The Blue Oval company, Ford, is still unbeatable in many areas of automotive history and advancement. It has built some of the most incredible everyday cars and numerous award-winning sports cars. The Ford Mustangs are gearheads favorites, while Ford trucks such as the F-150 have found a suitable spot in car lovers' menu.
Our focus this time shifts to a vehicle that has gracefully taken everything from debilitating criticism to huge hugs of love and produced from 2016 to 2018. It is the Ford Focus RS that sadly bowed out of production, "as a result of pan-European emissions standards, increased CO2 taxation and the high cost of developing an RS," according to the company statement.
The Ford Focus Rally Sport(RS) had lived its life rather extravagantly with a sense of pride for all the pampering and attention it was given. After all, the model was born from a lineage of international rally champions through the Ford Escort.
The Ford Focus RS badge first appeared on the MK1 Escort. Several versions of rally-ready and road-ready versions came and went. One of the most notable among them was the Escort RS Cosworth. This was a front-wheel drive motivated by a 2.0-liter 16-valve engine that pushed out 212 hp. The top speed was capped at 144 mph and the only available color was Imperial blue.
The hatchback RS version that becharmed car lovers was produced between 2016-2018. We reveal some little-known facts about this Ford Focus RS.
10 It Delivers An Incredible 350 Horsepower
A thirsty turbocharged 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine that punches 350 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 350 lb.-ft of torque at 3,200 rpm, is what the Ford Focus RS depends on.
This engine allows an encouraging rise from zero to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds. It's quite a punch of brute power on this hatchback and part of what retains it as an interesting ride for any gearhead.
9 A Potent All-wheel Drive
The All-Wheel-Drive system was developed in-house by Ford, specially for the RS. This setup was poised to gain more speed, grip and better cornering abilities. The existence of double clutch packs found on this AWD system helps the car to electronically balance torque between the front and the rear.
Ford says that this advanced AWD system is so effective that the Ford Focus RS can easily take corners in "Drift mode."
8 Only Manual Transmission Was Available
The Ford Focus RS remains true to its sporty inclination by the manual transmission. This means that drivers get more engaged in the driving process and can optimize the AWD system of the car.
From the power of this system, the Ford Focus RS manages to catch attention by the loud pop from its pipes. Combining this with the four-wheel-drive system makes the Ford Focus RS more responsive and an interesting vehicle to drive.
7 Has Four Driving Modes Available
The Ford RS packs four amiable driving modes through which a driver can alternate. Each one of them gives a different experience and allows you to literary feel the fun at every turn.
Normal Mode
This is for everyday driving, and you engage the entire system in its default setting, which includes the AWD, engine, dampers as well as exhaust. It's precisely for driving in a very normal way.
Sport Mode
This is certainly a more motivated mode. It's more enthusiastic and gives the Ford Focus RS a better feel when the rubber meets the road. The engine and the exhaust valve are set up for the "Sport" mode and you get a more enhanced sound; the steering response increases, and so does throttle response. The dampers also become firmer. The Sport Mode is allowed for normal road usage.
Track Mode
You can't use this mode unless you are on a designated track. This is enough testimony that it gets more exciting and fun, thus the need to be cautious on how you engage it. Track Mode gives the driver more cornering ability. The AWD and Electronic Stability Control(ESC) provide access to more aggressive performance above the usual limit
Drag Mode
The climax of sweet driving fun is epitomized by the Drag Mode on the Ford Focus RS. In this mode, you set the AWD system to "Drift" while the ESC, engine, and exhaust are set to "Sport." The dampers and steering remain at Normal mode. This way, you are set for dramatic Drag gymnastics.
6 No True Competition
Automotive contributors contend that there are not so many competitors that beat the Ford Focus RS in this class. It hands drivers so many affable configurations that all you need is to be a good driver that can use a little bit of exciting technology in cars.
The 2018 Honda Civic Type R is considered the closest rival of the Ford Focus R. Even then, it comes short because it is not an AWD but rather has it's power flowing to the front wheels.
5 Four-Door Sedan Or Five-door Hatchback Option
The Ford Focus RS is a hatchback, one-of-a-kind in its class. However, many car fans are confused by a Ford Focus sedan version in various years of production. The third generation launched in 2012 as a four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback.
On a wider scope, the Ford Focus has other trim levels such as the S, SE, SEL, Titanium, and ST. The sportier, more potent and most beloved Ford Focus RS is one of the premium trim levels.
4 NHTSA Gave The Focus RS Five Stars
NHTSA ranking has an instrumental influence on how cars perform in the market. Even with all the sporty attributes of the Ford Focus RS we've highlighted herein, the Ford Focus RS managed five stars in crash tests. This ranking denotes the Ford Focus RS as a relatively safe car in spite of high-performance talents.
When you consider that the Ford Focus RS punches around 350hp, you learn why this ranking is important in boosting confidence. The IIHS also gives top score "Good" in most other tests.
3 A Fun Sports Car For Everyday Driving
By now, you must have established that Ford Focus RS is an extrovert that isn't afraid to show off. What makes it extremely fantastic is the fact that it wraps up track sporting with everyday driving talents. This is not a mean feat to achieve for any car and the Ford Focus RS handles it all in one perfect body. It's also extremely conspicuous on the road and easily identifiable by colour and styling.
2 The Ford Focus RS Was Discontinued in 2019
We can only hope that the Ford Focus will reincarnate in the future and take our breath away like it did in the last offering. The vehicle was discontinued in 2018, with officials citing emission regulations, high cost of production, and increased taxation as the reasons behind its demise.
What's not in contention, however, is that the RS left memorable moments around and has the potential to become the ultimate collectible. We love the fact that the engine requires no more renewal or further motivation. It's good enough in this form.
Related: A Eulogy For The Ford Focus RS
1 Experts in Spain "Listened" to Each Engine Before Selling
According to Car Keys, Ford had experts at their manufacturing plant in Valencia, Spain, whose work included listening to an engine before shipping to customers. The website says that "these aural experts use 18 sound-proofed cells at the end of the production line to listen to each engine for one minute at a time."
If undesirable sounds are detected from this exercise, the RS must undergo further examination. As simple as it sounds, it's one of the crucial quality-assurance exercises. If the engine produced any noises that were inconsistent with the expectations it had to be reexamined.