Ford are planning a Clubsport version of the current Focus RS
Ford are planning a 350bhp Focus RS Clubsport – just 500 at £35,000 – and will produce a 2011 Focus RS Hybrid in 2012 / 2013
I know, at my advanced age I shouldn’t really have a love of fast Fords. But I do. I had huge fun when we did a Focus RS review recently (and I wasn’t the only one at Cars UK Towers who felt the same) and I’d seriously consider it as a daily drive if it came in a visually toned-down version. But that’s because I’m not an aspirational 20-something.
So a little frisson of joy passed through when we heard that Ford are going to give the current Focus RS a worthy send-off with a souped-up, stripped-down Focus RS Clubsport. Said to sport 350bhp with lightweight sports seats and lowered and stiffened suspension it sounds to be good for a 5.0 second 0-60mph dash. Apparently just 500 Focus RS Clubsports will be built with a price tag around £35,000.
We also have news that Ford are planning an RS version of the 2011 Focus and are going to give it a hybrid powertrain. The engine will be a 2.0 litre EcoBoost mated to an electric motor running the rear wheels, giving the Focus RS four-wheel drive. It will also have stop-start, dual-clutch Powershift ‘box and other eco-goodies which -despite a 5 second 0-60mph time – should give low emissions and 40+mpg.
Where, might you ask, is the hybrid powertrain going to come from? It would seem that Ford are co-developing the system with Peugeot, and this is basically the same hybrid powertrain used in the recent Peugeot SR1 Concept. Well, you learn something every day.
We’ll probably have to wait until at least 2012 if not longer for the Focus RS Hybrid, but the £35,000 Focus RS Clubsport should be with us this year.
Can’t wait.
Ford Focus RS Photo Gallery
DAN SMITH says
IT’S REALLY GOOD TO SEE THAT SOME OF FORD’S HOTTER EURO-IRON IS FINALLY REACHING US HERE IN THE STATES. THE FOCUS ST CERTAINLY ISN’T THE BEST THAT FORD HAS… BUT AT LEAST WE’RE STARTING TO GET SOMETHING. BUT HERE’S WHAT REALLY TORQUES ME OFF. HOW COME WE AREN’T SEEING A FLOOD OF AUSSIE IRON? EUROS ARE MUCH SMALLER THAN US YANKS. I GET IT. BUT US FREE RANGING AMERICANS AND AUSSIES ARE ABOUT THE SAME SIZE. AND I KNOW FULL WELL THAT FORD COULD SELL AN AWFUL LOT SUPER PURSUIT AND T6 PICKUP TRUCKS, HERE. WHAT’S UP, CAN’T FORD HANDLE THE EXTRA PROSPERITY?
SO HERE’S WHAT HAPPENS… FORD USUALLY HANDS US STUFF WE REALLY DON’T WANT. AND WHEN WE REFUSE TO BUY HORRIBLY CRUDE MERKUR-GARBAGE, THEY PUNISH US BY NOT OFFERING THE FOCUS RS. “YOU HAYSEED AMERICANS JUST AREN’T SOPHISTICATED ENOUGH!” GEE, THANKS. THEY’RE TREATING THE WORLD’S SECOND LARGEST MARKET LIKE IT’S BANGLADESH. MR. KAPITO REALLY NEEDS TO WORK OUT OF DEARBORN. IF THAT HAPPENED, YOU’D BE GETTING OUR LEFT OVERS, INSTEAD OF THE OTHER WAY AROUND. WE HAVEN’T EVEN GOTTEN THE KUGA YET. THAT’S JUST OBSCENE. HECK… FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, YOU GUYS ARE EVEN GOING TO BE GETTING AN ECOBOOSTED MUSTANG GT DIESEL. PRETTY SWEET!
SO HERE’S THE DEAL… EITHER WE GET TO HAND PICK WHICH EURO-FORDS WE GET, OR YOU DON’T GET THE MUSTANG. IT’S ONLY FAIR. AND BEFORE YOU START BELLYACHING ABOUT HOW HORRIBLY UNSOPHISTICATED OUR PONY CAR IS, KEEP THIS IN MIND. IT CAN ROUTINELY HUMILIATE A CAYMEN S WITHOUT EVEN BREAKING A SWEAT. AND THAT’S ALWAYS GOOD FOR A FEW LAUGHS AT STUTTGART’S EXPENSE. AND YOU DON’T EVEN WANT TO KNOW WHAT A STANG CAN DO TO A VOLKSWAGEN R20. LET’S JUST SAY THAT IT’S GOOD FOR WHAT AILS YOU, AND EASILY REPEATED.