Ha!
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
The seats look good, because they are not Ford’s.
Nice engine too, but that’s not Ford either.
The rest of it looks really crap to me. Scirocco any day, thanks.
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
^So…………..seats and engine is from Volvo?
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Imagine this in RWD. It would be fun to drive, though probably tail happy.
It looks good but how will it look in real life?
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Knowing it’s Ford, the board discussion would have been “AWD is not cost effective for us, let’s just make it FWD and put some fancy words about the suspension and diff for the media”.
410Nm with 220kW on the front wheel is just too much. How do you expect the front wheel to steer and fully apply 410Nm onto the road without understeering? You’ll also have to change your front tyres every 100kms, and waste all the fuel to non-stimulating front wheel spin.
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Although I have to say that it does look good, and color can be changed so that doesn’t bother me.
Vote:Unlike Subaru’s STI, which I’ve tried to grow to like it but I still can’t…it’s like trying to like a chick with a bald patch and a beard.
July 4th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
This is a truly astonishing machine. Looks unbelievable and the power output is rather staggering! Caveats about the delivery of said power efficiently via the front wheels, it surely must rank as one of the top hot hatches of all time if the potential is realised. With the good track record that Ford UK have, should be a winner. And as for all this mumbo re; AWD, well let’s give the benefit of doubt. Possibly Marketing Man had a say but I understand that Capito is not the kind of guy to kowtow and dump a perfectly good solution as AWD just for cost reasons. Look fwd (pardon the pun) to the test drive!
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Ivan,
i think you are perhaps regurgitating the toyota board room minutes.
toyota are the ones that try hard to use multiple platforms and use the FWD setup because it is cost effective.
i like many will wait for the review to make my final word.
dont forget this car has been built off of what is already the best handler in its class.
they have had a great handler to start with.
and being ford (unlike toyota) they would have actually concentrated on good handling attributes and other things that make a car great to drive, rather than just trying to please the masses
so far it looks great, and cant wait for the review
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
definately should be an FPV in Aus!
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Oouch it looks HHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Ford always said the RS will be a no compromise driver’s car. They already have the ST (XR5) for those who want a sporty hatch but that is more civilised. Why in the world would they build the RS in FWD if they weren’t certain they could make it work. Remember this car has been engineered up by the motorsport side of the business. They tested AWD and found not much benefit but only that weight would slow the car down. Look at what has happened to the likes of STi and EVO X (now approaching 1600Kg and over). For hot hatches/sedans they are becoming porkers. For a car to be exciting to drive it must be light, helps with change of direction and all other things. This thing will work. For those who are bagging the previous RS based on TopGear reviews (what are you smoking?). TopGear found the RS one of the best handling and steering cars of the day, much faster than what subby could offer from their stable during that time. Also on fast sections of tarmac rally’s FWD are a lot faster than their Group N counterparts. I for one would rather than a lighter sorted FWD hatch, than some heavyweight AWD trying to be pushed along by some 2.0 – 2.5L turbo 4.
This car looks amazing, I’m glad I held off from buying an XR5. I’ll be one of the first to place on order for one when they are confirmed for Oz. I can see FPV adding these to their line-up next year.
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
I will wait for the drive reviews to see how two front wheels handle this much grunt….but….damn it looks tha goods :)
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
But maybe Ford is thinkin S2000 WRC format for this one…??
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Yea FPV’s First performance 4cyl,Looks Awesome
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
OOOCHY !!!!! SO HOT, IT HAS MADE ME ALL WET..
LOOKS FANTASTIC SO BEAUTIFUL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Spam word Toyota !!! hahahahhaha makes me laugh comparing a beautiful hot Ford to any vehicle toyo has ever built in its bland boring refrigerating history..
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Looks great, a truly awesome looking car both inside and out. Finaly FPV have something to give Subaru and Mazda a run for their money. Although it is FWD, I am pretty certain they have it sorted, I read about this technology earlier last year and it does seem pretty impressive, going on stats, but I think it will also perform well in the flesh.
