At the end of Ken Block’s latest Gymkhana video, we were given a short glimpse of his upcoming Hoonigan Racing/Ford Performance ride – a Ford Focus RS RX. Now, we are given a full view of not one, but two cars, each with its own distinct liveries, the result of a collaboration between Block, Hoonigan and kinetic street art artist Felipe Pantone. Looks like a beast of a machine, doesn’t it?
Both Focus RS RXs will compete in this year’s FIA World Rallycross Championship, where round 1 is scheduled to take place in Montelegre, Portugal on April 16 and 17. Block will pilot the more conspicuous of the two (black/white) and his teammate, Andreas Bakkerud, will be behind the wheel of the other car.
Both are powered by a specially-developed 2.0 litre EcoBoost engine that outputs 600 hp and 900 Nm of torque. The engine features a Garrett turbocharger with 45mm restrictor, Cosworth Electronics engine management plus an optimised rallycross intercooler and radiator package.
The engine is linked to a Sadev six-speed sequential gearbox with adjustable, mechanical front and rear differentials and a triple-plate AP carbon clutch. In the world of rallycross, acceleration is of major importance. Therefore, the RS RX will hit 97 km/h from a standstill (0-60 mph) in less than two seconds.
As you can tell, the RS RX looks the part with a custom body design that has been seam welded and reinforced to withstand the demands of rallycross (including bespoke underbody protection). To comply with regulations, there is also an FIA-spec roll cage.
To tackle the bumps, the rallycross machine is fitted with SLA-type suspension front and rear with 3-way adjustable Reiger dampers. Brakes a Brembo four-pot calipers with 350 mm rotors, paired with a Sadev yydraulic handbrake system to make the extra-tight turns. Rounding things up are 17-inch wheels and WRX-spec AVON racing tyres.
GALLERY: Ford Focus RS
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600bhp from a 2.0 litre engine??? That ought to make it the most powerful production engine for a 4 cylinder… bring the tech to the street
its a racing car.. not a production car. and all the other cars competing in the world rally cross championship have similar power outputs..
Monster is not point to Focus RS, but to Ken Block. He is a real drift monster in planet earth.
Back then, WRC cars must have limited production units for sale. Now we cant buy these for road use.
its not a WRC car.. its a rallycross car.. but yes.. WRC car rules have changed. you dont need homologated road-going models to enter. Its a good thing, because it lowers the cost to manufacturers and also makes it easier for them to enter WRC.
So now rallycross has move from b-segment car (Fiesta, 208) to c-segment car (Focus, Civic)?