Although the 2017 Ford Focus RS might seem like a beefed-up version of the Focus ST, it’s actually a complete departure. With a heritage that dates back to the 1970 Ford Escort RS powered by a 1.6-liter Cosworth engine, the all-wheel drive RS has a 45-year history of breaking the rules—and killing the competition in global rally cup competitions along the way.
Thankfully, the car that comes to the US this spring is not a modified, watered-down version of the Euro-spec hatch: it’s the real McCoy. The EcoBoost engine in the Focus RS utilizes the same basic architecture as the four-cylinder 2.3-liter engine in the Mustang, with one significant difference. The twin-scroll turbocharger boosts the block’s torque to 350 pound-feet—a 30 lb-ft. increase—yielding a zero-to-sixty acceleration time of 4.7 seconds.
A valve in the left side of the car’s dual exhausts creates the backpressure for the turbocharger as well as the distinctive “pops and burbles” in the engine note.
Industry-First Drift Mode
The electronic control unit modifies the hatchback’s steering response, suspension damping, electronic stability control and exhaust for four driving modes: normal, sport, track, and drift. The drift mode enables drivers to do controlled oversteer drifts on the track.
Brake-based torque vectoring on the front axle and dynamic torque vectoring on the rear axle prevent understeer when drivers push the RS to its limits. Dynamic torque vectoring can send up to 70 percent of available engine power to the rear axle and up to 100 percent of that power to either of the rear wheels at any given time.
Drivers can choose between two suspension modes, normal and sport, to tune the car for the track.
Three wheel and tire packages make the Focus RS a high-performance four-season car. The base alloy wheels are lighter 19-inch forged alloy rims come fitted with Michelin Super Sport and Pilot Cup 2 tires respectively. A winter wheel and tire package consists of 18-inch rims fitted with Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 tires.
Ford chief technical officer Raj Nair worked with gymkhama superstar Ken Block to calibrate the suspension and all-wheel drive systems.
The RS brake design incorporates several different cooling mechanisms to keep the car’s massive 13.8-inch Brembo rotors cool. Brake ducts in the front feed air to the jet tunnels, while air blades attached to the lower control arms divert air to the brakes on the track.
A functional front splitter and rear spoiler give the RS zero lift. While some modern supercars are designed for negative lift, engineers wanted to keep the lift on the back of the RS neutral for optimum performance while drifting.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.