Initially, Ford fed us a conservative power number for the new Focus RS when it was announced at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. Now official word from Ford is that the 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine will deliver 345bhp to an advanced four-wheel drive system instead of the early estimate of 315+ horsepower. The venerable hot-hatch made its first UK public appearance at Goodwood’s Moving Motor Show, a high-octane event that occurs the day before the Goodwood Festival of Speed opens on June 26. Gymkhana and World Rallycross star, Ken Block, drove the new Focus RS up the famous hillclimb.
Using the same 2.3-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine inserted in the 2015 Mustang, that same powerplant has been upgraded for hot-hatch duty with a twin-scroll turbocharger, better airflow, a much larger intercooler, and improved breathing through intake and exhaust. All these improvements develop peak horsepower at 6800 rpm and 324 lb-ft of torque from 2000 to 4000 rpm, and up to 346 lb-ft when using the overboost function.
Ford’s Performance division has fitted a sophisticated, electronically controlled twin-clutch four-wheel-drive system to give optimum traction. The new Focus RS hot hatchback was designed with four-wheel drive in mind from the start to elevate the car to new levels of performance and driver involvement. In line with that goal is a selectable drift function: 70 per cent of power can be sent to the rears with all of that power able to be sent to one wheel if needed.
“This way you get great steering response but incredible pull out of the corner – and we can use the torque vectoring to keep the car safe and stable all the way through a bend.” according to Raj Nair, vice president and chief technical officer for Ford Motor Company.
The whole setup is good for more than 1 g of cornering grip, Ford says. It’s also capable of flinging the Focus RS into obscene tail-out oversteer—”at the track,” Ford insists.
Here is everything you ever wanted to know about the 2016 Ford Focus RS from New York International Auto Show:
The new Focus RS will available to US customers in 2016.
