The Next Ford Focus RS Will Be A 400bhp, £40,000+ Beast
The next Ford Focus RS will go hunting the Audi RS3 and the Mercedes-AMG A45 with a 48-volt mild hybrid system and around 400bhp.
Targeted for a 2020 launch, the car will have power and torque figures to rival any of the German hot hatch behemoths we tested recently. While the internal combustion engine might not change all that much from the current 370bhp Mountune-fettled 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo, it will be boosted by an integrated 48v starter/generator (ISG) that will add up to 30bhp and 70lb ft, according to Autocar.
That torque – peaking at an estimated 425-450lb ft – should be available instantly from a standstill for a significant drop in acceleration times. Hitting 62mph several tenths faster is likely, putting it in the low-four-second bracket. The ISG will also allow seamless restarting using less fuel, plus longer engine-off periods while the car is in motion.
Speculation is rife that the new system will be teamed with a dual-clutch automatic gearbox to get the best out of it, but either way, an electrically-driven turbocharger seems likely. This more efficient means of spinning the snail should reduce turbo lag and help drop CO2 emissions by as much as 30g/km from its current 175g/km.
The dream of the affordable RS might be coming to an end, though. With the outgoing car’s Heritage Edition final hurrah already priced at £39,895, Ford is hinting at a price in the low £40,000s. All that new technology has to be paid for, after all.
Source: Autocar
Comments
Jeez they need to make a new ford focus first right?
Only thing I dont like about modern Hot-hatchbacks is that they arent exacly cheap or small, wich means that they intented target audience (young buyers) is extremely unlikely to be able to afford one, what 18-25 y/o can buy a 40000€+ car and the insurance for such thing??
Well 18-25 yo can’t even buy a Golf 1.6 these days 😂
What I don’t like is that they’re all AWD and have too much power. Yes, too MUCH power! I’d take a FWD FK2 or EP Type R over every single other hot hatch
And yet they sell like hotcakes. Young people can buy the UP! gti for 19k now or it’s slightly weaker but highly tunable 1.4 TFSI brother for almost 6k cheaper and an ECU tune will have you in gti power figure range with spare cash to replace tires for the next 10 years.
You are absolutely right in money/performance/age limitations, I agree. They are too big, too powerful too costly. BUT young people can get an UP! GTI which is about the size a golf1 with 110hp for 19k. If that is expensive, you can get the 1.4 TFSI UP! for 6k less, this one is an ECU tune away from the same power figure as the GTI. Similar cars are the Fiesta sportier models or similar cars. But nowadays young people want POWEEEEEEEER, loooooooooooooooks, spaaaaaaaaaaaaashiul, and everything for free. Can’t have that.
They’re now bought by middle-aged people - which is just wrong imo. Young people don’t get the chance to own anything cool anymore!
Ford: Bois we are ending the mk3 RS production
Car world: NOOOO
Ford: we will make a 400+ bhp one tho, so don’t be sad
Ford U da real MVP
Car world:wait a minute, wouldn’t that hurt the sales of the mustang?
Yepyepyep, it’s all very nice proposing the stats and all, but the real question is; will the head gaskets last? ;))))
Hopefully there’s no anymore gasket failures
The next next will have 500hp and cost over 50 k
2040: the all new ford focus RS, now offering 6000bhp and costing 6 million dollars
You know you hardcore manufacturer when you sell your last batch of cars for a 30% price increase sporting aftermarket components out of the factory, then you go on and insist on OEM components to be used only once you find the sucker to pay for your expensive crap.
Simon(hatchback Mafia RS squad)
2050: Ford’s new focus RS is a 1000HP 250+ mph electric hypercar…
Mild hybrid tho. Can’t drive on eletric mode only.
Like the LaF