Ford Focus RS pricing announced
December 16, 2008 by Matt Brogan
Ford’s fastest-ever European production car, the 2009 Focus RS, will be priced from £24,995 ($57,195AUD) when it goes on sale in the UK in March.
Under the bonnet a turbocharged 2.5-litre, five-cylinder Duratec petrol engine, with a confirmed 224kW and 440Nm peak torque. Features include unique camshafts and a revised cylinder head and gasket, intake and manifold system.
The front wheels are driven through a six-speed transmission, the Focus RS accelerates from 0-100km/h in under six seconds and has a targeted top speed of just under 260km/h.
Taking its place as the top-of-the-range Focus, the RS will be immediately distinguishable on the road, with its unique bonnet, front bumper and side skirts. Also unique to the model are its 19-inch alloy wheels, shod with 235/35 tyres.
Options include of Dual-Zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control (DEATC) air-conditioning; automatic headlights; rain-sensor wipers; auto-dim rear-view mirror; rear parking-distance sensors; tyre deflation-detection; Key-Free system; Leather seats; Bluetooth® hands-free phone connectivity and USB port and Touchscreen DVD Navigation System with seven-inch touch-screen.
Ford Australia have not yet confirmed availability of the RS for sale here – we can only hope.
Print it: 
Pretty much the same stats as came from the s60R engine (although the word has it that they could only be developed at zero degrees). If the x5 engine is the standard 2.5l volvo turbo, then I wonder if this engine is from the R. It was a sweet, sweet engine, but tamed in the volvo by haldex AWD. I’d love to see the torque steer if the RS was FWD only.
OK…so its 57k when you directly convert the pounds to dollars.
I predict closer to 80k once it gets here, if it gets here.
Probably right Joe, and who would pay that for ANY FWD car with no cruise control, let alone a Focus?
Would love to see it here, but would like to see what FPV can do.
won’t it simply come here and be rebadged at the xr5?
Howie, the XR5 is the ST over in Europe. If the RS comes to Oz, it probably will be called the FPV Focus RS, and have some FPV ‘modifications’ done to it.
Howie, the XR5 is known as the Focus ST over in the UK, the RS is the next step up.
Joe, that logic doesn’t work due to the many different taxes that the UK and Australia have on cars. For example the Mondeo XR5 costs $41990 in Oz, but its equivalent in the UK, the Mondeo Titanium 2.5, is $41990 in Oz, but in the UK its £21,219 or ~$53k australian. No doubt if Ford changed their minds and brought it over, they’d try to price it below the luxury car tax threshold.
Awesome car, but price ….. ouch!
Andrew,
Porsche Cayman S – 45,000 pounds ($102,990.40 AUD)
Ever priced one up lately? Around 150k here in Aus.
Pricing just never adds up if you ask me. US vs AU pricing is even weirder!
At the end of the day its MORE than AWD WRX Sti and EVO equivelant.
Message to Ford, dont waste your time, its nowhere @ that price
Cheers
F-0
24995 is retail price in the UK that includes dealer profit and taxes. I am sure ford aus or FPV will pay less then that if they decide to bring it here.
Joe, it depends on the countries taxes, and the importer. Obviously whoever imports Porsche into Oz knows that people will pay for a Porsche down here, and prices accordingly. Now I’m sure Ford understand that if they intend to bring the RS down here that $80k for a hot hatch simply won’t work. IF it had an Audi batch it might, but badge snobs aside, $80k for a FWD hatch is too much in this market.
And yeah, with you on US pricing for cars, same goes with motorbikes as well, very frustrating, the lucky pricks.
acfsambo – FPV won’t touch it mate, why would they? all the go fast work has already been done.
At the end of the day a slightly more powerful but excessively more expensive version of a Mazda 3 MPS.
Anti Spam Word Rally :P
this will be a great car but it needs to be much cheaper. its still FWD but its ment to handle like a AWD id love a test drive.
Frugal, in the UK its cheaper than the Evo X, and the same price as the WRX STi, and on looks I’d rather have the RS than the STi.
Andrew, yes its cheaper than the evo X & WRX, but for crying out loud, 224 KW & 440 NM, at the Front Wheels. Does anyone else see this thing UNDERSTEERING straight off the road of track. That is way too much power for a FWD car. Even with a chasis as good as that 1.
It appears to be a great little Hot Hatch however; it would probably be able to justify the $60 if it had AWD at least that way it could be a direct rival to the WRX STi and the EVO X.
But as its just a FWD hatch with a few go fast bits etc but in terms of price it will be fighting well above its weight; as there are a number of other euro hatches for that price which offer far more features and performance such as the Twin Turbo BMW 135i and the VW Golf GTi / R32
FPV are looking at adding a number of smaller cars to their range [just as HSV are]. I think the Focus would be one of them along with the Mondeo. So an AWD Turbo Focus is a possibility partivcularly as FPV is owned by Prodrive.
