Ford Focus RS sales go ballistic in the UK
September 11, 2008 by Anthony Crawford
- Anthony Crawford
Ford dealers in the UK have been swamped with orders for Ford’s new lethal weapon, the Focus RS that was revealed at the London Motor Show in July.
Over 1000 orders have already been taken, despite the fact that the car will not be available until early next year.
Performance car enthusiasts have all but guaranteed this car for iconic status and a return to the Rallye Sport badge.
Most customers have gone for the Electric Green Shade from the Motor Show. Others requests are for Frozen White and Electric Blue.
It should be an explosive machine given its specially developed 221kW (300PS) version of Ford’s Duratec 2.5 litre five cylinder turbocharged engine found in the Focus XR5, which as quick a car as it is, manages just 166kW.
Its only the second time that a Focus will wear the RS badge since 2002 which all began in 1970 with the potent Ford Escort RS1600.
I’m hoping and praying that Ford Australia can make a business case for the Focus RS, as I for one would be signing up.
Print it: 
lol…this is the first time im the first poster. fantastic car! where do i sign?
I think the official word from Ford was that they weren’t going to import this one as FPV were going to make their own suped up one when manufacturing in Australia started, but thats in 2011. So Ford, please, import the RS, at least until then.
Spectacular, I do hope Ford Aus decides to bring a couple over. Id be sleeping outside a Ford dealership to sign up.
I can’t see why ford don’t import some and export F6’s while there at it.
That might be the same engine as was used in the volvo s60R – 2.5 litre 5 cyl twin intercooler high pressure turbo – 400Nm torque and 220KW, as opposed to the XR5 which uses the engine from the s40T5. The R had an absolutely brilliant engine, power beyond belief and disproportionate to stats – in the cold 0 – 100 in 5.5 secs (close to 6 in our climate) with enormous acceleration still from 100kph upward, and in a car that would weigh far more than the focus. Volvo reigned it in with AWD to control torque steer. Interesting to see what Ford do about that.
I still can’t understand why the Ford Focus is not a great seller in this country.
i love this thing…
i would go into dept for it! lol.
love it in electric orange though… or even blue or black.
BRING TO AUSTRALIA FORD AUSTRALIA!
Tony, I think in general Australians when they think of Ford its immediately associated to the Falcon, I think the focus is overlooked most of the time…
Anyways awesome car, 220 kw in this small package. I hope the interior is racey to suite as well.
I would consider selling a kidney to have this in my drive away. What as awesome looking car.
I wonder how this thing handles. I believe it is a front wheel drive. 221kw and 400nm on the front wheels will be a nightmare to handle just like the Mazda3 MPS!!!
@ nick, i think prodrive have sorted the understeer with their trick differential.
i think ur right joober and i reckon the focus has a connection in oz with ford’s old laser which was never really much chop.
^^^^ I think the reason the Focus isn’t selling well in Australia, is because we get them from (apart from the XR5) South Africa and the quality isn’t where it should be, which is the same case with the VW Golf apparently. Hence the reason people would rather a Japanese build Mazda3 or Mitsubishi Lancer, for roughly the same price.
@ nick, the 3MPS actually handles really well and when it comes to overtaking embarresses many high priced euro exotica, not to mention the local v8s. Would love to see focus rs and 3mps comparo. The RS would be a great addition to the FPV lineup.
I think the poorer sales than the focus deserves comes from it being a new comer to the segment in OZ.
small cars sales are heavily influenced by name plate recognition.
small cars are typiclly bought by young people or old people.
old people are hell bent on buying familiar products, and young people are influenced heavily by older people ie. parents and grand parents.
i wouldnt mind betting a dollar that if ford rebadged the focus to a “Laser”, that sales would be better.
Nissan also shares the same sob story since they got rid of the “Pulsar” name plate.
and on topic,
why wouldnt they sell bucket loads of this RS version in the UK??
it has been a long time seller in the pov pac version before its even tricked up.
^^^^
i meant to say long time #1 seller in Pov Pac
they are saying we wont have an FPV Focus until it is made here in OZ.
in a way i think it is good to sort of stay true to their formula of being an australian performance range.
a rebadged opel in the HSV stable sort of makes it ill constructed i think. (in terms of the HSV name/formula)
I think as people shift away from large cars small hot hatches could become popular. Just think, as much or more power as a large car without the weight, sounds like a good formula. Whatever badge they slap on it they should import it.
The reason why they dont sell as many in Australia is that the base model is very ordinary in its looks. However when you get to the upper models like this one, it looks and delivers what you want. I feel there is great demand for these models (though small in Australia). So when a punter says they want an XR5, they’re told by the saleman at least 6 months or more, the buyer starts to look elsewhere.
Ford top sporty models always sell here, however you rarely seem them around for long as most are thrashed and crashed.
Hard to say why Focus doesn’t sell well here, but i think lack of public awareness is a main issue. Civic, Corolla and Lancer are all old names that everyone knows. Mazda on the other hand did a great job at marketing and promoting Mazda 3 despite it being a new name as opposed to 323 before. Ford on the other hand, didn’t seem to promote Focus enough to raise public awareness.
As for the Focus RS, i really think they should bring it in, could potentially lift the image of Focus range.
What a classic looker! Nice specs. This would be the 1st Ford I’d buy since my 1971 Lotus RS Escort! Bring it on Henry.
* Note to Subaru designers: (if there are any left that is)
Have a look at the Focus RS you turkeys. See what other “in touch” manufacturers can do? Hope you are shite ing yourselves right now. You should be.
go swannies…..
swannies went. gone. done.
Doesnt sell cause weird front below headlights on front end that has just been updated. Am seeing heaps of them around now and update looks miles better….shame rest of Ford range like Escape and Territory are like ancient extinct looking heaps!
Cars like these make me horny
I recon they don’t wanna import this car couse’ it’s gonna kill the sales of all big FPV’s… this car is absolutely awesome
This car is fantastic! I really hope that Ford bring to Australia as I would definitely order it as soon as it was available!