RS
In 2002 the more bespoke engineered and performance orientated RS badge made a return to a Ford product following the demise of the Escort RS 2000 in 1996. Using a turbocharged version of the 2.0 litre Zetec- E engine (fired into life via a starter button), badged Duratec-RS, the Focus RS produced a minimum 215 ps and 310 Nm of torque, although most cars came out of the factory producing more power.
The Focus RS was a far more bespoke car than the SVT/ST170 with seventy percent of the components being unique, revised or uprated from the standard Focus. Mechanically, most notably, the car incorporated a Quaife automatic torque biasing differential to improve traction from the front wheel drive setup. It was this differential that gave the car its largely undeserved reputation for extreme torque steer. The suspension is 25mm lower than the standard model with custom Sachs dampers. The steering used the same quick ratio rack as the ST170 while the brakes used fixed caliper four piston Brembo units with 325mm discs at the front and single piston calipers and 280mm discs at the back. Wheels were 18" alloys specially developed by OZ Racing. The engine was heavily modified with forged aluminum pistons, forged connecting rods, hardened valve seats, sodium-filled exhaust valves and a stainless steel exhaust system. The forced induction system comprised a Garret turbocharger in conjunction with a water-cooled charge air cooler and an electric water pump. To transmit the higher torque was an uprated AP clutch. Styling wise, the car featured unique front and rear bumper assemblies required for the wider wheel arches which accommodated the 65mm wider front track. Internally the theme is blue and black with sections of blue leather trim on the door trim panels, the steering wheel and the Sparco seats which were trimmed in blue/black leather and Alcantara. The instruments have a blue background and in place of the coolant temperature gauge, the RS was equipped with a boost pressure indicator (up to 1, 5 bar). The gear lever knob, handbrake lever and pedals were all custom made by Sparco.
The Ford Focus RS was manufactured on its own production line at Ford's Saarlouis plant in Germany. Production started on 2 October 2002 and ended on 11 November 2003 when the final vehicle, number 4501 of a limited worldwide production run of 4500, rolled off the line. The increased track of the Focus RS meant that it was too wide to roll down the production line on its alloy wheels. An ingenious solution was found by the engineers - they sourced a supply of ex-Audi narrow space saver spare wheels and tyres that were used only within the factory for rolling the cars between the various assembly operations. The Focus RS was sold in 21 countries across Europe but by far the largest number, 2147, were sold in Great Britain. It is estimated that FORD lost £7000.00 on every car sold at its £19750.00 British price tag.
The Focus RS was a far more bespoke car than the SVT/ST170 with seventy percent of the components being unique, revised or uprated from the standard Focus. Mechanically, most notably, the car incorporated a Quaife automatic torque biasing differential to improve traction from the front wheel drive setup. It was this differential that gave the car its largely undeserved reputation for extreme torque steer. The suspension is 25mm lower than the standard model with custom Sachs dampers. The steering used the same quick ratio rack as the ST170 while the brakes used fixed caliper four piston Brembo units with 325mm discs at the front and single piston calipers and 280mm discs at the back. Wheels were 18" alloys specially developed by OZ Racing. The engine was heavily modified with forged aluminum pistons, forged connecting rods, hardened valve seats, sodium-filled exhaust valves and a stainless steel exhaust system. The forced induction system comprised a Garret turbocharger in conjunction with a water-cooled charge air cooler and an electric water pump. To transmit the higher torque was an uprated AP clutch. Styling wise, the car featured unique front and rear bumper assemblies required for the wider wheel arches which accommodated the 65mm wider front track. Internally the theme is blue and black with sections of blue leather trim on the door trim panels, the steering wheel and the Sparco seats which were trimmed in blue/black leather and Alcantara. The instruments have a blue background and in place of the coolant temperature gauge, the RS was equipped with a boost pressure indicator (up to 1, 5 bar). The gear lever knob, handbrake lever and pedals were all custom made by Sparco.
The Ford Focus RS was manufactured on its own production line at Ford's Saarlouis plant in Germany. Production started on 2 October 2002 and ended on 11 November 2003 when the final vehicle, number 4501 of a limited worldwide production run of 4500, rolled off the line. The increased track of the Focus RS meant that it was too wide to roll down the production line on its alloy wheels. An ingenious solution was found by the engineers - they sourced a supply of ex-Audi narrow space saver spare wheels and tyres that were used only within the factory for rolling the cars between the various assembly operations. The Focus RS was sold in 21 countries across Europe but by far the largest number, 2147, were sold in Great Britain. It is estimated that FORD lost £7000.00 on every car sold at its £19750.00 British price tag.
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