Hugh Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 (edited) If the price is comparable with it's competition and performs as well if not better, and in limited numbers, I feel we have a market for it. Personally, I feel $40K is rich for these type of cars but aren't they the high end of their lines? I'd love to see a Focus 3dr HB w/2.0 EB. The Explorer America Concept Press release said 275 hp and 270 Lb/ft IIRC. Okay read the torque graph and is that 240? Edited April 7, 2009 by Hugh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versa-Tech Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Performance wise this seems to be a notch above the Fusion Sport which would seem to be a bit of a dilemma for Ford. Can they convince buyers to pay more for what some might see as less? As much as I like the Focus RS it would probably make more sense to offer the 3.5 EB in an AWD SVT Fusion and leave the RS for the Euro enthusiasts who can better relate to its WRS roots. Kind of like comparing the old Merkur XR4TI to a Thunderbird Turbo Coupe of the same era. I doubt many fusion buyers are interested in downgrading to a smaller car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@_@ Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 If you are wondering the performance of the RS, think of it as a Volvo C30 with around 80 more hp and more sporty suspension. The MSRP for the Volvo C30 R-Design is around $25K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versa-Tech Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 The released the torque "curve" of an I4 ecoboost Come on, we all know Ford marketing just starting connecting dots on that chart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted April 7, 2009 Author Share Posted April 7, 2009 I doubt many fusion buyers are interested in downgrading to a smaller car. I agree, and that's why the EB 3.5 would be such a fine option to see. A 350 hp AWD Fusion and a 400 hp MK Z. But, for a lot of people who look at Acuras, smaller than Fusion is desirable. It's a big enough market already IMHO, and it's growing as gas prices climb. With Ford's return to offering product with real class leading value, the next Focus line-up as a whole would be improved by the availability of an RS model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 (edited) We've talked about Ford's EB torque 'curves' as though they're being output capped to protect the transmission: I'm wondering if they're not being output capped for the durability of the entire powertrain. Edited April 7, 2009 by RichardJensen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MKII Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 (edited) Did someone say there are no Reviews/Road Tests?? Times online http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/i...icle5772860.ece Sky motoring Sky motoring triple test http://motoring.sky.com/features/videos/vi...riple-test.aspx Sky motoring http://motoring.sky.com/car-reviews/focus-rs.aspx What Car http://www.whatcar.com/news-special-report.aspx?NA=238280 4Car http://www.channel4.com/4car/rt/ford/focus/28600/ MSN cars http://cars.uk.msn.com/Reviews/article.asp...mentid=14534340 Motortrend http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/hatchb...rive/index.html Carenthusiast http://www.carenthusiast.com/reviews.html?...cle&id=3347 The Sun http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/motor...icle2276331.ece Autotrader http://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIAL/CARS...car_review.html AutoExpress group test, RS V Mini JCW V Impreza Sti http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/gr..._vs_rivals.html WHAT CAR WHAT CAR readers team Yahoo http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/27022009/36/new-f...ges-coup-0.html Yahoo cars video http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/10022009/66/new-f...focus-rs-0.html Auto Car http://www.autocar.co.uk/VideosWallpapers/...T=V&FLT=24| Fifth gear Daily Express http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/86891 The Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/carrev...-RS-review.html Planet Evo http://www.evo.co.uk/videos/planetevovideo...d_focus_rs.html Driver's Rebublic.... RS v R26.R v WRX STi http://tiny.cc/VxTrG Driver Rebublic Video http://www.drivers-republic.com/dr_tv/inde...amp;area=videos Irish Times http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/motors...4242220767.html PistonHeads http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.a...rd%20Focus%20RS The Independent http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/mo...rs-1639580.html Autoweek (non english) http://www.autoweek.nl/video/1262/Ford-Focus-RS ABHD (non english) http://www.abhd.nl/video/ford-focus-rs/ Autojunk (non english) http://www.autojunk.nl/clips/view/153925 iMOTOR (page 22) http://issue.imotormag.co.uk/1Y49bf65f704c3d999.cde Autotrader (first UK drive) http://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIAL/CARS...car_review.html Richard Hammond (mirror) http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/cars-motorbikes/...s-models-o.html Edited April 7, 2009 by MKII Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battyr Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 We've talked about Ford's EB torque 'curves' as though they're being output capped to protect the transmission: I'm wondering if they're not being output capped for the durability of the entire powertrain. I was thinking that Torque curve is capped to protect the engine. If they wanted control boost to prevent detonatiton, what shape would the torque curve be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noah Harbinger Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 I thought the Mazda speed3 was mid to high $20k. I think most Americans wouldn't understand what the RS is and would run if the price was high 20's. Chevy's Cobalt SS is pretty bad ass but you don't hear much about it either. I think the kind of person who buys 300HP compacts would not run from a Focus RS. I also think there aren't many such people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 I was thinking that Torque curve is capped to protect the engine. Well all depends on what has been upgraded in the engine...hell Grand National Engines can put out 500-700HP with just a a couple changes, though I dont think long term/day to day driving is possible with an engine like that. Its been rumored here that the Ecoboost V6 can do 415HP in a RWD app like in the Mustang, I don't think that would cause that more more duress to the engine with that bump in power...so I'm going with its protecting the transmission in FWD/AWD apps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old_fairmont_wagon Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Well, protecting the tranny would be part of it. Its also a matter of putting the power to the pavement. In a light, FWD app, much more than 245 lbs of torque is just going to melt the front tires. Heck, our freaking Toyota Sienna minivan, with that 3.5L DOHC 2g toyota engine, wil spin the front tires from a dead stop and it has considerable more weight on the front axle with only about 15 more lbs of torque. