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Making all other hot hatches look just lukewarm, Ford has revealed its incredible new Focus RS super hatch.
Co-developed with rally driver and stunt-man Ken Block, Ford has confirmed the new machine will make use of an exclusive 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with “well over” 320-hp.
Based on the same basic architecture as the 2.3-liter in the new Mustang EcoBoost, Ford has modified the engine with a new cylinder head and head gasket as well as stronger cast iron cylinder liners. It also gains a less restrictive intake and higher-flow exhaust. In addition there’s a new twin-scroll turbocharger with a larger compressor, as well as a larger intercooler.
Equipped with all-wheel drive, Ford developed an all-new setup for this new machine that can not only deliver power front to rear, but distribute it side-to-side at each axle. As a result, Ford says the car will be able to send 70% of the maximum torque to the rear wheels with 70% of that to one rear wheel to help the RS rotate. The new AWD arrangement will monitor driving conditions 100 times a second in order to deliver the best possible grip.
Ford group vice president, Global Product Development, Raj Nair said the car will deliver “class leading cornering” and will “virtually eliminate understeer” enabling over 1 g of cornering force.
Better yet, Nair announced a feature that will allow the new Focus RS to achieve “controlled oversteer drifts.”
Compared to the Focus ST, the RS gets stiffer spring rates and sway bars, while the car rides on 235/35/19 Michelin Pilot Sport tires, while customers will be able to opt for a more extreme Pilot Sport Cup 2 tire as well.
Part of Ford’s new One Ford plan the car will, for the first time, be available not just in Europe, but also in North America and much to the excitement of performance car enthusiasts it will come with a six-speed manual transmission.
The car will be offered in four colors including Nitrous Blue, Stealth Grey, Absolute Black and Frozen White.
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ6JqTMHcqs[/YOUTUBE]
