The 400bhp Ford Focus RS500 Probably Won't Happen, And It's All America's Fault
It’s been rumoured for months and the damn thing has even been spotted testing at the ‘Ring in prototype form, but it’s looking like a high-power Focus ‘RS500’ may not happen at all.
Autocar reports that there are worries a near-400bhp, track-focused RS would muddy the fast Ford waters too much, giving overlap with cars like the Mustang GT and GT350. This issue is thought to “have put a question mark” over whether or not the American Ford dealer network even wants the car.
In Europe it’s seemingly less of an issue, perhaps partially due to Ford’s other track car - the GT350 - not being sold on this continent. A solution would be a Europe-only RS500, but that doesn’t fit so well with the company’s worldwide ‘One Ford’ strategy, and anyway, a smaller market would mean a smaller budget for the car’s development.
The project isn’t dead and buried just yet, with Autocar’s sources currently giving the car a 30 per cent chance of happening. Let’s cross our fingers…
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
No even though I’m a Golf fan we need this to convince VW that a R400 is worth it :/
As an American, I formally apologize for the choices of my country.
One Ford blablabla, the GT350 is US only so why not a Europe only RS500. I’d rather have the GT350 though even if the RS is awesome (i was in the passenger seat on a single lap of LeMans track and damn that grocery getter is great)
America be like
“DAAAMN 400hp from engine with less than 8 cylinders? I ain’t gonna allow dat sh*t ban it mr Eagle”
This doesn’t make sense. A Mustang is a completely different car than a Focus RS, competing in a different market.
Mr Regular talked about the something similar that happened in the 80’s The Ford Thunderbird turbo coupe doesn’t have full boost in first and second gear so it’s slower than a Mustang 5.0.
All the previous Focus RS (and Escort/Sierra RS cosworth) models were Europe only! Forget the Americans again that’s what I say!!
Yeah what about Ford of Europe? What happened to that?
Can I move to England with you guys?
“ due to Ford’s other track car not being sold on this continent”
“that doesn’t fit so well with the company’s worldwide ‘One Ford’ strategy”
yeah…
Who cares, thats what Mountune is for! :)