Is the Ford Focus RS the greatest hatch on Earth?
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Is the Ford Focus RS the greatest hatch on Earth?

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By ByronGoAuto - 26 August 2016
FORD is back on the high-performance warpath with the Focus RS – an all-wheel-drive turbo hotshot kicking off from an ultra-competitive $50,990 plus on-road costs.
Ford
Headlights are bi-Xenon and are framed by LED daytime running lights, while a deep air dam and turbo cooling radiators are clearly visible.
But forget about the Blue Oval chasing down the Volkswagen Golf R and Subaru WRX STi, because this German-engineered weapon is trying to reel in the really big fish in the uber-hot hatch pool, with names like Audi RS3 and Mercedes-AMG A45 4Matic on their targeted rump.
 
Is Ford dreaming, or is the Focus RS that special?
Body mods include extra vents and fins out back
Body mods include extra vents and fins out back, as well as very conspicuous twin exhausts with an electronically controlled valve adding “distinctive burbles and pops that are an RS signature”.
From a collectability point of view, very probably yes. Only around 1000 will ever make it to Australia, in two batches, and with that lower-than-anticipated pricing, combined with breathless critical acclaim as well as the infamy of shock-jock tut-tutting “hoon” Drift Mode tyre-smoking system to boost its cool status, the stage is set for an instant sell-out. And a bona fide future classic to boot.
 
And, certainly, there is much to whet appetites looking at the Euro Ford’s specification, headlined by the 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine nicked (more or less) from the popular Mustang EcoBoost. With a bit of fettling from the geniuses at Cosworth Engineering…
Drifting
Drift mode initially sends almost all torque to the rear wheels for serious sideways action. Power is diverted to the front end when the driver runs out of talent and needs to bring the tail back in line.
Fitted sideways instead of lengthways, the RS’ peak power is a heady 257kW at 6000rpm and 440Nm of torque between 1600-5000rpm, with the latter output rising to 470Nm for 15 seconds with an overboost function. Result? How about zero to 100km/h in just 4.7 seconds, on the way to a 266km/h V-max?
 
In context of the aforementioned rivals, that’s 1.2s faster than the previous-gen RS sold in Australia in 2010, 0.2s and 0.5s quicker than the 221kW/407Nm Subaru WRX STI and 206kW/380Nm VW Golf R manual respectively, though 0.4s behind the 270kW/465Nm Audi RS3 and 0.5s shy of the 280kW/475Nm Mercedes A45 scorcher’s 4.4s outcome.
Ford Dash
RS scores Recaro front seats, D-shaped leather steering wheel, boost, oil temperature and oil pressure gauges and alloy pedal plates and gear knob.
On the flipside, a 7.7 litres per 100km combined average rating is apparently achievable, equating to 175g of CO2 per kilometre, aided by 98 RON premium unleaded-saving idle-stop. Just in case you’re interested.
 
For the extra 24kW and 38Nm over the Mustang, Cosworth didn’t simply retard the wastegate; it remanufactured the cylinder head, fitting a bigger turbo and intercooler, upping boost pressure to 23.3psi. Additionally, a higher flow induction system helps get more air in while a big-bore exhaust on the other side of combustion assists getting waste out. An electronically controlled valve adds “distinctive burbles and pops that are an RS signature,” according to Ford. A beefed-up cooling system includes a larger radiator. 
Front and rear spoilers are optimised not for downforce
Front and rear spoilers are “optimised” not for downforce, but have eliminated lift according to Ford, as well as adding a racier look.
And then, of course, there is the all-wheel drive system, a feature made possible within the Focus’ architecture thanks to the related Volvo V40’s need for such traction enhancing devices up in Scandinavia, and the reason why the RS has abandoned the previous two generations’ advanced front end differentials that helped quell torque steer. Basically, AWD gave Ford license to lose their heads with power and torque.
 
Supplied by British automotive components specialists GKN, its rear-drive biased module uses twin clutches that can apply drive to one or both wheels independently, enabling DTV Dynamic Torque Vectoring functionality (channelling drive to whichever individual wheel/s can best use the traction). When engaged, the AWD system’s rear wheels drive faster than the front.
Ford Engine
For the extra 24kW and 38Nm over the Mustang EcoBoost’s 2.3L, Cosworth remanufactured the cylinder head and fitted a bigger turbo and intercooler, upping pressure to 23.3psi.
Along with a six-speed manual (no auto or dual-clutch nonsense for this Blue Collar brand, which is so eager to bury Powershift for some reason…), Focus features four drive modes – Normal, Sport, Track, and sideways-inducing rear-drive Drift. Each is self-explanatory, though the latter will allow AWD and traction to intervene if/when the lout behind the wheel runs out of talent. 
 
Indeed, there’s been plenty of platform modification going on to help keep the Ford going in the direction intended, with the aforementioned DTV, retuned sport suspension, Focus-first adjustable dampers, as well as a substantially altered multi-link rear brandishing a near-straight anti-roll bar and far-larger brakes – unique Brembo callipers incorporating 350 x 25mm vented discs up front and 302 x 11mm solid discs out back.
2001 Focus RS MK1
Replacing 70 per cent of standard Focus mechanicals, the original Focus RS of 2002/3 channelled 158kW/310Nm from a 2.0L turbo, to the front wheels via a Quaife automatic torque biasing differential. Sadly none came to Australia.
Inside, the usual extra gauges and body-hugging Recaro front seats are fitted (though this also means the RS loses the side airbags fitted to the regular items. And speaking of items, standard kit includes bi-Xenon HID with LED daytime running lights, keyless entry/start, alarm, an 8.0-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, sat-nav, a rear-view camera, dual-zone climate control, and cruise control with speed limiter.
 
Finally, for an extra $2500, there is a Performance Wheel Pack that switches the regular 19-inch multi-spoke alloys for a lighter set of forged rims finished in a satin black hue and ensconced in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber instead of the regular non-Cup 2 rubber from the same manufacturer. This saves almost 1kg of unsprung weight per corner, for slightly better alacrity.
2009 Focus RS MK2
The first Focus RS in Oz was also the only three-door hatch version of the Mk2 sold here; it delivered all 224kW and 440Nm to the front wheels, via a patented front suspension knuckle – RevoKnuckle – to brace the MacPherson strut sports suspension and help keep the hatch tracking straight. Only 315 were imported.
Blisteringly quick, toweringly stable, crushingly dynamic… the Focus RS really has democratised the European uber-hot hatch in a way that has never really managed before.
 
Ford truly has pushed the genre into fresh stratospheric frontiers – don’t you agree?