Reckless. Who gives a toss about cruise control in a car like this??
FPV should do their magic on the XR5 Focus…….would be better than this one.
Off topic question……..has anyone seen or heard anything about the 2009 Territory ? Any pics ?
Wheelnut Says:
December 16th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Actually the target opposition for this vehicle is R32 Golf. Given the ability’s of the guys over there and the products they have turned out, I reckon everybody’s fear of getting the power to the ground in a FWD are pretty much unfounded. Focus ST is recognised as a leader in the class in Europe predominately because of it’s handling. This thing will just blow everyone away. Doubt we’ll see it down under though as we still have trouble getting supply of XR5’s.
I CAN NOT BELIEVE people are going on about how they want FPV to develop a “better version” of the XR5 instead of bringing out the RS. Are you guys insane or what? I understand FPV can work there magic on the the XR Falcon range because it is developed and built here, they would know plenty about it. But the focus engineers in europe who developed this thing from start to finish, know whats best and have claimed to rectified the torque steer issue, they made it FWD to because AWD was going to be to heavy.
Hmmm let me see, a Focus RS overseen by a guy with a resume including a formula 1 team, BMW M Series, Porche?… Or FPV?… I know which way im leaning. And before you all jump on me, FPV do make great cars, they just don’t need to touch the Focus.
EVO’s are still the pinnacle for me but this will rip the STI, R32 to shreds… If my XR5 gives me a smile from ear to ear, god knows what this will do.
Does this car come with 2 full size spare tyres as the front tyres will need replacing every 8 – 12 months …..
From what I read its the STI of Subaru and the Evo of Bitsaremissing {Its a Joke ,I like them} I want to know will the FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM they have developed for the torque steer be going into the XR5?
This what I read on the system! Wonder if Toyota will copy it for their TRD CAMRY?
“All that juice is directed to the front wheels — a passport to Torque Steer Hell under normal circumstances. In the case of the RS, however, Ford has developed a front suspension system unique to the car that it dubs,”RevoKnuckle”. It works in concert with a Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing limited-slip differential to mitigate the effects of the torque steer enemy. All-wheel-drive was apparently considered, but weight concerns left it off the table. As soon as the European motor press gets its hands on this rocketship early next year, we’ll know exactly how well this configuration works.
I want one in LIME GREEN thanks!Cause *GREEN IS NICE*
Any performance car these day on performance tyres goes thru a set in 12 months and as you have read it wont be because of torque steer!
Paul – It wouldn’t be that hard for FPV to make an enhanced Focus.
Prodrive – which is essentially an automotive engineering and design company; owns FPV and they also run the Subaru World Rally team [and not the Ford WRC team as you might expect]. Therefore; they could simply transfer what they learned from their links with the Subaru WRC team to the Focus.
I mean the XR5 uses a Volvo engine so why not go one step further and put the Volvo AWD system under the Focus?
Wheelnut, I do agree with you, and infact the ProDrive Suburu’s are absoulutly insane, but with Ford having 3 of the top 6 spots in the WRC manufactures board, and Subaru 1, im still sure the guys at Ford Europe have really gone to all lengths to make the RS a great car, hence FPV don’t need to get prodrive involved. Im sure they could have developed an AWD system if they really wanted to but again they wanted to keep the weight off it. Why would you want to bring Subaru Tecnoglogy to the Focus when Fords own technology seems to be dominating the WRC in the first place, its like going to Hungry Jacks to get them to make a better version of the Big Mac, its just not going to happen.
This wouldnt be the reason, but the volvo AWD kills the fun in the s40T5 at least. Compare the pre AWD (04 -05, I think) with the post, and you lose a bit of acceleration and the front feels heavier (it sucks, actually, in comparison) with a bigger turning circle too, I think. I am not saying the focus shouldnt have it – the AWD would certainly be safer, especially as the RS has 45 more KW and heaps more torque than the XR5.
Love the RS, but after having driven a 3 MPS and thinking it was too much power for a FWD, can’t imagine what more torque and power would be like in this thing. But I’m going to throw it out there and say that after my Christmas hols, it is straight to the Ford dealer to get an XR5 Focus. I like them, they are fun to drive, and that Volvo engine burble is, well, very nice. Was thinking about the updated WRX, but looks too boy racer for me. The XR5 has a bit of that going on, but slightly more understated.
Wheelnut Says:
December 16th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
What and end up with a Focus version of the TRD with ugly stripes??????
Love Ford, don’t like FPV nor pro-drive. RS motorsports are far better qualified for this vehicle. As to the Torque steer, it’ll be fine and far more controlled than an MPS or Vauxhall Astra.
Paul says: Why would you want to bring Subaru Tecnoglogy to the Focus when Fords own technology seems to be dominating the WRC in the first place, its like going to Hungry Jacks to get them to make a better version of the Big Mac, its just not going to happen.
