Focus RS Will Outrun XR8 and Mustang..

[csv8]

"Ford's upcoming Focus RS hot hatch will outrun the company's most powerful V8 engines despite half the cylinder count.

Ford has announced performance times for the RS – confirming it will launch from nought to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 266km/h.

The dash to triple figures is faster than those achieved by both the V8 Mustang and supercharged V8 Falcon XR8, which notch 100km/h in 4.8 seconds and about 5.0 seconds respectively. The real test for the all-wheel drive hot hatch will be its capacity to keep up with a V8 during in-car acceleration testing.

The RS is also marginally quicker than the similarly minded Audi S3, Subaru WRX STi and Volkswagen Golf R, and narrowly behind the much more expensive Mercedes-AMG A45 (4.2 seconds) and Audi RS3 (4.3 seconds).


Speaking of price, Ford Australia is yet to confirm a starting figure for the RS, which is due in Aussie showrooms next year. The overnight release of pricing for several other international markets suggests the RS will start from about $50,000 (plus on-road costs) locally. Ford Australia has confirmed it will release prices in the coming weeks.

Developed by a dedicated Ford Performance team including input from rally star Ken Block, the RS will feature all-wheel drive power with torque vectoring technology when it lands in showrooms. Power will come courtesy of a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost engine producing 257kW and 440Nm (up to 470Nm with a transient overboost function), shared with the EcoBoost Mustang but tailored specifically for the RS.

The engine will offer more power than the Mustang thanks to a new twin-scroll turbocharger, a larger intercooler, a less restrictive intake design and bi-modal exhaust system. The work has helped raise the 2.3-litre engine's maximum rev limit to 6800rpm.

As before, the Focus RS will continued to be offered solely with a six-speed manual transmission."
http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/f...17-gjpbq5.html

[Wretched]

As seen here too
http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11441940

But yes, I have high hopes of this RS, just misses the awesome sound of the 5 cylinder.

[STINKY NINJA]

Being manual I think that 0-100 time would be the best they ever got and difficult to get consistently,auto xr6 turbo would give it a good run,let alone an xr8

[Dave R]

They must have the interns writing articles again. Firstly, an XR8/GT R-Spec (same car of course) will get to 100 in less than 5 seconds. Much less in some cases. Secondly, using a 0-100 time to determine which car will "outrun" the other is moronic. Using the manufacturer's claimed time for one car vs a time you've poorly extracted in the real world for the other is even more ridiculous.

Then there's the fact that you're comparing an AWD hatch to a RWD sedan. The 0-100 time can be very deceiving. Even if the XR8 does record a fractionally slower 0-100 time, it will still blow the doors off the Focus in an actual race. You may as well say a last gen WRX would outrun an XR8. You can launch those bastards into the 4.xx bracket but they'll still only pull a mid-13. Any AWD car will jump off the line, congrats, but "outrun" their more potent opponent they will generally not.

More accurate title would have been "AWD Focus RS to possibly outpace XR8, Mustang over first 20 meters".

[BradEL]

Good to see the focus joining the Aurion in the sub 5 second 0-100 club

[b0son]

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

Even if the XR8 does record a fractionally slower 0-100 time, it will still blow the doors off the Focus in an actual race.

Over the quarter or on a circuit? I don't think anyone would bet against the RS on a circuit.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by b0son

Over the quarter or on a circuit? I don't think anyone would bet against the RS on a circuit.

Clearly my entire post was about straight lines, as the article claims the RS will outrun the XR8/Mustang in a straight line based on a 0-100 time.

But if we're talking circuits, I'd bet against the RS at a circuit like Phillip Island

[flooded one]

still would be a fun car to drive, just the exhaust note wouldn't sound right. turn up the stereo!!!

[Falcon SXR8]

All wheel drive light car if launched in a way many owners wouldn't even consider might beat a huge rwd falcon too 100kmh isn't really news worthy if you ask me. But it seems whenever a hot hatch comes out we get these silly stories about them beating v8s in a straight line, is that what the buyers of these cars look for??

That aside I would love a drive of one, they look like a lot of fun

[Sabantien]

Ditch that ridiculous looking spoiler and I'd love one. It'll outpace the bigger cars from 0-60 at the traffic lights, and that's about all 90% of drivers will do.

[bazza91]

Do the owners of hatchbacks really worry about the fact that it beat a xr8 0-100kmh by .1 second. Point one. It's been my experience the people who buy them do so because they want a small little putt around car not an AWD drifting/drag racing machine.

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by bazza91

Do the owners of hatchbacks really worry about the fact that it beat a xr8 0-100kmh by .1 second. Point one. It's been my experience the people who buy them do so because they want a small little putt around car not an AWD drifting/drag racing machine.

Horses for courses, a bit like an F-truck driver saying to a Falcon ute driver.."my f truck can pull 10 ton, how many can you tow?"

[LeadFoot81]

Can't everyone just chill out and be happy that Ford are lobbing (hard) into another segment?

