Ford Focus RS

11:30am Friday 11th July 2008

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THE legendary Ford RS performance brand is returning in the shape of this new lime green Ford Focus RS.

For performance road car enthusiasts, the new model – which will go on sale in early 2009 – will mark a welcome return for the RS badge. This will be the second Focus model to carry the RS mantle and promises another exciting chapter in a 40- year story that began in Germany in the late 1960s and gained momentum with the launch of the 1970 Escort RS1600.

The mean look has been achieved through overt performance styling details mixed with subtle revisions to create a planted, powerful stance and the promise of an exciting drive.

It will go on show for the first time on July 22 at the 2008 London International Motor Show, although some final details may change before volume production begins.

The vehicle is finished in a special lime green paint with inlaid metallic flake, a modern interpretation of the 1970s Le Mans Green of the Escort RS1600 era.

The new front bumper design for the Focus RS incorporates a deep front airdam with a large, mesh lower grille in an extended trapezoid. This feature represents the latest Ford “kinetic design”

face and is finished in piano black. Above, chromed xenon headlamps stand out like cat’s, while at the rear are two chromed exhaust tailpipes and a black RS spoiler.

The performance-oriented interior is dominated by Recaro sports seats, colourmatched to the exterior, with ebony leather accents and ‘RS’ and ‘Recaro’ logos stitched into each backrest.

The driver is reminded this is a special Focus at every touch, with a gear lever finished with a six-speed gear shift graphic in RS blue, a sporty, threespoke steering wheel and aluminium foot pedals. The performance driving environment is completed by three additional gauges from the Focus ST, including turbo pressure, sitting atop the centre console and angled toward the driver’s eyeline.

At the heart of the RS is a turbocharged version of the Duratec 2.5-litre 5-cylinder engine. Significantly revised for high performance, this powerplant is targeting a power output of 300 hp and over 410Nm of torque.

Although the car is still in development, early performance testing indicates a 0- 62mph time of under six seconds.