A faster, more powerful version of the already impressive Focus RS is said to be under consideration by Ford.
Company insiders have confirmed with Autocar that, if it gets the green light, this super-hatch will be all about serious weight saving and powertrain upgrades.
The Blue Oval engineers want to drop the 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration time from the current 4.7 seconds to 4.0 seconds or even lower, making it faster than the A45 AMG (4.2sec) and RS3 (4.3sec). It may even target the first hatch ever to break 0-100 km/h 4.0sec barrier, the limited edition Subaru Cosworth Impreza STI CS400.
For that to happen, some serious modifications will be needed. Besides upgrading the 350PS (345hp) turbo four-pot, Ford will reportedly lower the weight by adding CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) body panels, polycarbonate windows, remove some noise insulation materials and strip the cabin of unnecessary amenities. This extensive “diet” is believed to reduce the hardcore version’s weight up to 100 kg (220 lbs.
It also intends to make it more maneuverable with a new, electronically controlled limited-slip differential on the front axle, which will work together with the dual-clutch automatic transmission. The gearbox will also need to be upgraded, since it’s rated for engines with peak torque of 450 Nm (332 lb-ft).
At this point, there’s no official word as to when the company is preparing to launch the “hotter” Focus RS. The normal RS starts from $35,730 in the USA, so if the hardcore variant ever makes it to production, expect it to cost considerably more.
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