Some people need to accept that hot hatches have gone from funny little torque steering monsters to bonafide sports cars with practicality to boot.

[nstg8a]

Some nervous falcon owners maybe...

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

Some nervous falcon owners maybe...

Nail, head, hit.

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Easily resolved, this whole issue.....just have an XR8 and a RS in the garage

I would if I could justify it. Oh, and convince the missus that an RS will do her just fine instead of the insistence that she have an SUV coz she can't get in and out of a car like the RS

Craig H

Currently an FG X XR8 and Focus ST owner......

[Carrion]

Originally Posted by psychobimbo

Easily resolved, this whole issue.....just have an XR8 and a RS in the garage

Slash Lock thread

[Sprintey]

Well if we are going there, I'd best don my cardigan and go for the humble RS4 Avant which does the same 4.7 as the RS focus in the sedate, family man's station wagon body. And AWD, and a 4.2L V8. See, there is a way out for us V8 loving dinosaurs once the hot hatches take over

[Professor Farnsworth]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

Some nervous falcon owners maybe...

Yeh that one time you spot an RS every 5 years, let alone line one up would make the sweat start to bead lol. You'll see about 40 XR8s before that. Both great cars, both nothing alike in design or purpose. I'd have the Focus too!

Now if they'd got Ken Block to consult on the XR8..

[carwant.com.au]

Like Dick Johnson recently, "it might go faster then a V8, it might do 1000 miles to the gallon......but it's not a V8!"

I agree that 4 cylinders can be faster then 8's and everything else (including better handling), but there is just something about those 8 cylinders that you just cant get from a four.

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by floppy ears

Like Dick Johnson recently, "it might go faster then a V8, it might do 1000 miles to the gallon......but it's not a V8!"

I agree that 4 cylinders can be faster then 8's and everything else (including better handling), but there is just something about those 8 cylinders that you just cant get from a four.

I agree with this so much. RS is a great car but I would buy a Mustang or Xr8 over the RS any day of the week.
In the same way I would rather buy an XR8 over a XR6T. Yes the 6 Turbo may be quicker and use less fuel, but it's not a V8 and I love V8's

[Express]

I’m a V8 man through and through but this discussion if nothing else has made me very keen to have an opportunity to take an RS for a test drive just to experience it.

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by carwant.com.au

Like Dick Johnson recently, "it might go faster then a V8, it might do 1000 miles to the gallon......but it's not a V8!"

I agree that 4 cylinders can be faster then 8's and everything else (including better handling), but there is just something about those 8 cylinders that you just cant get from a four.

Yep definitely agree.
It might be faster than the Falcon and Mustang, but it would still be number 3 on my shopping list.

Like in the naked ute thread I said I would love to see a decent price ute with a V8 diesel in it, others say 6 cylinders are just as powerful/tourquey these days. Yes, that's true, but they aint a V8.

[ZGM86]

Originally Posted by Ben73

I would love to see a decent price ute with a V8 diesel in it, others say 6 cylinders are just as powerful/tourquey these days. Yes, that's true, but they aint a V8.

You and me both! The current crop of 4 & 5 cylinder diesel utes have no appeal to me, but a V8 diesel? That's an entirely different story.

[STINKY NINJA]

Its just some typical bs peddling,truth twisting journo dribble that's all...
Im not denying the focus is a great car for those who like them,its the incorrect and misleading title lol,thats all;)

[HO 3]

Yeah I can only imagine the way that thing was driven to achieve a sub 5 sec time ...........5-6k side step launch followed by gear changes with the mechanical sympathy of a chimpanzee attacking a cupcake.........is this real world repeatable? Yes it is, as long as someone like Ken Block is driving the thing or until something ultimately breaks.

Cheers Mick

[GTPete]

As with most AWD turbo cars the lack of wheel spin on hard launches places the gearbox under extreme stress.
They hook up well until the gearbox claps out, typically somewhere between 10 and 20 hard launches before your forking out cash for a gearbox rebuild.

[Dave R]

I don't think any Falcon owners would be nervous about a hot Focus. Maybe WRX owners? Evo owners? But Falcon owners? Ha, no. The concept of a quick 4 cylinder is not new, Ford have not invented a new category. However, when articles like the one above make misleading claims about acceleration, they will be corrected. If a similar article claimed the XR8 was a dynamically superior drive, it too would be corrected.

[b0son]

How is it misleading? The overwhelming majority of drivers don't do 400m drags, or get much over 110kph. In real world usage, the RS is probably going to eclipse the XR8. The days of needing a big motor to get decent acceleration are pretty much over.

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by b0son

The days of needing a big motor to get decent acceleration are pretty much over.

Still trying to work out which is most enjoyable... 0-100 in 5 seconds with the voice of God bellowing out the exhaust, 0-100 in 5 seconds behind a Hoover vacuum cleaner (6cyl turbo), 0-100 in 4.5 in a 4cyl with a long fart emitting from the rear, or 0-100 in 3 seconds with no cylinders and no noise, in a Teslamobile...