Ford Focus RS Production Begins in Germany – More Performance Coming!
Believe it or not, there are more vehicles in the Ford Performance portfolio than just the 2017 Ford Raptor. Of course, the Raptor is in that portfolio, but there are a slew of new performance vehicles coming. One of those, the Ford Focus RS, just began production in Germany and will be in U.S. dealers later this spring.
“Germany? Aren’t Focuses built in North America?”
Yes, they are. But the uber-hot hatch version is constructed in Europe, where the RS badge made its name. Nobody has indicated that it’ll be a limited-production car, but the truth of the matter is they’re probably not going to sell enough of the $40,000 Focuses to justify building them here.
But what makes the RS special? It comes packed with the same 2.3L EcoBoost engine that comes in the Mustang, but gets some love from Cosworth to make 350 horsepower. That power is sent, via a 6-speed manual transmission, to a performance all-wheel drive system. Unlike the Haldex all-wheel drive setups on vehicles like the Golf R, the Ford system uses computer-controlled clutch packs in the front and the rear to distribute power.
If you are in the mood to go around a corner sideways, the Focus RS has a drift mode that puts the all-wheel drive system into psychopath mode.
After the Ford Focus RS, expect the Ford GT to hit the streets. After the GT, we’re expecting the Raptor to then become available before the end of this year.
As for the other Ford Performance vehicles in the pipeline? We’re not sure, yet. We’ll just have to wait and see.
What do you think? Let us know over in the forums!
via [Ford]