Hungry Jacks do make a better version of the Big Mac…. infact they make several: The Whaopper; The Aussie and; The Beef & Bacon Deluxe. They have something the Bugers from Maccas don’t – a thing known as Flavour
On Topic: as the RS is FWD its closest rival in terms of performance and price is likely to be the iconic Hot hatch the Golf GTi or R32. mmmm decisions decisions….
Wheelnut, they all taste like shit regardless.
The point I was making is why would prodrive want to give away subaru technology to a competitor.. and who have a better rally team anyway?
Paul Says:
“EVO’s are still the pinnacle for me but this will rip the STI, R32 to shreds… If my XR5 gives me a smile from ear to ear, god knows what this will do.”
I prefer the Evo easily over the STI, especially in the looks department. But as you mention it will rip the STI to shreds, when pushed to the limit there is no great difference between the EVO and STI. The stig acutally posted a faster time in the STI than the EVO on the top gear test track, and the new STI should proved much better.
STill the EVO X for me tho
With plans to build the Focus in Australia from 2010 onwards I’m guessing if we do get this car in Australia it will be from 2010 onwards and it will be built here.
I wouldn’t look at the direct conversion of the price as there are many things that will affect the final price if it does indeed make it on to our market.
At the direct price conversion it simply wouldn’t sell and Ford wouldn’t even bother with it to be honest.
Sweet car. I see it being priced a few thousand above the 3MPS, after all they share the same platform etc.
The only differences being the drivetrain and looks (inside and out) plus the Focus will probably have more power than the Mazda when the next gen MPS comes out.
Or alternitavely, if its badged as an FPV it might be priced slightly cheaper than an F6 ute. Thats just my theory anyway.
H.J.s over Maccas anyday, especially now the big M is charging $1.45 for a friggin hash brown FFS!
wow for that u can buy a xr6t for less then 50k
Frontman – ford said that torque steer would be fine in the previous big powered focus as well, it wasn’t.
It’ll be a fast car, but anyway willing to pay that kind of money for one has more money then sense! The next 3 MPS will basically be exactly the same just with a different engine, but will be atleast 10k cheaper… so basically you’d have to be a dill
Nice car! I am living over in Dublin so might see a few of these around soon! I’ll take some snaps and send them over!
Bavarian Missile – Green is Nice! Isn’t that a Running on Empty quote? :D
Wheelnut,
I will be surprised if the Focus RS comes here for $60K AUD as you stated on your post.
Thats the direct Pound to AUD convertion.
IF…. IF.. it comes here it’ll be 75K~80K AUD. Same price range as an S3, more than the EVO X and STi.
So no… not worth it for a FWD hot up hatch. It might have LSD, but 400Nm torque 224kW for a FWD is not good… well except maybe on a dragstrip… but the 235/35/19R wheel size is redundant and “too narrow” for that amount of grunt.
2 questions…
1) How much would a XR5 or MPS with a chip cost which would give the same amount of power as this car? (I know the warranty would be voided)
2) The MPS is boost (torque) limited in 1st and 2nd gear to control wheelspin. Is the XR5 limited in this way as well?
As others have said, it’s FWD. Dumb, dumb, dumb. They might say it’s to save weight, but it’s really about the economics. Look, with FWD all the steering and drive goes through just two wheels. It can’t be better than RWD or AWD.
When they start building F1 cars with FWD I’ll start to listen to how good it is, until then, no thanks.
Pious – according to you first comment you “see” torque steer, can you explain how ;)
Hang on folks – theres only a limited run of the RS, 4000 to be exact and Ford have already taken 1000 orders for the UK before production has begun and before colours have been issued although the lime green IS being made.
James your comment about tyre sizes are completely clueless, a 235 section is I’m guessing about the limit that will fit on the car, also in wet environments (Europe) a slightly narrower tyre will assist greatly in wet weather roadholding. I once had a friend who ran 155 seection tyres on his escort rather than the stock 165, the road holding was definitely better in rain conditions. Its the same view that Land Rover take with the off-road vehicle in that a narrower tyre bites into the firmer ground below slush. I admit that wiouldn’t be a problem in drier climate like Australia.
So all the “Exspurts” know everything there is to know about which wheel drives blah blah blah, So friggin what.
If you don’t like FWD then knaff off and buy the scooby or a RWD not that many exist at this size. BMW or BMW then
does the XR 5 turbo come in an AWD version
Big Pete – Go look at the Ford website, sure it will say there as I’m not answering that Q.
How appropriate to call it the Focus RS, if it looks like a rat, smells like a rat, it must be rat shiit
Cupid Stunt aka No Name
I’ve owned plenty of FWD and RWD cars. And I did go off and buy a rex. And I’m telling you that FWD is an inferior system. If you think about the physics involved, it just has to be. I know it from experience as well. So much for your blah blah blah.
Marcus Says:
December 18th, 2008 at 1:44 am
How appropriate to call me Marcus, if it looks like a rat, smells like a rat, it must comment like a rat.