The 2016 Ford Focus RS was seen on display earlier in the month at the New York Auto show. The Focus may be compact, but the RS model carries a sizable reputation. The RS, a prominent European performance car, has been drooled over by American enthusiasts for years, as it was previously exclusive to Europe. However, as part of a Ford Motorcompany initiative to spread regional performance models globally, (as seen in the recent 2015 Mustang) the RS will be available in the states for the first time ever starting early 2016. The car is built in Saarlouis, Germany so European customers will have first access to the new 2016 model.
Pricing has not yet been announced.
The Focus RS will sport a unique variant of the Ford 2.3L turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine(as similarly seen in the 2015 Mustang). The powerplant will boast at a minimum 315hp. Final stat figures will be released later in the year, according to Ford.
The five-door hatchback vehicle has been designed and tuned to perform amongst an elite group of hatchbacks, including the Subaru WRX STi, Volkswagen Golf R, and Mitsubishi Evo.
The RS has a unique chassis and a new all-wheel drive system that allows 100% of rear power to go to a single rear wheel.
The hatchback also has a drift mode which disables the electronic stability control and adjusts the dampers and other parts of the drive mode.
It took wrangling from the legal department to get it approved, Odeh said. The key wording that made it possible: the mode is designated "for track use only."
It is the kind of feature usually reserved for supercars, Odeh said. "To bring it down to a Focus RS is exciting for the customer."
Performance has proved to be a lucrative sector for Ford. Two-thirds of buyers of the Focus ST are first-time Ford owners. These buyers tend to be young, and half go on to buy another Ford, said Odeh.
The Focus RS expands upon the benchmark set by the ST. The model attracts young buyers with a higher income, said Odeh. 20% of buyers will cross-shop the RS against level 1 luxury vehicles like the BMW 3 series.
The ST already brings in a completely different strain of customer, and the RS will serve to further enhance that trend.
"These are the kind of people who are washing their cars with a toothbrush"
Ford has laid plans to introduce a total of 12 unique performance models by 2020. These are to include the recently announced Ford GT, Mustang GT350 and GT350R, F-150 Raptor, Fiesta ST, Focus ST, and Focus RS.
Sales of Ford performance vehicles have outpaced the industry for the past five years running.
Pricing has not yet been announced.
The Focus RS will sport a unique variant of the Ford 2.3L turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine(as similarly seen in the 2015 Mustang). The powerplant will boast at a minimum 315hp. Final stat figures will be released later in the year, according to Ford.
The five-door hatchback vehicle has been designed and tuned to perform amongst an elite group of hatchbacks, including the Subaru WRX STi, Volkswagen Golf R, and Mitsubishi Evo.
The RS has a unique chassis and a new all-wheel drive system that allows 100% of rear power to go to a single rear wheel.
The hatchback also has a drift mode which disables the electronic stability control and adjusts the dampers and other parts of the drive mode.
It took wrangling from the legal department to get it approved, Odeh said. The key wording that made it possible: the mode is designated "for track use only."
It is the kind of feature usually reserved for supercars, Odeh said. "To bring it down to a Focus RS is exciting for the customer."
Performance has proved to be a lucrative sector for Ford. Two-thirds of buyers of the Focus ST are first-time Ford owners. These buyers tend to be young, and half go on to buy another Ford, said Odeh.
The Focus RS expands upon the benchmark set by the ST. The model attracts young buyers with a higher income, said Odeh. 20% of buyers will cross-shop the RS against level 1 luxury vehicles like the BMW 3 series.
The ST already brings in a completely different strain of customer, and the RS will serve to further enhance that trend.
"These are the kind of people who are washing their cars with a toothbrush"
Ford has laid plans to introduce a total of 12 unique performance models by 2020. These are to include the recently announced Ford GT, Mustang GT350 and GT350R, F-150 Raptor, Fiesta ST, Focus ST, and Focus RS.
Sales of Ford performance vehicles have outpaced the industry for the past five years running.