Can you tell me more on the RS FOCUS?

JAKHMR · 10-05-2008, 05:56 PM

I don't know about you guys but after hearing that the RS Focus will be released here in Australia i need to know more.
It has already been spotted at Nurburgring during testing and has all the ingredients to take it up to em in the hot 4 segment.

If you have any goss or further info on this car...post it here!

KenLee · 10-05-2008, 06:11 PM

Here's what I found from wikipedia.

"On December 17 2007 Ford of Europe confirmed that a Mk 2 Focus RS will be launched in 2009. The press release also notes that a concept version of the RS is due in mid-2008.[10] Top Gear thinks that the car will probably have four-wheel drive and a twin-turbo version of the ST's 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine with about 300bhp, making it similar in performance to the Subaru Impreza STI and Mitsubishi Evo X.[11]

Previous rumours and speculation about ths RS MK2 had included a picture of an apparent MK2 Focus RS on the front-cover of Autocar magazine, and several spy photos of a 300HP - 4WD Ford Focus testing at the Nürburgring in both the November 2006 and June 2007 editions of Autoexpress.[12]

Some sources[13] think that that car will be on sale in the spring of 2008, have 300bhp, 280lb ft, a simple all-wheel drive system (from a Volvo S60R) and cost around £28,000."

JAKHMR · 10-05-2008, 06:32 PM

Thanks KenLee. Theoretically speaking, 5 Cyl should have the fours and therefore it will be only the weight factor that holds them back. I'm not too sure but I doesn't the current XR5 weigh in around the 1500kg mark?

loltastic · 10-05-2008, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAKHMR

Thanks KenLee. Theoretically speaking, 5 Cyl should have the fours and therefore it will be only the weight factor that holds them back. I'm not too sure but I doesn't the current XR5 weigh in around the 1500kg mark?

Ford website states 1366kgs for manual hatch. That's probably dry weight - be closer to 1400-1420 with fluids. Still, not too bad. But, it'll be very hard to match the EVOs slick AWD system.

JAKHMR · 10-05-2008, 07:34 PM

I have now also read that the AWD system will not be completely Full-time either. It will only engage when the fronts start losing traction.

Rodp · 10-05-2008, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAKHMR

I have now also read that the AWD system will not be completely Full-time either. It will only engage when the fronts start losing traction.

There's nothing particularly wrong with that. If it's out of the Volvo then it'll probably be the Haldex system.

loltastic · 11-05-2008, 07:38 AM

That type of AWD system sounds terrible to me. FWD till it loses traction - so you'll constantly get understeer and torquesteer till the rear diff decides to do something. No thanks.

Rodp · 11-05-2008, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loltastic

That type of AWD system sounds terrible to me. FWD till it loses traction - so you'll constantly get understeer and torquesteer till the rear diff decides to do something. No thanks.

You can make your mind up on what sounds terrible to you without seeing it in action or even trying it?

The Haldex system in the car I'm buying I've tried. There is no torquesteer whatsoever and absolutely minimal understeer at the very worst. Largely it's very neutral handling and sticks to the road like glue. It shuffles power to the rear about 1/7th of a second after the front loses traction.

You want to see how grippy it is, take it from Clarkson...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9rFQPg0kbk

loltastic · 11-05-2008, 11:52 AM

I take anything Clarkson says with a grain of salt. Most of the time he has no idea what he's talking about, and the factual errors he produces so frequently on mundane things is laughable and makes me question if his heart is in his job anymore, or does he just like the money and the new found fame Top Gear has gained.

That aside, yes I can make my mind up on how something sounds. The way you described it, it just doesn't sound appealing to me and isn't a true AWD system like the 50:50 torque split in the WRX and EVO. It may work well as you say, but this car is supposed to take on the EVO and STi, yes? Well it needs a proper AWD system.

Rodp · 11-05-2008, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loltastic

I take anything Clarkson says with a grain of salt. Most of the time he has no idea what he's talking about, and the factual errors he produces so frequently on mundane things is laughable and makes me question if his heart is in his job anymore, or does he just like the money and the new found fame Top Gear has gained.

That aside, yes I can make my mind up on how something sounds. The way you described it, it just doesn't sound appealing to me and isn't a true AWD system like the 50:50 torque split in the WRX and EVO. It may work well as you say, but this car is supposed to take on the EVO and STi, yes? Well it needs a proper AWD system.

It's not necessarily what he says but what he does. It's cocking its rear wheel and squealing the tires on a WET track well beyond its actual competitor can achieve with RWD. It has more grip than the WRX (I found the WRX awful in comparison) I tested along side it but no, it's not a competitor to the EVO or STi, it's aimed at an entirely different market. It has a proper AWD system. If you want 50:50 split you can install a Haldex controller if it's that big a deal.

Isn't the whole point of it that it works well?

loltastic · 11-05-2008, 01:11 PM

I read that the RS was supposed to be a competitor for the EVO/STi. If it's not then that's fine. It'll probably do ok against a WRX and Ralliart Lancer (when it arrives.)

Quicksand · 12-05-2008, 11:29 AM

someone told me that you use more petrol with the AWD system. Is this correct? if so, wouldn't this make the RS more practical as it isn't running AWD all the time?

Just curious

T

loltastic · 12-05-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThundaBird

someone told me that you use more petrol with the AWD system. Is this correct? if so, wouldn't this make the RS more practical as it isn't running AWD all the time?

Just curious

T

The only way it's gonna use more petrol is by being heavier. If it's got the rear diff etc in there and not using it at highway speeds it's still carrying the weight, so it'll use the same amount of fuel. I can't help but think when you go for a full on launch it'll just axle hop and torque steer like a FWD car.

