Focus RS is a winner

[YSSMAN]

The three barges.

The only reason I posted them was because they're the only other 300+ BHP FWD cars I can think of off the top of my head, and honestly, the only "fair" comparison would be to the Pontiac, which is no longer in production. They too set out to make some kind of performance standard for their vehicle, benchmarking cars like the G35 and 330i (at the time), but they maybe only achieved 90% of what they wanted to.

Still, I'd take the Focus over the STi and Evo anyway, regardless of 0-60 times and all that jazz. Well, until the VW R20 hits the streets...

 

[Tornado]

The three barges.

The SRT-4 and Cobalt SS aren't very bargey.

Hey, I figured it could have been some kind of witticism.


Anyways, I thought the Altima or Maxima or something had a 300 horse engine?

 

[Philly]

I think most of the Japanese sedans can be had with V6s that will put out power in the upper 200s. So most of them will pretty handily out run a good portion of the hot hatches out there.

It is kinda sobering to have this awesome performance machine that can't beat a Camry in a straight line...

 

[Keef]

Even more funny is that there have already been three 300+ BHP sedans made available before it, all of which out-accelerate the little Ford to 60 MPH:

...Although the Pontiac was the only one that could actually handle pretty well...

=======---------================----------

Still, impressive performance numbers. But, as always, a shame that we won't see it here.

It's really not that hard to make a FWD car accelerate in a straight line. As a matter of fact, FWD cars accelerating quickly in a straight line is decidedly unimpressive. What's impressive is FWD cars putting down their power and braking ability while tackling corners. The new Cobalt SS and Mazdaspeed 3 are good examples. Not only can they go fast in a straight line (quicker than Ford's estimated 0-60 and neck a neck in the quarter), but like the Ford and unlike any of the three cars you posted, they can also...turn.

That's impressive. This Ford would be the absolute perfect tool for Ford to compete with, well, everyone. It might even steal sales from the STi and Evo. So why is it not here yet? This is CRAP.

Anyway, if it was here and I bought one, the first thing I'd do is replace those tremendous wheels with something...smaller. And wider. And lighter. And then put decent tires on them. That'll give it +1 handling points.

 

[Tornado]

It might even steal sales from the STi and Evo. So why is it not here yet?

 

[Keef]

Well in that case maybe they should just stop making the Mustang. Yup, I just said that. That is how bad the Mustang is in this context.

 

[homeforsummer]

Anyway, if it was here and I bought one, the first thing I'd do is replace those tremendous wheels with something...smaller. And wider. And lighter. And then put decent tires on them. That'll give it +1 handling points.

I'd expect the wheels and tyres that Ford have put on it are more than up to the job already. Smaller wheels aren't always more beneficial. Otherwise tarmac-spec rally cars would be running around on 15"s. Lighter wheels though, that's fair enough.

 

[Keef]

I'd also get camber kits for the thing and dial in about a degree on the front. Scrubbing on the sidewalls with your hardcore McPherson struts = lose.

 

[homeforsummer]

I can't believe sidewalls that small deflect enough to scrub anyway, can they?

 

[Venari]

I'd also get camber kits for the thing and dial in about a degree on the front. Scrubbing on the sidewalls with your hardcore McPherson struts = lose.

Obviously, you are the saviour of the motor industry. Can't believe you aren't in that cabinet of advisors that Obama's hand-picking.

 

[Alex.]

Even more funny is that there have already been three 300+ BHP sedans made available before it, all of which out-accelerate the little Ford to 60 MPH:


Still, impressive performance numbers. But, as always, a shame that we won't see it here.

How peculiar, Brad prefers GM

 

[YSSMAN]

I know, right?

Oh, and video:

 

[Bones Brigade]

Even more funny is that there have already been three 300+ BHP sedans made available before it, all of which out-accelerate the little Ford to 60 MPH:


Still, impressive performance numbers. But, as always, a shame that we won't see it here.

probably the only performance figure those 3 can boast over the Focus. Or even come close to.

