Ford has started work on the next generation Focus RS and word on the street is that Ford engineers have isntalled a turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine that will generate around 330hp and 433Nm of torque. This is the same engine that us being used by the all new ford Mustang (which will arrive in Malaysia early 2015).
Ford is expected to offer a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, as well with a firmer suspension set-up and a lowered chassis. Despite the fact that an all-wheel-drive version was rumored, we won’t see this and Ford will continue to sell the Focus RS only in FWD. This next-gen Focus RS will arrive with a limited-slip differential and company’s torque-steer-reducing RevoKnuckle front suspension. Although the new vehicle had long been rumored, the new Focus RS has been officially added to Ford’s future model launch programme after its business case was proven.
As a result, several testing mules were spotted on public roads as part of the initial testing. Sources confirmed the fact that Ford was worried that the Focus RS sales may compete with the new Mustang or the Focus ST. Still, Ford’s research proved that the buyers of the Focus ST, Focus RS and the Mustang models are very different and complement one another in a range. No word as yet on the look of this new hot hatch.