Rodp · 12-05-2008, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThundaBird

someone told me that you use more petrol with the AWD system. Is this correct? if so, wouldn't this make the RS more practical as it isn't running AWD all the time?

Just curious

T

I'd say there would be more drivetrain loss on a split AWD system than one that would transfer power to the rear on demand. Given that, it would stand to reason that you probably would save on fuel if you were just pottering around from A to B. Hard to put a quantitative figure on it though, could be minimal at best.

JAKHMR · 12-05-2008, 06:44 PM

On full song its gotta sound grumpier than a WRX note and with the extra power should be a treat to drive. I have also found out that the AWD system ATM is out of a C60R but will probably be replaced by a the C90R platform.
Can anyone confirm this?

photn · 12-05-2008, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loltastic

That type of AWD system sounds terrible to me. FWD till it loses traction - so you'll constantly get understeer and torquesteer till the rear diff decides to do something. No thanks.

Well Considering that the Original Focus RS was only FWD with an LSD and only had 212bhp it managed to absolutely THRASH the Subaru Imprezza around a track and had better handling.

That and the Current Focus ST(XR5T) manages to a wheel in the wet with only FWD. i Think ford will more than easily manage to make this Focus handle Even better and more superbly than its predecessors and im sure that they will make it worthy of the "RS" badge.

loltastic · 12-05-2008, 09:38 PM

Just because it's got a stiff chassis doesn't mean it won't torque steer like crazy and understeer too.

Let's hope it's good.

photn · 13-05-2008, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loltastic

Just because it's got a stiff chassis doesn't mean it won't torque steer like crazy and understeer too.

Let's hope it's good.

drive a modded XR5T which has close to 300hp and tell me how bad the torque steer is? i will admit there is torque steer, but nothing as severe you are making out to be.

loltastic · 13-05-2008, 11:20 AM

I've driven hi powered front drivers before, with and without LSD's and they ALL torque steered something horrible. It's a fact of powerful FWD cars. Like anything tho you will get used to it.

MAGPIE · 13-05-2008, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photn

Well Considering that the Original Focus RS was only FWD with an LSD and only had 212bhp it managed to absolutely THRASH the Subaru Imprezza around a track and had better handling.

Rubbish, the Focus RS couldn't even match a decade old Escort Cosworth let alone a STi around a track.

It wasn't any better in a straight line either.

Rodp · 13-05-2008, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loltastic

I've driven hi powered front drivers before, with and without LSD's and they ALL torque steered something horrible. It's a fact of powerful FWD cars. Like anything tho you will get used to it.

While there may be a little understeer at times with the Haldex, I can assure you there is absolutely no torque steer. So don't worry about the Focus RS having a Haldex AWD system.

loltastic · 13-05-2008, 02:33 PM

Absolutely no torque steer in a FWD car? Do you think I'm stupid? If you think that a FWD biased car isn't going to torque steer I dunno what goes on.

Bossxr8 · 13-05-2008, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAGPIE

Rubbish, the Focus RS couldn't even match a decade old Escort Cosworth let alone a STi around a track.

It wasn't any better in a straight line either.

The stig got the Focus RS round the Test Gear track 2 seconds quicker than the WRX.

MAGPIE · 13-05-2008, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

The stig got the Focus RS round the Test Gear track 2 seconds quicker than the WRX.

Not according to this...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/show/powerlaps.shtml

Not that the TG test track should be considered a "be all & end all" judge of a vehicles track performance.

lostdude · 13-05-2008, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

The stig got the Focus RS round the Test Gear track 2 seconds quicker than the WRX.

Thats only a wrx, if i remember correctly its the slowest and (MOST) ugliest wrx ever (bug eye), but the ugly part is debateable as the 08 is just as ugly

.
Caradvice quoted the new focus rs at around $68k which is STi and evo territory, it will need to be exceptionally good.
http://www.caradvice.com.au/3575/for...-to-australia/

lostdude · 13-05-2008, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAGPIE

Not according to this...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/show/powerlaps.shtml

Not that the TG test track should be considered a "be all & end all" judge of a vehicles track performance.

i didn't see a wrx on that list only the sti, i think his refering to just a normal wrx.

MAGPIE · 13-05-2008, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lostdude

i didn't see a wrx on that list only the sti, i think his refering to just a normal wrx.

Maybe, although a RS isn't really comparable to a WRX, the RS is the pinnacle of the model line as is the STi, EVO, R32 etc.

loltastic · 13-05-2008, 07:02 PM

I don't think Top Gear ever tested a WRX, only the STi. If you look at the EVO times, it's 1.2 seconds faster than the STi (standard EVO 8) and the STi is 2 seconds faster than the RS. A breathed on EVO 8 (FQ400) pumps 4 seconds faster than standard EVO 8 and really runs with the supercars. Pricing at $65k puts the RS right there with EVO X GSR SST, and actually more expensive than the EVO X with the 5MT. It'll be a hard task for the little Focus to keep up in the presence of such cars.

KenLee · 13-05-2008, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loltastic

Pricing at $65k puts the RS right there with EVO X GSR SST, and actually more expensive than the EVO X with the 5MT. It'll be a hard task for the little Focus to keep up in the presence of such cars.

Not to mention that $65k is probably gonna be a bit more expensive than the 310kW F6.

lostdude · 13-05-2008, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAGPIE

Maybe, although a RS isn't really comparable to a WRX, the RS is the pinnacle of the model line as is the STi, EVO, R32 etc.

yeah thats what i was thinking, only thing i wasn't sure about was how much the RS in quesiton is compared to the wrx price wise.