 

[niky]

The Altima, as far as I can recall, was one of the first modern V6 barges in under 6 seconds. Acceleration near-identical to the Neon SRT4.

--

Those ultra-thin tires shouldn't deflect much at the proper pressure. And that's part of the launch problem... not enough give for a good launch.

Smaller wheels would probably be a disaster... less wheel diameter and less inertia to deal with gobs of torque? Uh... no.

0-60 times are completely irrelevant... who actually gives their car 6,000rpm+ then dumps the clutch and follows this up with a flat shift to 2nd on a regular basis? Real world performance is about in-gear acceleration times... how quickly a car overtakes and accelerates out of corners.

Ask me again why I keep doing it after I check on my car in the shop. First broken synchro, third clutch, and it looks like third gear is getting pretty ratty, too... ...only bright news for me is that my LSD has finally landed off the plane...

 

[Jim Prower]

I still think Ford chickened out on Group N. No trick diff will save you from gravel.

 

[Famine]

I just read the TG Magazine article about the Focus RS. With a journalist behind the wheel of the Focus RS and Stig behind the wheel of a Ford GT, the two made it up a mountain road less than a second apart - the difference being that the GT would vanish whenever there was a straight bit.

So an average driver in Ford's £25k hatchback can keep up with a distinctly not average driver in Ford's £100k supercar.

Though obviously the Focus RS needs smaller wheels and at least a degree extra camber at the front

 

[Fastas]

I just read the TG Magazine article about the Focus RS. With a journalist behind the wheel of the Focus RS and Stig behind the wheel of a Ford GT, the two made it up a mountain road less than a second apart - the difference being that the GT would vanish whenever there was a straight bit.

So an average driver in Ford's £25k hatchback can keep up with a distinctly not average driver in Ford's £100k supercar.

Though obviously the Focus RS needs smaller wheels and at least a degree extra camber at the front

Was it the green one or the blue one and, did it have orange decals? anyone, anyone, hmm, hmm.

 

[Tornado]

So an average driver in Ford's £25k hatchback can keep up with a distinctly not average driver in Ford's £100k supercar.

That being said, how many times did the GT break down during this race?

 

[Famine]

Was it the green one or the blue one and, did it have orange decals? anyone, anyone, hmm, hmm.

Blue one, no decals.

That being said, how many times did the GT break down during this race?

It was 1FMC, the white/blue stripes Ford UK hack. So once they'd got it started, probably none.

 

[Keef]

I just read the TG Magazine article about the Focus RS. With a journalist behind the wheel of the Focus RS and Stig behind the wheel of a Ford GT, the two made it up a mountain road less than a second apart - the difference being that the GT would vanish whenever there was a straight bit.

So an average driver in Ford's £25k hatchback can keep up with a distinctly not average driver in Ford's £100k supercar.

Though obviously the Focus RS needs smaller wheels and at least a degree extra camber at the front

You silly European people and your enormous wheels and rubber band tires. What has touring car racing done to you!?

 

[Famine]

You silly European people and your enormous wheels and rubber band tires. What has touring car racing done to you!?

One word.

Donk.

 

[zdenko]

People saying how the 0-60 time slow blah, blah.

Ok lets get one thing straight that 0-60 time Ford has given is proabably the realistic 0-60 time.

Now you guys are comparing American 0-60 times which I find to be well too low to be honest(does time go slower in the US???).

Example Mazda 3 MPS/Mazda Speed 3 - Mazda Uk/Aus/NZ all claim 6.2s.
Yank magazines claim 5.7s.

So do the math based on the focus claimed to reach 60 in 6s. Yank magazines will probably claim a 5.5s run. And it will be on the grippiest drag strip they can find with perfect temperatures with nonstandard tyre pressure's, so no one else will actually ever ahieve the time they do.


