2016 Ford Focus RS Confirmed For U.S.

[wemay]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8

Originally Posted By: MCompact

The next Mazdaspeed is rumored to be packing 300 hp and AWD as well. I almost always prefer RWD cars but I'll likely give the RS and MS3 a good hard look in a couple of years...

You can bet Mazda will bias the AWD properly, and give us a great handler. Should be fun. It's a great time to be buying a new car...

Like we said on a different thread... its a great time for performance car lovers. As i look for spilled change in my Sonata.

 

[dailydriver]

IF the Blue Oval does this CORRECTLY (good AWD system, available de-contented/lightweight, six speed MANUAL, available 2 door, tuned Ecoboost to 300+ HP), this could be my next ride.

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: wemay

Originally Posted By: Olas

The focus ST and focus RS have been available since the focus was available - has anybody tried to import one? I have a sneaking suspicion the US RS will be slower, heavier, more prone to under steer and less reliable. There isn't a current fiesta RS, although there was in years gone by, currently we have the fiesta st.

A couple things... The current Focus doesn't have an RS version. The ST is the highest level of performance offered from Ford, anywhere in the world. Torque steer would be eliminated by the AWD setup. The previous RS was FWD and fitted with a Revoknuckle to help lessen that aspect of a high horsepower FWD vehicle...with arguable success. Revoknuckle explained (previous Focus RS images and discussion): http://www.autoevolution.com/news/ford-revoknuckle-suspension-and-quaife-lsd-explained-48037.html

Very interesting.

 

[antiqueshell]

Originally Posted By: Trav

Originally Posted By: Miller88

Ford ONLY offers the 1.0L fiesta with a 5 speed manual! That has to count for something!

Absolutely. Ford has taken a slightly different direction with its small car and thats a good thing. The trick the most manufacturers have missed is offering lower content cars without using low grade components like interiors and suspension. The vehicle doesn't have to be no content, functional things like A/C, PS, ABS, PW, a decent radio, RW defroster and such are appreciated. My old MB 200D was very low content but it was quality and you could feel it, it lasted. A truly simple car that rode and drove very well and was easy to own over a few decades. I own a couple of mega content cars but when they break its a nightmare and very expensive. The Infiniti if i sold it and something went wrong with it could put someone in the poor house quickly. That is a serious problem when most cars are high content, when people with limited resources buy them used because of the low price they end up with a wallet sucking monster. That takes us down another road of people buying cars they cant afford because they feel entitled to it because they have been convinced they have a right to live fat on McDonalds wages (i see this with my nephew who just got his car repo'd). Just ranting but i think you know where i'm coming from.

Brilliant Rant! Fact is there IS a signficant market for this type of vehicle EVEN in the USA, but the US marketing hacks love to to their car making clients what they want to hear, and that is that the customer cares about gobs of useless electronic gizmos... I've seen this communicated even in industry periodicials like Automotive News. Many customers could give a rats [censored] about such things but the US car business only cares about high profit margins, and little else. The US industry actually seem to have great contempt for their customers.

 

[MCompact]

One of the primary things that swayed me towards my 2007 MS3 was Mazda's relatively spartan feature set- Xenons, a decent audio system, and a basic trip computer were the only major options bundled into the GT package. No hole in the roof, power seats, or navigation(although the latter was a standalone option). I hope that the 3rd Generation car continues that philosophy.

 

[Olas]

You sure you want a Focus RS over a Golf R400? The Golf has more power, and AWD and a 6spd manual are already confirmed..

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: Olas

You sure you want a Focus RS over a Golf R400? The Golf has more power, and AWD and a 6spd manual are already confirmed..

STILL would rather have the Focus, as long as it was AWD and 6 speed MANUAL, and a 2 door (Mountune and MWM could "bring it up to speed"). The only V Dub I would ever consider is if they offered a (BARELY) street legal version of the current WRC Polo R.

 

[Olas]

Here's to hoping, but I'm pretty sure you'll only get auto or cvt in NA.

 

[CT8]

The Hellcat challenger is the dream car that I would buy. Just because.

 

[CT8]

This kinda is a repeat of one of my posts but I like basic with out all the fluff I don't need to be connected to my car, talk to it, have it park for me,have a TV screen, heated seats or steering wheel etc. Paddle shifter [I mean really the g forces.]

 

[CT8]

This kinda is a repeat of one of my posts but I like basic with out all the fluff I don't need to be connected to my car, talk to it, have it park for me,have a TV screen, heated seats or steering wheel etc. Paddle shifter [I mean really the g forces.]

 

[artificialist]

If someone crashes into my car, I get hurt, and I get a good settlement, I will might choose this Ford over a Subaru WRX or VW Golf R.

 

[CT8]

Originally Posted By: Trav

On face value you could say that. In reality its much more complicated. Are these companies really satisfying the market or are they trying to create a market as they would like it to be?

Marketing works wonders !!!