Time and time and time again, we’ve seen the new Ford Focus RS show up more expensive rivals on the street and track but how does it compare to a rally-spec Subaru WRX with an STI engine on the snow?
To find out, the crew at Team O’Neil pitted the two together on a dedicated course to see if the impressive Focus has any chance whatsoever of competing with the WRX, specially prepped for rallying. Long story short, the RS can keep up.
Admittedly, the Focus RS in question does benefit from a few tweaks compared to one straight out of the factory. For example, it includes downsized brakes, 15-inch wheels, a skid plate, ABS delete and Bilstein performance shocks. Other than that, it is bone stock and seemingly much easier to drive than the Subaru, despite being in Drift Mode and driving in the slipperiest conditions imaginable.
As cool as the Focus RS is, it isn’t quite as fun to watch as the Subaru. After all, the WRX has an anti-lag system and sounds absolutely ferocious on throttle and the moment the throttle is released, the blow-off valve sings its bird-chirping-symphony perfectly.