Revealed: The New 2016 Ford Focus RS

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The Ford Focus is a popular medium sized hatchback car. It has sold well both in Europe and in other markets. Ahead of its debut at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, Ford unveiled images and details of the new 2016 Ford Focus RS.

Sporting two extra doors and a four-wheel drive system, this third-generation RS is set to take the motoring world by storm! So, what is it that makes this new model more unique than its previous incarnations? Keep reading to find out!

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Development history

The third-generation Ford Focus RS follows the previous models launched in 2002 and 2009. It’s also something of a milestone for the American car builder, as it’s the 30th model to wear the “RS” badge. It’s also the first RS model to get sold in all their international markets. Production will start at Ford’s Saarlouis plant in Germany.

Ford’s RS engineering team got the go-ahead to start working on the new Focus RS towards the latter half of 2013. Tyrone Johnson, the RS Engineering Manager, gave a short Q&A session about the new RS.

He admitted that his team started thinking about the new model after signing off the last model back in 2009. But they had to make a business case to their employers first.

Four-wheel drive

Have you bought one of the previous generations from a dealer like McDougal & Breen in the past? If so, one thing you will have remembered is that your car only had two-wheel drive. The third generation of the Focus RS changes that by introducing a four-wheel drive system for the first time.

The RS engineering team worked on a few 4×4 prototypes in the past. But they weren’t keen to introduce the system as it just didn’t “feel” right. But now that the technology has evolved, they can use it with this latest generation.

It uses twin clutch “packs” located on either side of the rear wheels, and they’re controlled by the car’s electronics. The 4×4 control unit can vary the amount of power to each wheel, thanks to data monitored from the wheels hundreds of times per second.

Torque vectoring is a hot topic in today’s performance car market and is now something Ford can use on the new 2016 Ford Focus.

2.3-litre EcoBoost engine

The third generation Focus RS will come with a 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine. It is a four-cylinder, 16-valve power plant that makes efficient use of a turbocharger bolted onto it. Adapted specifically for this model, Ford claims it is good for 315 brake horsepower.

It has a twin-scroll turbocharger for added airflow. The engine has a less restrictive intake system compared to previous RS models. And an electronically controlled valve in the exhaust tailpipe helps to manage back pressure.

The engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission. It has a short gear lever, allowing drivers to make sharp gear changes. Ford say the clutch and transmission components are beefier than the ones used in the second generation Focus RS.