| FORD FOCUS RS |
| Price | £19,995 ($31,040) |
| ENGINE |
| Code | Duratec RS |
| Type | Inline four, turbocharged |
| and intercooled, |
| iron block, aluminum head |
| Valvetrain | DOHC, four valves |
| per cylinder |
| Displacement | 1998cc |
| Bore & Stroke | 84.8 x 88.0mm |
| Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 |
| Horsepower | 212bhp @ 5500rpm |
| Torque | 229 lb-ft @ 3500rpm |
| Redline | 6500rpm |
| DRIVETRAIN |
| Layout | | Transverse, front engine, |
| | front-wheel drive |
| Transmission | | Five-speed manual |
| Gear Ratios |
| 1 | 3.42:1 |
| 2 | 2.04:1 |
| 3 | 1.48:1 |
| 4 | 1.11:1 |
| 5 | 0.85:1 |
| Final Drive | | 3.72:1 |
| CHASSIS |
| Exterior Dimensions |
| Curb Weight | 3,403 lbs. |
| Overall Length | 164.7 in. |
| Wheelbase | 103.0 in. |
| Overall Width | 78.7 in. |
| Track F/R | 62.6/62.6 in. |
| Height | 57.5 in. |
| SUSPENSION |
| Front | MacPherson strut, |
| | coil springs, anti-roll bar |
| Rear | Control Blade multi-link, |
| | coil springs, anti-roll bar |
| BRAKES |
| Front | Brembo four-piston 12.8-in. |
| ventilated discs |
| Rear | Brembo four-piston 11.0-in. |
| discs |
| WHEELS & TIRES |
| Wheels | 8x18-in. aluminium |
| Tires | 225/40R-18 |
| Michelin Pilot Sport |
RS and the United States
Ford is adamant that there's no place for the RS brand in the United States. A spokesman claimed the rally heritage means little to American customers and it would conflict with the SVT line-up.
There are also a number of technical reasons why the RS wouldn't work over here. To achieve its maximum performance, it needs 97- or 98-octane fuel, which is readily available only in Europe. Insiders also suggest that the stiff suspension set-up would need to be retuned to suit U.S. road conditions, which would compromise the car and undermine its character.
And finally there's the issue of production. Due to body-in-white technicalities, Ford can only produce 30 RSs each day, all of which can find a home in Europe. The fastest U.S. Focus will therefore remain the SVT.