far2000

Focus RS no more…for nowEven though there were no plans to bring it to SA, it is still sad to hear Ford’s confirmation that the Focus RS will not become a production reality.

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The following news may come as something of a bittersweet announcement to South African fans of the Focus ST and other hot-hatches from the Blue Oval.

Apparently, Ford of Europe has recently announced that plans for an RS version of the Focus have been axed in the face of concerns over carbon dioxide emissions.

Rumours of the - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER making a comeback began circulating a couple of months ago when Jost Capito, director of Ford Team RS and a major decision-maker in the company’s product development group, said that his department would push strongly for cars such as the Focus RS.

The new RS was to be powered by a 209 kW turbocharged version of the five-cylinder 2,5 litre engine from the current ST mated with a six-speed manual gearbox sending power to all four wheels.

Along with Special springs, dampers and anti-roll bars, the RS would have ridden on a set of standard 19-inch alloys and featured rally-inspired styling cues such as an army of vents, wings and deepened bumper.

The numerous spy shots of what appeared to be a heavily-disguised Focus RS was explained away by a spokesman from Ford as a test mule for high performance parts earmarked for future products. The final nail in the coffin of the RS was the statement that at no point was there ever a business case for an RS-badged Focus.

The new RS was one of the most eagerly anticipated models in Ford’s European line up, to the extent that some customers were offering deposits for this non-existent car up to 18 months in advance!

Ford also cited a lack of interest in markets outside of Europe as another reason behind axing the RS. This is difficult to believe, considering the huge following the ST has in this country alone. With any luck, there will be a case for the RS to return with the release of the third-generation Focus in 2010 – by which time demand over here will hopefully be sufficient to bring the RS to our shores.

Curb Zone