Forza Focus RS – Stig unveils gamer-customised car

A unique Ford Focus RS, featuring an exterior designed by players of Forza Motorsport, was unveiled at a Microsoft event ahead of the 2015 Gamescom event in Cologne. The Forza Focus RS was driven to the event by The Stig from BBC’s Top Gear, who will feature in Forza Motorsport 6 for the Xbox One console.

The one-off Focus RS livery was the winning design from a competition for players of the Forza Horizon 2 open-world racing game, organised by global gaming website IGN.

Ford has also joined with Microsoft to feature the all-new Ford GT supercar in Forza Motorsport 6, which makes its European debut at Gamescom before going on sale later this year. Visitors to the event will be able to view the GT – the game’s cover star.

The third-gen Focus RS made its motor show debut at Geneva earlier this year. The mega hatch is powered by a 2.3 litre EcoBoost engine with 350 PS and 440 Nm from 2,000-4,500 rpm. European-spec cars can reach 470 Nm for up to 15 seconds under hard acceleration through a transient overboost function.

A six-speed manual gearbox sends power to all four wheels via the Ford Performance AWD with Dynamic Torque Vectoring. A twin electronically-controlled clutch pack on either side of the rear drive unit allows up to 100% of the rear axle torque to be shifted to either of the rear wheels. It’s claimed to virtually eliminate understeer, and even has a “Drift Mode” for controlled oversteer drifts.

The GT meanwhile uses a carbon fibre body and a twin-turbo 3.5 litre V6 EcoBoost engine with “over 600 hp” for one of the best power-to-weight ratios of any production car, Ford says. An active racing-style torsion bar and pushrod suspension, with adjustable ride height, and carbon-ceramic brake discs keep it on the road. The GT spearheads Ford’s return to Le Mans next year.

Ford Focus RS at Geneva 2015

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.