Car Guy Magazine Car Guy Magazine Issue 215 | Page 48

Feb 3, 2015 | Cologne, Germany -- Ford
today revealed the all-new Focus RS, a highperformance road car that debuts Ford Performance All-Wheel Drive with Dynamic
Torque Vectoring Control, which contributes
to performance never before seen in a Focus
RS. The all-new Focus RS is equipped with a
new 2.3-liter EcoBoost® engine producing
well in excess of 315 horsepower.
Focus RS is the latest unveiling in a new
era of Ford performance that will bring more
than 12 performance vehicles to global customers by 2020.
In addition to pleasing enthusiasts, these
vehicles help deliver the company’s One Ford
plan for profitable growth, product excellence and innovation in every part of its business.
“The all-new Focus RS is a serious machine with high-performance technology
and innovative engineering that sets a new
benchmark for driving exhilaration on the
road and track,” said Raj Nair, group vice president, Global Product Development, Ford Motor Company. “The RS line has a proud history
of technical breakthroughs that have migrated to mainstream Ford vehicles to benefit all
of our customers, and the new Focus RS is no
exception. It’s a great example of our passion
for innovation through performance, and
creating vehicles that make people’s hearts
pound.”
Developed by a small team of global Ford
Performance engineers, the new Focus RS
is the third generation in the line, following
models launched in 2002 and 2009. It will be
the 30th car to wear the legendary RS badge,
following such technology trendsetters as
the 1970 Escort RS1600 with 16 valves, 1985
Sierra RS Cosworth with turbocharging and
radical aerodynamics and 1992 Escort RS Cosworth with four-wheel drive.
Sporting a dramatic exterior design that
delivers enhanced aerodynamics and cooling, the new Focus RS offers technologies
new to the RS line including Ford SYNC® con-

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nectivity system.
The all-new Focus RS is the first-ever
RS model that will be sold around the
world, including the United States, and
produced for all markets at Ford’s Saarlouis, Germany, manufacturing plant beginning late this year.
“We are acutely aware of the benchmarks we have set ourselves with RS performance models through the years, and
rest assured this new car raises the game
to a new level,” said Jim Farley, president,
Ford of Europe, Middle East and Africa.
“Just as important is the fact that with
technologies such as EcoBoost, we are
able to demonstrate how an innovation
that powers almost every car in our range
can also be the heartbeat of our finest
performance cars,” added Farley.
Gymkhana and World Rallycross star
Ken Block was brought on as a consultant
on the all-new Focus RS, and joined the
Ford Performance team at the preview
event in Cologne, Germany –where the
RS legend was born with the Ford 15M RS
in 1968.
Innovative Ford Performance AllWheel Drive offers a new level of handling
The all-new Focus RS exploits innovative new Ford Performance All-Wheel
Drive with Dynamic Torque Vectoring to
deliver a new level of handling capability
and driver enjoyment, combining outstanding traction and grip with exciting
agility and cornering speed.
The Ford Performance All-WheelDrive system is based on twin electronically controlled clutch packs on each side
of the rear drive unit. These manage the
car’s front/rear torque split, and can control the side-to-side torque distribution
on the rear axle – delivering the “torque
vectoring” capability that has a dramatic
impact on handling and cornering stability.