2009 Ford Focus RS official details
July 4, 2008 by George Skentzos
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
Print it: 
Absolute great points raised Andrew, three Fords on front row means the Duck is outta Luck! OOOOUCH
And that sux
Us NSW supporters need Andrew Johns in an F6,thats a winning combo
F6 is cool…..Johns; alas is a fornlorn drug-ie and now NOT SO GOOD.
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)
NM,
havent you been quiet for a while…….
GO FORD AND WINTERBOTTOM !!!!!!!!!!!!!
“OH WHAT LEGEND” DARWIN HAS FORD WRITTEN ALL OVER IT.
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……..
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
He did ?An HR ? You really are my little ball of knowledge
hahaha…..the beige side.
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,
even Brocky had some ford race cars that beared his name.
remember the Ford Sierra?????
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
Andrew M,
Yes! LOL
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
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
this ‘revoknuckle’ sounds like the same thing john deere uses for its 4wheel steer ride-ons?
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!
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?
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.
Next RS i’m guessing will use the Kuga platform ready with 4WD, slap on the boring Focus body hey presto 4Wd Focus.
… just realised that this has more torque then the 3.5litre supercharged TRD aurion.. lol
Very Excellent.
In my experience, the toyota cars are the best for everything.
most of honda cars are good confortable.
I don’t konow what to commend now
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.
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
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.
This smells like the TRD Aurion.
Epic fail.
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.
glorified laser…
its a girls car.
To all those who rubbish this car give it chance. PS what do they drive that must be so much better?
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
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”.
@ 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