Cheers
Vote:Prim
July 4th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
It’s amazing how people make judgements on a car based on some pictures and specs
ie “The seats look good, because they are not Ford’s.
Nice engine too, but that’s not Ford either.The rest of it looks really crap to me. Scirocco any day, thanks”)
Most sports seats on most good sports sedans/coupes/hatches are made by an aftermarket supplier! Amazing! 5cyl Turbo by Volvo (owned by Ford). Anything else?
Just remember the best hot hatches in the world are FWD…
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Get lost Axe, chop down your tree somewhere else pal…
Spam word ford, now thats what Im talking about !!!
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Reckless1 you are a tool !! Ford OWN Volvo so therefore the engine and seats are Fords seats. The basic platform of the Focus, Volvo s40 and Mazda 6 are the same…….funnily Ford own all of them. That is how it works these days.
Vote:July 4th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
ooppsss………take the second word seats out of above !!!!!! lol
Vote:July 5th, 2008 at 10:20 am
My bet is those spoilers are going to sell like hotcakes to existing and future xr5 owners. And maybe a few regular focus owners too :D
Vote:July 5th, 2008 at 10:23 am
OH YES, OH YEAH, IT LOOKS SENSATIONAL!!!!!
Vote:July 5th, 2008 at 11:24 am
John:
Top Gear reviewed the RS Focus in 2002. They compared it to a bug-eyed WRX and found it faster round a track. But on A roads in Britain the RS goes to shit. The front suspension setup can’t cope with rapid direction changes like an AWD can.
So I’m willing to give the new RS the benefit of the doubt, but I’m still hesitant that on the tricky stuff, like a loose surface or a very twisty road the RS won’t be able to cut it like the “porker” evo and STi.
Also when you say “Why in the world would they build the RS in FWD if they weren’t certain they could make it work. Remember this car has been engineered up by the motorsport side of the business.” are you perhaps forgetting our friend the TRD Aurion? A FWD “performance” car designed by the motorsport division of Toyota.
Personally I wouldn’t pre-order this car, I’d wait for a test drive.
Vote:July 5th, 2008 at 11:51 am
GTRmon,
but you are forgetting TRD started with something that wasnt any good in the handling stakes to start with.
at least the focus is possibly the best handler in its class. thats got to give them something to start with.
Vote:July 5th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
AU XR6 gas ute guy, Ford owns 51% of shares of Mazda they don’t “own them” completely.
Vote:July 5th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Andrew M, by the way I remember that you said something about “State Of Origin” a while a go in an article.
Who do you go for the “Blues” or the “Moorons”?
Yes I did mean “Moorons” it’s not a typo! :)
Vote:July 5th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Sure, the RS is starting from a good car. And I no doubt it will be a superb car overall.
But question is, will it be on par with an evo X? Because that’s where the RS competes.
Vote:July 5th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Duck 51% means they have a controlling stake in Mazda. They don’t “own them completely”, but they have control over what goes on. And I’m guessing you were on the losing end for Origin? That’s 3 in a row now!
Vote:July 5th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
^Blues had three in a row in 2003, 2004, 2005.
So that may be a good sign for the Blues next year.
Vote:July 5th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
^They won the three series in a row, not every game in the one series.
Vote:July 5th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Jbot, do you go on to the CarAdvice Forum or have you? I need some help.
If you do, I like to ask why every time I try to log in, it says I’m still inactive and i can’r go into the forum and post. But I have already registered. So I don’t know why I can’t enter the forum.
Vote:July 5th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Duck,
check your spelling.
even if you are trying to spell the insult i think you are, it is still a typo……
Im a QLD’r so ill let you guess who i support in the Origin.
you seem a bit bitter Duck……..
first the Blues go down 3series in a row, and now this weekend is front Row for Ford. not a good week for you at all.
perhaps you best go and hide back behind the fridge with the rest of your c-o-c-k-roach friends
Vote:July 5th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Absolute great points raised Andrew, three Fords on front row means the Duck is outta Luck! OOOOUCH
Vote:July 5th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
And that sux
Vote:July 5th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Us NSW supporters need Andrew Johns in an F6,thats a winning combo
Vote:July 5th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
F6 is cool…..Johns; alas is a fornlorn drug-ie and now NOT SO GOOD.
Vote:July 5th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Phill,
thats right, there aint nothing a pill popping F6 driver wouldnt be able to do ha ha ha ha ha
(its ok, i dont have anything against Johns’y)
Vote:July 5th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
NM,
Vote:havent you been quiet for a while…….
July 5th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
GO FORD AND WINTERBOTTOM !!!!!!!!!!!!!
“OH WHAT LEGEND” DARWIN HAS FORD WRITTEN ALL OVER IT.
Vote:July 5th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Hey Andrew you happy at todays announcement from DJR……maybe going to the dark side…….
On the Focus…….well as the name suggests hard not to FOCUS on that colour……..
Vote:July 5th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Quote [Bavarian Missile]: Hey Andrew you happy at todays announcement from DJR……maybe going to the dark side….
Not many people know that Dick Johnson started his racing career in a Holden – I think it was a HR Sedan
And Roland Dane at 888 have been in talks with the Beige Side – Toyota…. which is even worse
Vote:July 5th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
He did ?An HR ? You really are my little ball of knowledge
hahaha…..the beige side.
Vote:July 5th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Wheelnut,
Dicks first race car was actually an FJ holden.
he used to drive it to the track and then put on the go fast bits, then take them off when the day was done.
he also drove a Zupps sponsored Torana
but dont worry,
Vote:even Brocky had some ford race cars that beared his name.
remember the Ford Sierra?????
July 5th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
As for the RS Focus: I like it. The only thing missing [Apart from AWD] is the WRC Double-Decker-Decklid…. Given that RS stands for Rally Sports
Vote:July 5th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Andrew M,
Yes! LOL
Vote:July 6th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
On the topic of motor companies owning other motor companies. Yes, Ford owns Volvo, but that doesn’t make the 2.5T a Ford engine. It is still designed, developed and tested by Volvo engineers. Hence it being a Volvo engine.
Does Volkswagen develop V8’s? No, Audi does.
Does Toyota develop boxer turbo’s? No, Subaru does.
Your blind if you think the 5 cylinder turbo is a Ford engine.
My 2PSI
Vote:July 6th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Dick has threatened to turn to Holden before, and never has. I’m sure Ford will still support DJR & 888 in some shape or form, just not as a sponsor. Although Lowndes, Whincup & Davison are Ford contracted drivers so if they stay with their current teams, DJR & 888 would have to run Falcons.
The situation might be only for next year too, the situation may change the year after
Vote:July 6th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
this ‘revoknuckle’ sounds like the same thing john deere uses for its 4wheel steer ride-ons?
Vote:July 6th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
I wouldnt worry about it lacking an AWD system, the AWD system didnt do the ‘wonders’ in the R32 and i cant see it making much difference here, Ford RS in europe have a history of making the best handling hatches in europe for at least 2 decades, all that LSD and suspension trickery is more than enough to topple the R32 and STi.
FORD RS! VIVA LA FORD!
Vote:July 7th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Another showdown in the age old war of Ford vs holden, sorry fpv vs hsv. This time it is in the ever growing fuel miser catergory of focus vs the vauxhall based vxr (cant remember the hsv name). Both are front wheel drive and with exciting amounts of power, this is great… economy and performance in the small car package of the future! cant wait! Tick the new DSG twin clutch option in this thing with 8 millisecond shifts and this could be an awesome machine….assuming that have the fwd sorted out (i will be really annoyed if they dont and it comes back to a cost cut)! Best thing about it is it could be an aussie constructed once the focus is built here?
