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The first market-bound examples of the new 2016 Ford Focus RS have entered production in Germany this week, just days before CarAdvice will drive the new hot hatch in Spain.
The news is accompanied by a short video (above) of ex-Stig and professional driver Ben Collins offering a brief rundown on the RS hatch’s driving modes – including a fancy ‘drift mode’ function.
The new Focus RS, now a five-door and four-cylinder affair, made its world debut in February last year as a successor to the earlier three-door and five-cylinder RS that saw just 315 examples made available for Australia.
No such restrictions will hamper fans of the new model when it launches locally in the middle of 2016. And, at $50,990, it will also be a markedly more affordable option than its $59,990 predecessor.
Power in the new-generation Focus RS is provided by Ford’s 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder turbo petrol engine, sending a mighty 257kW and 440Nm to the hatch’s all-wheel-drive system exclusively through a six-speed manual transmission.
That setup, packaged into the 1575kg RS and combined with a number of traction tricks, promises to deliver a 0-100km/h time of 4.7 seconds.
MORE: 2016 Ford Focus RS pricing and specifications
The Focus RS is built at Ford’s plant in Saarlouis, Germany. The company set a record there in July last year, producing its five-millionth Focus hatch at the German plant.
CarAdvice’s Alborz Fallah will drive the new Focus RS in Valencia, Spain, later this week as part of the new hot hatch’s international launch. Watch for his review to follow.
MORE: 2016 Ford Focus RS revealed
MORE: 2016 Ford Focus RS pricing and specifications
MORE: New Ford models for Australia in 2016
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This thing looks brilliant, the drive modes don’t seem like they are just gimmicks like they can be in other cars. Bring it on!
I only saw 2 modes for most of those settings, Normal and Sport.
Thats right, its the combination that makes the modes up.
Yeah I get that, but its a bit of a marketing con. Most other cars that have these sorts of systems have more than two options per setting. BTW, im not saying it not effective. Whats there seems to work well. Just a bit of marketing spin as well.
Maybe, but which one is the marketing con really?
Yeh i agree it is a marketing spin. They seem more effective than other cars with a “Sport Mode”. But probably will wait to see what others say who actually drive it.
Couldn’t persuade the engineers to put the “Drivetrain: Psychotic” wording in there…
The man who developed this RS was adamant this performance hatch was not going to be compromised using FWD. RWD or AWD…Brilliant.
Absolutely! Megane RS take note…. Same with all the other front-drive hot-hatches. This is the real deal!
I wait with baited breath for the road test. And longer for the Minister for Finance to give the nod.
Who’s wearing the pants at your house? Forgiveness is easier than permission my friend. Deposit now, surprise honey I love it and so should you!
Unfortunately I live with the ‘Evil Queen of Numbers’ to borrow a line from James Bond. You have no idea the amount of groveling I had to go through to get the ST. Some people have it easier than others and good luck to them.
just deposited on one of these babies, 53k da with the wheel option. Awesome value!!
Can’t wait.
mind the tele poles.
Which state are you in? I was quoted a lot more than that with the wheel option. GST inclusive?
I think I would rather have this than the new mustang but better still I would love both in my driveway
It’s the glory days of the Cosworth Escorts all over again.
1,575 is too many kg.
Not for a modern AWD Turbo car it’s not. It’s a decent sized car for a small car as well.
No it’s a fatty. I’d say a real 0-100 of 5 secs if you are lucky. Still rather an evo.
Actually he’s spot on. Look up the weight of the STI, A45 and RS3. They’re all at or above 1.5 tonnes.
Amazingly, the claimed 0-100km/h time is inclusive of the weight. I’d say that your comment is irrelevant.
Also: what Evo? Pretty sure they’ve already released the final edition for that 7 year old dinosaur.
So an Evo weighs 1565kg and has 217kw and 366Nm of torque while the ford weighs 1575kg and has 257kw and 450Nm of torque. So power to weight goes to the ford easily and same goes when compared to the WRX STI. Logic fails you mate.
It will be interesting to see it compared with the Golf R and others.
Id say the golf r is no longer in a comparable category such is the overall package that is the focus rs.
Pity, they don’t do the Focus wagon as a RS, what a sleeper ! And it will take all the kids to soccer, honest …
Why would you buy a mustang over this? 4 door hooligasm.