User Tag List

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 23

Thread: True Blue: First Focus RS rolls off Ford assembly line in Germany

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Brisbane, QLD
    Age
    42
    Posts
    4,225
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default True Blue: First Focus RS rolls off Ford assembly line in Germany



    Ford reconnected this week in earnest with the 38 year history of its RS badge when the first production Focus RS rolled off the assembly line in Germany. The 300 horsepower front-drive hot hatch is being built at Ford's Saarlouis plant, alongside the rest of the European-spec Focus line-up, but with the performance bits (including a trick differential) installed by a dedicated team of technicians.

    The Focus RS is the most extreme performance version of the company's staple hatchback, taking the Focus ST we drove in Belgium as its point of departure, and then dialing it up to 11. Unfortunately, while 20 European countries are slated to receive the Focus RS when it hits the market in April, it isn't slated to reach the American market; at least not in its current incarnation. But with Ford's new focus (sorry) on integrating its products globally – including the merger of the European (TeamRS) and American (SVT) performance engineering divisions – maybe, just maybe, we could see an RS version of the next Focus Stateside.
    From Autoblog.

    Blue Focus RS Gallery.

    Green Focus RS Gallery.
    2014 Mk7 Golf R | DSG | Reflex Silver | Leather | Drive Assist | Bi-Xenon Headlights
    1981 Lincoln Town Car | Auto | 80s Cream | 90s brown interior | 5.0L V8 | Currently no working headlights



  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Coomera, Gold Coast
    Age
    41
    Posts
    3,565
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    If I ever bought a Ford it would be one of these!!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Brisbane, QLD
    Age
    42
    Posts
    4,225
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default

    Yeah, I hate to say it...but that looks hot.

    *waits for the XR5 guys to chime in*

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    NSW
    Age
    47
    Posts
    789

    Default

    Very tidy indeed....

  5. #5

    Default

    It's so unfair that we're not getting it...

    Will have to see if the next MPS steps it up a bit...

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Gold Coast
    Posts
    1,165

    Default

    Man that is ANGRY!!!

  7. #7

    Default

    Every time I see these pictures........ I start to well up.....

    F*%k you, Ford Australia.... you retards.... To cheap to do compliance testing again because it's a 3 door....

  8. Default

    2 DOOR MPS FTW!!

    I would definately buy one of these....

    Ford Australia are a bunch of fking KNOBS not to bring this to Aus..... Thats alright tho, ill be buyin a Mitsu Evo X instead..

    Ford Performance Vehicles is saying no to Europe’s new 220kW Focus RS but is set to say yes to its own, locally built version. JEZ SPINKS reports.



    Ford Focus RS

    ‹scroll | Move your mouse over the thumbnails below to scroll | scroll›




    Ford Performance Vehicles will snub Europe’s new Focus RS and instead build its own hot-hatch to create an expanded, four-vehicle line-up.
    The second-generation Focus RS has just been launched by Ford of Europe at the 2008 British motor show, but FPV says it would prefer to create its own mega-hatch based on the next-generation Focus that will be built in Australia from 2011.
    “I just can’t see a business case stacking up [for a new FPV model] when the mother car is an imported car,” says FPV boss Rod Barrett.
    “The opportunity for FPV to expand and consider its expansion plans will be when other cars are built at Broadmeadows [Ford Australia’s Melbourne plant].
    “[And] it would be remiss of us not to look at the Focus when it does hit Broadmeadows.”
    The FPV Focus would be more powerful than the 166kW Focus XR5 Turbo currently offered by Ford Australia, though Australian driving enthusiasts will have to wait to see whether it would exceed the 220kW of the European Focus RS.
    The car has the potential to be a more affordable rival to the likes of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and Subaru Impreza WRX STI that both start from $60,000, though it's also likely to cost more than HSV's own imported, Astra-based hot-hatch, the $42,990 VXR.

    An FPV small car makes sense considering the sales of large cars - such as the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore - in Australia are continuing to decline.
    Barrett says a high-performance Focus small car complete a varied line-up that currently includes hotted-up versions of the Falcon sedan, Falcon ute, and Territory SUV.





    “With those three vehicles [Falcon, Territory and Focus], we’re definitely not the Falcon GT car company,” he says. “Because then we’ll have a small car, a large car, a utility, and an SUV. With those variants, [FPV] is getting out there from where it is today.”
    Barrett says the locally built Focus will also give FPV more flexibility in creating the hot-hatch it wants to build.
    Last edited by Wardski; 22-01-2009 at 01:24 PM.