Vote:July 7th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Funny how you lot who drive RWD crs a lot suddenly know everything about FWD torue and all that. My Vectra (tunning boxed) produces 450Nm. Yep theres a little Torque steer but it aint that bad. I’m sure Ford wouldn’t put a car with the RS’s reputation of the road with understated handling.
Vote:Next RS i’m guessing will use the Kuga platform ready with 4WD, slap on the boring Focus body hey presto 4Wd Focus.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
… just realised that this has more torque then the 3.5litre supercharged TRD aurion.. lol
Vote:July 8th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Very Excellent.
Vote:July 8th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
In my experience, the toyota cars are the best for everything.
Vote:July 8th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
most of honda cars are good confortable.
Vote:July 8th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
I don’t konow what to commend now
Vote:July 29th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
note: this car has now been killed for australia – FPV have opted not to import a small car that would embarass there other cars. think about it, this focus RS would would be as quick if not quicker than anythign else in the FPV stable for useable driving (eg up to say 150kmh – not track work etc). uses less fuel and would probably be a fair amount cheaper. this is what hey meant when they said they cant find reason to sell it here, watch though, they will offer one in the future – albeit alot less powerful. shame cause awesome looking car.
Vote:August 1st, 2008 at 1:08 pm
I think is looks Hotttttttttttttt…..for all the guys and girls out there. We hav 2 focus xr5’s which hav been re-programmed or re-tuned(family car with more lager) about 50% more which work’s out 249kw and 480nm. She handles fine VERY quick and all you doing is changing the programme. The ST/XR5 is de-tuned to take our fuel here i aussie. I would still love it(So much fun or as Jeremy Clarkson would say about the old RS”Turn into this hairpin corner at 100mph … YES SIR”)….say bring on the new one as it looks the part, would be interested to see this suspenion system and the spec’s. I’m Interested
Vote:February 9th, 2009 at 9:57 am
A. its not coming to oz! much discussed and very angry ford owners (check out xr5 owners club) apparently FPV dont deem it feasible at present time which equals never, but NZ are getting it??
B. they have totally revised front end geometry and the approach to big power in FWD cars, do your homework revo-knuckle + LSD, good suspension, tyres this all equates to a package that can handle the power and able to put it on the tarmac. It looks to be a more sensible mechanical approach rather than tom electronic trickery like the 3MPS which still manages to torque steer like a pig.
Vote:February 25th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
This smells like the TRD Aurion.
Epic fail.
Vote:March 4th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Please bring this to oz..i will trade in my 07 xr5 turbo for this thing in a second.
More power hot color front wheel drive who cares it hammers an is one major frekain head turner.
Vote:March 6th, 2009 at 11:23 am
glorified laser…
its a girls car.
Vote:April 18th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
To all those who rubbish this car give it chance. PS what do they drive that must be so much better?
Vote:April 18th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Peter Says:
“To all those who rubbish this car give it chance. PS what do they drive that must be so much better.”
That’s because everyone is an armchair expert!I’m sure if you check out the British Magazines on line,Youtube clips(Fifth Gear)etc you will see that they all loved it!
Check out what Clarkson said on the latest Top Gear
Aussie issue about the car -it almost outguns the GT Ford on the twisties!
@Holden Lover
Vote:The Astra VRX is a girls car,becuase it can’t make up it’s mind whether to go right or left because of the imense torque steer -only good for straight line performance.The VRX is such a big failure as a “hot hatch”.
June 12th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
@ Fasthonda
Astra VXR is a chicks car because it looks like one and all chicks drive the normal Astra
I still can’t believe they stuck with front wheel drive… seriously WTF!!! regardless of what u do to a front wheel drive car to improve handling, u can never have as much fun in it as a rear wheel drive. I really don’t think this car’s gonna sell that well with enthusiasts… especially if it’s gonna be priced around the $55k mark
Vote: