Ford’s Focus RS is just getting meaner as time passes by, and the planned 2014 version is said to be quite a fighter as bits of information of the next-generation RS are beginning to leak out. The current Focus ST is already something not to be messed with as the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine packs the hatchback with 247-horsepower to gallop with; but this new RS houses something better under the hood.
Instead of using the same engine found in the ST and strapping it up with a turbocharger, Team RS will likely prefer to house the newly-developed 2.3-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine – which could also be seen in the 2015 Mustang, into the new 2014 Focus RS, giving it a wild output of 350-horsepower; simply 100 more than the ST.
And with the RS’ nature of being an all-round performance machine, we might see this powerful hatchback channeling the power through a six-speed manual transmission, although the possibility of seeing it with the company’s own PowerShift dual-clutch gearbox should not be ruled out.
“There is a trend to go to dual-clutch, but they are heavier”, said Team RS calibrations control engineer Chris Caven.
And like the previous Focus on the market, the new RS will still retain the FF configuration, but Ford is already into solving the issue of sending too much power to the front wheels through an active limited-slip differential or an E-diff to “really optimize traction in all situations”, quoted Team RS powertrain engineering manager Len Urwin.
And the price of this FF road monster? Like the previous models, the RS will go within the range of £25,000 (RM 122,000). Interested?