  9. #9

    Default

    Yep, let's wait untill 2012, and then end up with something potentially not up to the caliber of the RS...

    I hope FPV do a good job, but it's no excuse not to bring the RS...

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Coomera, Gold Coast
    Age
    41
    Posts
    3,565
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    damn that green looks hot as

  11. #11

    Default

    But the new Aussie Focus has been described as a stretched Mazda2......

    So regardless of how fast they make it, it will still be

  12. #12

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ChaMPS View Post
    But the new Aussie Focus has been described as a stretched Mazda2......

    So regardless of how fast they make it, it will still be
    I heard this also....that the new australian bulit focus is basically a stretched new fiesta/mazda2.

    So with that in my mind...I doubt even with 300Kw it would sell...its got to have some sex appeal.

    The RS focus is very hot...been following the XR5 boys and girls in their forums on this one since it was conceived.

    Shame it isnt coming here....as I would jump the fence for it in a flash.

    Blue looks very as well.

    Happy Motoring
    duglet
    Last edited by duglet; 04-02-2009 at 07:38 PM.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Brisbane-North-City
    Posts
    5,310

    Default

    Finally a good looking Ford.

    Haleluya!!!!!

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Wyong
    Posts
    1,423
    Blog Entries
    3

    Default

    looks like an old model Fiesta to me.

  15. #15

    Default

    I used to own an RS2000 Escort, bought it new and at least mine out of the 4 they had at Southside Ford in those days only needed the clutch (2 times), alternator (3 times), water pump (3 times) along with various other things replaced under warranty, in the 1st year I owned it. The car spent more time at Ford than it did in my garage, which has always scared me about anything Ford with RS as the model (these were fully imported from UK too).

    Friend of my fathers who was 2nd in charge of Ford Motor Co. in those days told him that there was a reason they were called RS (it stood for Rat S**t), also said if I had told him I was buying one he would have talked me out of it.

    Don't get me wrong I have always been a Ford guy (owned nearly 12 of them over the years) but UK built with an RS moniker is scary...they look great, would buy one myself if available just on looks and the fact I only keep them now days for 3 years but I like to drive my cars other places than just the dealers service centre.

    That's why I now own an MPS.

    Cars don't just travel on looks, they need to stay together.

  16. #16

    Default

    One bad car..... and you want us to write off RS...... pah

    Every other review I have ever heard/read has been how the RS moniker has always been placed on awesome cars, many that their owner still drive them today....

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Perth, WA
    Age
    52
    Posts
    6,388

    Default

    Nice looking beast - very tempting. Used to own a worked 2.0L Escort and spent lots of time under the bonnet, was lots of fun, so RS stirs up some fond memories and a wishful sigh for me

  18. #18

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ChaMPS View Post
    One bad car..... and you want us to write off RS...... pah

    One bad model. I new lots of RS owners back then most who's cars where twice as problematic as mine, I was lucky.

    Every other review I have ever heard/read has been how the RS moniker has always been placed on awesome cars, many that their owner still drive them today....
    Did I say that the car (when going) wasn't awesome? In it's day it was a great 4 cyl sports sedan and tremendous fun to drive. The owners still driving them today would have spent bucks to still be driving them, but then again in mint nick they are still worth quite a bit today.

    I think you missed my point, Ford UK Div. have always had a habit of keeping costs down by putting a modified engine and great handling (what ever era) into there RS models (for road use) and keeping cost down with peripheral parts from standard models that can't take the mods and of course break all the time unless replaced by performance parts.

    So my point is why buy a brand new car because it looks good, if you've gotta replace the clutch, alternator, water pump, etc. either regularly under warranty or pay more money to replace them with high quality after market parts.

    In saying all this, all rally versions of their RS models (available for import from UK) cost a fortune but are exactly what the car should really be like.

    Thats all I was trying to explain, don't get carried away with what it looks like.

  19. #19
    HellionXR6T Guest

    Default

    The new Focus RS is sooooo hot, if i went back to a med sized hatch again.............Hmmmm. I'll be very keen to check out what FPV have up their sleeve for the FPV Focus. By then yeah...May very well make the upgrade. Who knows....

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    S.E melbourne
    Age
    46
    Posts
    330

    Default

    I'd ditch my mps in a second to get one those.

    If ford did their research they might see quite a market for this car.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •