Ford Focus RS teased, Feb 3 debut – 350 hp, AWD?

It’s been a long time coming, but Ford performance fans will only have to wait a little longer – the third-generation Ford Focus RS has been teased through a video from the company’s European division, with a reveal date (finally!) confirmed for February 3.

The 50-second film shows camouflaged prototypes of the ultra-bonkers hot Focus sliding around Ford’s Lommel proving ground in Belgium as well as in the United States, hinting at its potential for absolute hoonage.

FocusRS 7

No specifics have been released so far, but the RS is expected to be powered by the Mustang‘s 2.3 litre EcoBoost four-pot producing anywhere between 325 and 350 hp, mated to a six-speed manual transmission and all-wheel drive. The latter is good news considering the power on tap – past RS models have been front-wheel drive only, instead relying on a limited-slip differential and trick suspension to quell understeer.

Billed as a “no-compromise driver’s car that can deliver exceptional performance on the track when required while providing excellent every day driving,” the upcoming Ford Focus RS will be sold in global markets for the first time. Does that mean we’ll be getting it as well? Our fingers are as crossed as yours.

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Jonathan Lee

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

 

Comments

  • seancorr (Member) on Jan 22, 2015 at 12:18 pm

    AWD? Then its gonna eat a lot of hot hatches for lunch…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0
    • koochai on Jan 22, 2015 at 12:55 pm

      make it breakfast, lunch & dinner.
      oh…supper too!!!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
      • Same L0rrrr on Jan 22, 2015 at 4:07 pm

        When you talking about smoking other cars on the roads, this is the one you should get.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
  • Matrix on Jan 22, 2015 at 12:35 pm

    350hp. so what?
    loosen to my city too.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 13
  • GTR 2.0 on Jan 22, 2015 at 12:46 pm

    Should have Mustang’s fascia or New Mondeo’s.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • donno on Jan 22, 2015 at 12:57 pm

    Just as Japanese companies such as mitsubishi is abandoning turbo 4wd super sedans, ford comes out with this!

    This will be the new evo and wrx!!!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
    • ScourgePrime (Member) on Jan 22, 2015 at 2:42 pm

      Yea its too bad when Japanese manufacturer now moving on Earth Green car while European wants Peformance car!! All hail Europe!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
  • rizal on Jan 22, 2015 at 3:16 pm

    Aisehhhh.. When exactly coming to Malaysia ehh..
    Thinking cancelling my booking on A250..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • heybadigol (Member) on Jan 22, 2015 at 3:54 pm

    350HP would require permanent AWD. Even you make the setup to be “light” in the rear to counter-act the understeer of an FWD, it would still be a handful to manage. So AWD would be the best solution. Also, this would make the Focus RS the hottest hot hatch around at the momemnt. I don’t think the upcoming FWD Civic Type R can match the power & torque figures, not with an FWD layout.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  • hazamiey on Jan 22, 2015 at 4:10 pm

    Will consider this over a45 amg only if its come with DCT.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • The last Focus RS is the greatest , at close to 400BHP front wheel drive and is superb, they used clever diff and revo knuckle to prevent torque steer. No need for AWD or 4WD . Hope they continue development of FWD.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
  • policeman on Jan 22, 2015 at 5:47 pm

    I LOL at “Mustang’s 2.3L EcoBoost four pot”

    May as well put a campro engine in the mustang.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 3
  • blaster88 on Jan 22, 2015 at 6:26 pm

    Curios on how they would price this beast…it they thing long term (to rebuild the Ford brand in Malaysia, remember the Ford Laser S? Every boy racer go to car in the 80s) and not be greedy, they would be many worried faces in Renault, Merc (A45, but not a key SKU for MBM, not enough to go around), VW (R and GTI), Subaru, BMW (1 Series)….

    Price it at 200K or slighty below, throw in a DCT, put in some decent marketing and you would have a sure winner. Oh….btw, please also improve on the crap after sales service!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • rizal on Jan 23, 2015 at 1:27 am

    if price below golf r – all hot hatches bow to this

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Scoobie on Jan 23, 2015 at 11:51 am

    Finally another contender of Subaru WRX STi

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Annoynimouse on Jan 25, 2015 at 9:46 am

    Very capable machine by the looks of it. I would imagine its price tag to be in the range of the Mitsubishi Evo 10 FQ versions. Even the Fiesta ST is already quite highly priced for a small hatch.
    Personally, I think going for the RS is a bit of an overkill if you were just to use it mostly as a daily driver since the ST should be able to do most of the job for you. But then again, you could the same say the same thing to people who goes for the Ms, AMGs, Type Rs, Evos, Shelbys etc.
    I believe this car would smoke all its rivals and more on and off the track… and knowing that’s a good feeling have (even if you’d never take it to track). And there’s a chance to have the AWD system. Its like the dead EVO being reincarnated in the form of a blue oval.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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