It has been years in the making but you only have a couple of weeks to save yourself £1,000 if you want to buy the latest hero car, the Ford Focus RS.
With the economic recession over there are even more new hard-core performance competitors in mid-sized car growing market sector such as the Audi RS3, VW Golf R, BMW M235i, Honda Civic Type R, and Mercedes AMG A45
So market demands change and the third generation Focus RS (Rallye Sport) is now arriving in the UK initially priced at £29,995.
However the potential to disrupt the sales demand is a price increase to £31,000 for cars ordered from 1 May onwards. The increase is due to higher cost of materials and the new FordSync3 communication system which become available later this year but the good news is there will no price increase on the options offered for the new Focus RS.
Even after 1 May the new price of £31,000 is not that expensive given the performance and spec from a family sized hatchback, now also known now as ‘the people’s supercar’.
Just as impressive as the price and the huge amount of early sales to customers is the performance and specification of the Focus RS. The 2.3-litre, four cylinder turbocharged petrol engine is a 10% uprated version of the unit used for the Ford Mustang. With a stronger cylinder head, larger twin-scroll turbocharger, a huge intercooler and a large bore exhaust system, the unit now pushes out 350hp and up to 470Nm of torque in a 15-second overboost mode from 2,000rpm. Normal use torque output is 440Nm. This engine is mated with a six-speed manual gearbox and AWD traction. The top speed is 165mph and zero to 62mph takes just 4.7-seconds making it the fastest ever RS model.
The five door hatchback Focus RS also has Ford’s new Performance All Wheel Drive system which includes brake-based Dynamic Torque Vectoring for the optimum handling and high cornering speeds.
There are four performance-driving modes – Normal or Sport for on-road driving and Track or Drift modes for track use. The car also has launch control and sports suspension with stiffer spring rates increased by 33% at the front and 38% at the rear and more efficient roll bars over those used for the Focus ST.
The suspension has two modes, Normal and Sport, the latter being 40% firmer for track driving. A linear input electric power steering system, rather than the variable rate system used for the Focus ST, is adopted to improve response and feel.
The most powerful brake system ever fitted to an RS model is used with 350mm front ventilated discs and Brembo four-piston callipers with 302mm discs at the rear. Ford together with Michelin have developed 235/35 R19 Pilot Super Sport tyres for everyday use.
There is large mesh covered grille with a much deeper front bumper and splitter with large cooling vents to stream the air into the radiator, oil cooler and brakes. Along the sides are ground hugging side sill skirts and at the rear is a diffuser which accommodates a pair of huge tailpipes and a large spoiler finishes the sports appearance.
Inside the high performance character of the Focus RS has heavily bolstered part-leather Recaro sports seats, flat bottomed steering wheel, alloy pedals, sports instrumentation and an additional bank of three gauges above the centre console displaying turbo boost, oil temperature and oil pressure.
The RS theme is continued with colour coded stitching on the seats, steering wheel, floor mats and interior trim plus use of the RS logo on the seats, steering wheel and door sill scuff plates. Sync2 connectivity provides access to audio, navigation, climate control and voice control for mobile phones and there is an 8.0-inch colour touchscreen which also operates the optional sat-nav and rear view camera functions.
Other items of standard spec include a stop/start button, heated windscreen, electrically operated and heated door mirrors, electric front/rear windows, hill start assist and tyres pressure monitoring plus a tyre repair kit but no spare wheel. Boot space is a relatively small 260-litres with up to 1,045-litres with the rear seats folded.
First impressions
Although the Focus RS retains its potential to be a family car at weekends and a business car during the week, it adds real performance for any use including track days. The 2.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine provides, from low revs right up to 6,000rpm and above, really impressive smooth, progressive linear power delivery.
It is not as harsh or peaky as some highly stressed 2.0-litre turbo units. It almost feels like a normally aspirated engine so it is refined and that is desirable for a family car which doubles as a sports car or a track day machine.
Top speed and acceleration are impressive, but even better is the way it handles day-to-day driving in the UK. At low speeds it can be docile, drop a cog and it accelerates without lag and it cruises with ease and quietly.
The uprated six speed manual gearbox has a short-throw, precise gearchange with well chosen gear ratios.
On road or on track the overall handling of the Focus RS, with its clever four wheel drive system, is one of balance, poise and predictability either through straight-line acceleration or fast cornering.
This system negates massive high speed cornering front end understeer leading to rear end oversteer by transferring driving torque to the rear wheel with the most grip.
This gives fast-in; fast-out cornering performance even in the most extreme conditions when up to 1g cornering force can be felt.
Ride comfort is on the firm side and poorer road surfaces send a ‘patter’ through the car which could be tiresome on a long journey but at least the handling remained composed over ruts and bumps during cornering.
Sport mode of course firms up the suspension and can be harsh for general road use. Overall the steering and handling are precise and body-roll is minimal.
With the four driving modes, two for road use and two for track use, the Focus RS offers a lot of performance for a lot of uses. This is illustrated by the Ford entry of two Focus RS cars in the 2016 FIA World Rallycross Championship but with their engine’s boosted to 600hp. If it’s not a motorsport winner it will still be a sales winner.
In the hands of non-motorsport owners the Focus RS has the ability to entertain. In its simplest form just switch into Sports mode where drivers can enjoy the sound of the engine’s pops, burbles and bangs through the tuned exhaust system. It really is the ‘peoples supercar’ and at a super price even after the May increase.
MILESTONES
Ford Focus RS 2.3T EcoBoost 6-speed manual £29,995 (£31,000 from May 2016).
Engine/transmission: 2.3-litre, 4-cylinder petrol with turbocharger and intercooler, 350hp, 470Nm of torque with overboost from 2,000rpm, 6-speed manual, all wheel drive with 4 modes.
Performance: 165mph, 0-62mph 4.7-seconds, Combined Cycle 36.7mpg (27.8mpg for on-road test driving and 20mmpg track use), CO2 175g/km
VED road tax £300 then £140 for Year Two onwards, BIK company car tax 32%.
Insurance Group: 40.
Warranty: 3-years/60,000-miles.
Dimensions/capacities: 5-doors/5-seats, L 4,390mm, W 1,823mm, H 1,472mm, boot/load space 260 to 1,045-litres.
For: Exciting and refined to drive with very high performance in terms of outright speed and secure handling with AWD traction, very good value for money at launch, totally useable as a high performance everyday family car or for track day use, high standard specification, good range of must-have practical options.
Against: Price increase from 1 May, firm ride, small boot.
© David Miles