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Project-Fairmont Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 (edited) While the RS badge may have some cache' among Generation Y'ers, either from what they have read, seen on Youtube, or by following World Cup Rally. However the Ford brand does not register highly. I would certainly consider one. The problem that Detroit has had in the past, is the tendancy to give up on a model too soon with their make or break mentality. If its a hit, they exploit it, if the model line falters, they discount it, and drop it which devalues the model and kills residules/desirability. FOE has nurtured and refined a relitively small model line up that gets better and better...sound familiar? Honda, Toyota...although Toyoda has faltered too with greed into ambitous trucks. Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered. Bring the RS on but Ford should be modest with its goals, stick with it the reward that will surely come if they are true to their customer. People want predictability (look at the long term success of the Mustang) As long as Ford does not try to reinvent themselves every few years, they can compete. We all know who wins the race between the Tortoise and the Herr... Edited April 7, 2009 by Project-Fairmont Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JETSOLVER Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 While it might have been a lot easier to sell this to the folks who bought SVT product (we already know what we are getting in for), if the cachet can be used for legitimate purposes (think of how little the STI actually meant to the other Subbie buyers, as opposed to those who would have bought an all singing, all dancing STI even if it had had a Saturn badge), it might find a home as a new realistic halo car. The trick is to engage the kids with credit, the ones who have no brand loyalty except to the F&F franchise. Personally, if Ford does some how manage to man up and fend off the flack from the Detroit flayers who seem to hate personal transport in all its forms, I will put my name on a list.( it rarely is "the" list with dealer greed) It isn't going to happen however, so I'll just keep doing what I am doing, which is to accumulate bits and pieces of Corvette engineering for my V's mill. Perhaps the parts prices might even come down...? Shame, I would really enjoy an Ultimate Green RS coming down out of the Rogers Pass in the Canadian Rockies a few times next summer...a much more politically correct (and much less expensive) toy than the one I have, or my much missed, if expensive to maintain, last car, the Cayman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blksn8k2 Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 I think the real issue here is that Ford's lineup in Europe is vastly different than it is here. Due to narrow, cramped roadways and perpetual high fuel prices they do not have relatively affordable cars like the Mustang or Taurus SHO. Which means a "halo" car for them is either a high dollar Porsche, Jag, Benz, etc. or, as in the case of Ford (a much more affordable brand) the Focus RS. Ford enthusiasts on this side of the pond want a hipo Mustang. "High performance" and "Focus" don't fit in the same sentence for most traditional gear heads. That means Ford is left trying to convince the F&F crowd that they have something better than a tricked out Civic or Lancer Evo. That will not be easy based on all the anti-Ford, anti-American comments posted on websites like Autoblog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blksn8k2 Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Here's an Autoweek article discussing the fact that Ford is looking for feedback on whether they should bring the car here. There are 8 pages of comments. Seems like a hot topic? http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090406/CARNEWS/904069995 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmm55 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 Well, we do have the Mustang to consider. Another HiPo coupe may not make perfect sense even if it is FWD. To my thinking an SVT version in a SEDAN/SALOON would be more logical. 1) it would replace the old SVT FWD Contour 2) also the old SVT Focus. and 3) 4 doors might give it a broader appeal. 4) It would be unique to our market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 Well, we do have the Mustang to consider.Another HiPo coupe may not make perfect sense even if it is FWD. To my thinking an SVT version in a SEDAN/SALOON would be more logical. 1) it would replace the old SVT FWD Contour 2) also the old SVT Focus. and 3) 4 doors might give it a broader appeal. 4) It would be unique to our market. Not a bad call at all! Mitsubishi's and Subaru's entries in this class are both sedans (wasn't the WRX hatch scrapped?). They might be on to something with that. Nice chop too. :shades: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted April 9, 2009 Author Share Posted April 9, 2009 I'd like the RS Focus to be a 2dr hatch, but I think that the Fusion needs an SHO powertrain. AWD with a longer wheelbase and 4 drs relative to the RS Focus works for me, with about 700 lb less weight than the Taurus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versa-Tech Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 Well, we do have the Mustang to consider.Another HiPo coupe may not make perfect sense even if it is FWD. To my thinking an SVT version in a SEDAN/SALOON would be more logical. 1) it would replace the old SVT FWD Contour 2) also the old SVT Focus. and 3) 4 doors might give it a broader appeal. 4) It would be unique to our market. I was actually thinking the exact opposite. I am part of many mustang clubs here in Houston, and I don't know anyone that would ever consider a buying a Focus. These guys (and gals) don't buy mustangs because it's a hi-po coupe. They buy it because it's a mustang. It's all about the image. Aside from the Focus RS, I think SVT should build an ultra light RS-R variant. It should be a 2 door hatchback with creature comforts limited to, two recaro seats, manual windows and locks, Adjustable pedals and steering, the option of AC, and the option of a dealer installed stereo. That's it, no sound deadening bullsh*t, no back seat, no power bullcrap; essentially no weight to slow a street, ahem, I mean track racer down. Lightweight body panels and glass could also contribute to the weight-loss. I would expect that these measures coupled with a lighter Ecoboost powertrain could produce a car with a curb weight well under 3,000 pounds. Best of all, the deleted creature comforts could offset a large portion of the cost of performance upgrades! :happy feet: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted April 9, 2009 Author Share Posted April 9, 2009 Aside from the Focus RS, I think SVT should build an ultra light RS-R variant. Yes, please. SCCA would love it. I love the Mustang, but it's a lot bigger and heavier. If gas goes back up, having a hi-po option that doesn't require 500+ hp might have a market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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