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As the launch date of the 2016 Ford Focus RS nears, we have yet another upward revision of the all-wheel-drive hot hatch’s engine output. Ford is now claiming the turbocharged, intercooled 2.3-liter four will put out 350 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque.
At the car’s unveiling last spring at the New York auto show, Ford originally was talking vague figures of “well in excess of 315 horsepower.” Then came word that the final output would be 345 horsepower and 325 lb-ft. Now, with SAE certification just completed, five more ponies have joined the party, and total torque has jumped up to 350 lb-ft.
The torque figure, which arrives at 3200 rpm, is reached during the turbo’s overboost function, which it can maintain for 15 to 20 seconds. Ford says the twin-scroll turbocharger is tuned to deliver a maximum of 23.2 psi of boost. Horsepower peaks at 6000 rpm, just shy of the engine’s 6800-rpm redline.
Ford also announced that the engine’s auto stop-start feature will have an additional function. Should the car stall, the driver would need only push in the clutch to get an automatic restart—no need to hit the ignition. We already know about the superhot Ford’s other trick feature: Its standard all-wheel drive, which can send up to 70 percent of the torque rearward, will have a “Drift Mode” that enables power-on oversteer. See it in action below. We also know Focus RS pricing—$36,605 to start. Fortunately, that’s one number that, so far at least, hasn’t crept up as the car’s on-sale date gets closer.
[video=youtube;NnRB0KQrpPI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnRB0KQrpPI[/video]
