maturbo951
maturbo951 New Reader
2/4/09 10:48 a.m.

Just got off the phone with a guy at SVT. Said they are looking into bringing the RS over here because all of fords performance divison is under one roof now from Europe to US. GOOD !!!!!

EricM
EricM HalfDork
2/4/09 11:13 a.m.

NICE!

Tom Heath
Tom Heath Production Editor
2/4/09 11:15 a.m.

I hope that's right...the Focus RS is long overdue.

alfadriver
alfadriver Reader
2/4/09 11:32 a.m.
maturbo951 wrote: Just got off the phone with a guy at SVT. Said they are looking into bringing the RS over here because all of fords performance divison is under one roof now from Europe to US. GOOD !!!!!

Not really true.

4 cyl development is in Europe.

Other than that, we are One Ford. The only thing that's actually exclusive to Europe is SVO- not sure why they keep that, but it's a historic thing....

Don't know about the RS. Just don't get the idea that JUST because it's Europe that it's better- as we are One Ford.

Eric

RossD
RossD New Reader
2/4/09 12:29 p.m.

I dont think that its european upbringings make it better, its the turbo inline 5 cylinder. They should make a rwd version of the focus. Other than the chassis, most of it could be parts bin stuff. Duratec engine with either miata or modified ranger trans and beef up a awd rear diff from a taurus/volvo/mazdaspeed6... Or a auzzie falcon would be cool too.

alfadriver
alfadriver Reader
2/4/09 12:49 p.m.
RossD wrote: I dont think that its european upbringings make it better, its the turbo inline 5 cylinder. They should make a rwd version of the focus. Other than the chassis, most of it could be parts bin stuff. Duratec engine with either miata or modified ranger trans and beef up a awd rear diff from a taurus/volvo/mazdaspeed6... Or a auzzie falcon would be cool too.

RWD Focus. That's actually rather amusing. Don't hold your breath.

E-

Hal
Hal HalfDork
2/4/09 6:58 p.m.
alfadriver wrote: RWD Focus. That's actually rather amusing. Don't hold your breath. E-

Especially since a big part of what makes the Focus handle so well is the unique rear suspension design.

maroon92
maroon92 SuperDork
2/4/09 7:34 p.m.

I heard rumor of an AWD Focus RS....

(also heard rumor of a Volvo C30 AWD with the RS engine)

I dunno which I want more.

Carson
Carson HalfDork
2/4/09 8:00 p.m.
maroon92 wrote: I heard rumor of an AWD Focus RS.... (also heard rumor of a Volvo C30 AWD with the RS engine) I dunno which I want more.

Oh E36 M3, the Volvo!

alfadriver
alfadriver Reader
2/5/09 6:58 a.m.
maroon92 wrote: I heard rumor of an AWD Focus RS.... (also heard rumor of a Volvo C30 AWD with the RS engine) I dunno which I want more.

The Focus RS IS AWD, no rumor. And the Volvo I5 is also not a rumor. The car is on sale in Europe.

IMHO, though, the MS3 is a better idea. Just make it AWD, and juice it to it's full 270hp potential. (editorial- why the MS3 ISN'T AWD is a big mystery to me)

I honestly don't know which version may come when the new Focus hits the shores in 2010. If I did, I wouldn't even be posting here....

E-

ignorant
ignorant SuperDork
2/5/09 7:32 a.m.

I actually like the idea of the fiesta st or whatever the hot version is.....

the focus rs is very cool though.

m4ff3w
m4ff3w GRM+ Memberand Dork
2/5/09 9:13 a.m.
alfadriver wrote: The Focus RS IS AWD, no rumor. And the Volvo I5 is also not a rumor. The car is on sale in Europe. IMHO, though, the MS3 is a better idea. Just make it AWD, and juice it to it's full 270hp potential. (editorial- why the MS3 ISN'T AWD is a big mystery to me) I honestly don't know which version may come when the new Focus hits the shores in 2010. If I did, I wouldn't even be posting here.... E-

Since when? I thought since they were so impressed with the Revo Knuckle, they said they didn't need the added weight and complexity of AWD, even with 300HP.

maroon92
maroon92 SuperDork
2/5/09 9:26 a.m.

the RS definitely has FWD! there are no AWD foci as of yet.

I KNOW the C30 has the 5 cyl. what it doesn't have is a 300 horsepower Turbocharged 5 cyl. and no, it doesn't have AWD either.

(I read 13 car magazines a month...don't mess)

and yes, a fiesta ST sounds like alot of fun.

alfadriver
alfadriver Reader
2/5/09 9:38 a.m.
maroon92 wrote: the RS definitely has FWD! there are no AWD foci as of yet. I KNOW the C30 has the 5 cyl. what it doesn't have is a 300 horsepower Turbocharged 5 cyl. and no, it doesn't have AWD either. (I read 13 car magazines a month...don't mess) and yes, a fiesta ST sounds like alot of fun.

Perhaps I was just assuming that projects that were started 6 years ago actually made it into production. Why it hasn't is beyond me.

As for the MS3- have you driven a light FWD car with 300hp? While torque steer is minimal with good geometry, it's hard to put that kind of power to the road with a decent road going suspension (don't detail me on the FWD drag cars, as they are far from realistic consumer cars).

Heck, 350hp FWD in a 4500lb car is rather entertaining, too....

I was working on the very dead panama project for about a year, and even with just 250 hp, the Focus was pretty much undrivable due to traction.

And since the C3 chassis is available with AWD (see volvo), and there's a popular following for said RS turbo in Europe, I'm rather surprised that the project hasn't gotten to production.... I'd still lean that way.

But we will all have to wait until 2010 when the new Focus arrives in the US....

E-

RossD
RossD New Reader
2/5/09 10:03 a.m.

Any word on the performance Taurus that should be unveiled this month? click on key features then on performance series click here. Ecoboost with a manual and awd?

PaulY
PaulY New Reader
2/5/09 1:22 p.m.

I believe the reason ford and mazda stick to front wheel drive is just cost. It costs less to design a fwd mass produced platform than designing a platform that has the option for awd. Also the cost to produce and sell the cars would be higher as well. The cars probably sell much better the cheaper they are.

RossD
RossD New Reader
2/5/09 2:02 p.m.

Well it does say on wiki that the new 2010 focus will use the same platform that they use in europe. The volvo v50 also uses that platform, and the T5 AWD variant appears to have the same drivetrain as the Focus RS. Turbo 5 cylinder and AWD as the name suggests. This is all per wiki.

Hal
Hal HalfDork
2/5/09 6:02 p.m.
alfadriver wrote: I was working on the very dead panama project for about a year, and even with just 250 hp, the Focus was pretty much undrivable due to traction.

<----- Amen, A C170 with 223/187 can be a handful at times. Even with a Torsen LSD!

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