So people saying its slower than a cobalt ss, Srt4, 3mps, or some big FWD american tanky sedan, you are probaly wrong based on what I'm thinking.

 

[Famine]

Remember though that European markets have a 0-62mph (0-100km/h) figure, as opposed to US market 0-60mph.

Some manufacturers will put a gearchange in at 61mph for reasons which shall remain their own.

 

[TheCracker]

That being said, how many times did the GT break down during this race?

It didn't break down at all. But it did have to stop for fuel twice.

 

[homeforsummer]

Some manufacturers will put a gearchange in at 61mph for reasons which shall remain their own.

Probably because it's the best place to balance the ratios, and they've ignored the marketing department's suggestion to add a few more mph to the gear so the 0-60 looks good in magazines. It's a reason I'm not mad keen on 0-60 figures, because they're heavily influenced by where the change between 2nd and 3rd is in most cars.

 

[niky]

Mine changes just below 60. Makes my 0-100 km/h times reaaaally slow...

 

[Eric.]

Mine changes just below 60. Makes my 0-100 km/h times reaaaally slow...

Same for my Civic. First goes to 37 if you stretch it out, and then you're moving to third at 53mph, I think. Third gear is awesome because your speed is 1% of the revs. You can rev match all day into third and look like you know what you're doing.

 

[homeforsummer]

Third gear is awesome because your speed is 1% of the revs. You can rev match all day into third and look like you know what you're doing.

That's handy. It's basically like Honda saying... "blip the throttle this much... now!". Personally I don't even have a rev counter so rev-matching is all experience and guesswork

But yes, as I mentioned - many cars require a change before 60mph or 100km/h, so those sort of acceleration times are unrepresentative of true performance much of the time. I suspect the RS requires a change into 3rd before 60mph.

 

[MarinaDiamandis]

That's handy. It's basically like Honda saying... "blip the throttle this much... now!". Personally I don't even have a rev counter so rev-matching is all experience and guesswork

But yes, as I mentioned - many cars require a change before 60mph or 100km/h, so those sort of acceleration times are unrepresentative of true performance much of the time. I suspect the RS requires a change into 3rd before 60mph.

I'd rather see 30mph to 70mph, much more relevant for most potential buyers.

 

[Philly]

No more Focus RSs? No more Ford performance vehicles?

Rumor has bubbled up that this latest Ford Focus RS will be the last. That, however, isn't the most outrageous part of the story - after all, just a couple of years ago there were rumors that the RS badge would disappear on the MkII. And the reasons for the rumor aren't wild, either: the cloudy state of world finances and the pressure of emissions laws means hi-po gas-powered rockets have no place to grow.

The most outrageous part of this rumor comes when it's written that "all the firm's focus will be on economical and eco-friendly vehicles such as hybrids and electric cars." Not some of Ford's attention, but all of Ford's attention. A Ford source apparently bolstered that by saying "it's likely to be the last car of this type you will see from Ford." Not just the last RS, but "the last car of this type."

We hope this is just a sales ploy, some planted hysteria to boost RS sales. Because if it isn't, and Ford really won't be doing any hot little cars, that will mean a far sadder state of affairs than merely the loss of the RS line. Unless, of course, Ford means that the next Focus RS will be 300 hp, 302 lb-ft... and electric?

On one hand, it seems awfully short sighted of Ford to think that the economy will be in a ditch forever, but on the other, it is sad to see that emissions regulations may be pushing the performance business out. Although that still seems like a fairly ungrounded reason to stop producing hot hatches and performance cars in general. With Europe's emissions tax bracketing or whatever they do, I don't see anything wrong with offering a car that's a few brackets higher. People are still going to buy them. And it's not like any new regulations are going to get to a level where you cannot sell a performance machine because if a little hot hatch emitted too much then surely the whole BMW and Mercedes lineups would be illegal. And that would be pretty disastrous to the European economy.