Ford Focus RS Coming In Limited Quantities, Imported From Europe
December 11th, 2014 11:57 AM
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Ford confirmed that the Focus RS will be sold in North America for the first time ever. But it won’t be built here.
As we previously reported, the Focus RS will likely not be built at the Michigan Assembly Plant that builds the other Focus models. According to a Ford source, it won’t fit down the line at MAP. That means it will almost certainly be built in Europe, and imported in limited quantities.
The Focus RS will feature a 2.3L Ecoboost engine, all-wheel drive and be priced a couple of thousand dollars higher than a loaded Ford Focus ST3. But it will also be sold in very limited quantities.
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JCW MINI parts prices. Gonna be more than lease payments.
FWIW, Fiat [nee Mopar] is planning to bring an AWD Dodge Dart to market, Ford can't sit and twiddle thumbs. Also, VW, Subaru, and used luxo makes are getting young [yes some kids are buying cars, not all can afford Manhattan micro apts] owners with AWD. The Focus RS shown is out of production MkII Focus from 2005, no more 2 door versions are built overseas.
Goddamnit, if this does materialize here in AWD at the price point mentioned, I will live off of sardines, kidney beans and Bud Light for the next year to buy me one of these.
I totally get why automakers stick with FWD for these hot hatches...if you aren't already making AWD versions of the base car like Subaru, it is a big investment and changes need to be made for a low volume model. You'll price it right out of the target market. On the other hand, all the tricks in the book, revoknuckle, LSD, brake tricks...being right in the target market for these things I am not interested in ridiculous FWD power. I liked my SRT-4 a lot but at 260hp even with the LSD that car was verrrry inexpensive to buy so an understandable compromise. Anything powered and priced north of the Focus ST does not get the same pass in my book.