Official: Focus RS to sport 345 HP

[Brian Stirling]

The Focus hatch is dead square in the middle of what hatchbacks are and is certainly in the compact category. And, as has been mentioned Ford does make a Focus Wagon and it's not exactly the same as the hatch though it does share many lines.

I'm not sure I get the need for a 345hp version but since other makers offer such then Ford is perhaps obliged to offer one of there own.

I don't know that the Focus is going to have the same level of quality control as there higher dollar cars, but I don't know that its lacking either.


Brian

 

[MongGrel]

The s550/current gen. Mustang has IRS, and is leaps and bounds better than previous generations. It's not a track monster (exception: GT350/R), as it is a very heavy car. However, it is a very comfortable daily driver w/ plenty of power, and is an excellent value (435 hp for $32k). I can't wait to track mine in the spring!

If you want to seriously track a Mustang, take a look at the GT350R.

I do not have the disposable means to even think about a GT350R.

Most of the friends in the past were some pretty sweet late 60's stangs, have worked with a few people and run into some driving 5.0 and they always think they are king of the road.

Even if they seem to perform a bit poorly.

I was half joking a bit, but some of the dumber drivers I have encountered in my life are people driving a older 5.0 Stang thinking they are driving a really hot car

Yeah, I'd pretty sure a Focus is Compact, and the Fiesta a Sub, but have more experience with Mazda's myself which used to share a lot of things at any rate.

 

[CZroe]

Fiesta is only a large hatch if you are used to a 500. I know its all cool to compare these to EU counterparts but even then the Fiesta is pretty much in line with the average hatches. The Focus on the other hand might be a bit big but not so big that Ford didn't feel obligated to make an Estate/Wagon version of it.

Eh. Obviously I was deliberately exaggerating to call it a wagon for effect, but Hot Hatch has always been a popular Euro thing. I think it's fair to point out how large it is compared to what Europe still considers to be a "Hot Hatch." Compared to the rest of the competition in the Hot Hatch category, the Focus RS is closer to a wagon (remember: deliberately exaggerating).

 

[tsupersonic]

I do not have the disposable means to even think about a GT350R.

Most of the friends in the past were some pretty sweet late 60's stangs, have worked with a few people and run into some driving 5.0 and they always think they are king of the road.

Even if they seem to perform a bit poorly.

I was half joking a bit, but some of the dumber drivers I have encountered in my life are people driving a older 5.0 Stang thinking they are driving a really hot car

Yeah, I'd pretty sure a Focus is Compact, and the Fiesta a Sub, but have more experience with Mazda's myself which used to share a lot of things at any rate.

GT350R is expensive (because of dealer markups). If you think the Focus RS won't be in the same situation, you're going into be in for a surprise

Nothing is king of road because there's always something faster out there. Like I said, Mustang is nice enough daily for good value, but there are so many better/faster cars out there.

 

[Topweasel]

Eh. Obviously I was deliberately exaggerating to call it a wagon for effect, but Hot Hatch has always been a popular Euro thing. I think it's fair to point out how large it is compared to what Europe still considers to be a "Hot Hatch." Compared to the rest of the competition in the Hot Hatch category, the Focus RS is closer to a wagon (remember: deliberately exaggerating).

Just look at the wheelbase and the overall size. It's a different class. If the Fiesta ST is a large hatch, it just seems like Focus ST/RS can't still be considered to be in the same category.

I get trying to say the Focus is a bit big for a Hatch though even then it has even portlier brothers that are popular in the EU (Golf comes to mind or the Clio). But you specifically call the Fiesta a big hatch. Which is basically fighting words. It may be in some level of jest. But still the Fiesta even when compared to the average hatch in the EU is just that, average. Not as small as a true two seater hatch like the 500. But not really bigger than your average baseline hatch that accounts for so many cars in the UK.

It probably would shock you to know that most of the Focus design and development was done in Germany as a global car that they could also sell in the US. It looks tons bigger than it really is because of some design tricks that are big in the US For making look Bigger/Menacing. But interior wise is a run of the mill hatch.

 

[MongGrel]

GT350R is expensive (because of dealer markups). If you think the Focus RS won't be in the same situation, you're going into be in for a surprise

I'm really not in the market for a new car anyway, I just like keeping up on things.

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[Kaido]

The s550/current gen. Mustang has IRS, and is leaps and bounds better than previous generations.

Amen! The IRS makes it far more livable as a DD too.

 

[Kaido]

First drive up on Autoblog:

http://www.autoblog.com/2016/02/05/2016-ford-focus-rs-first-drive-review/