If the rumoured words of a Ford insider are anything to go by, we’re in the middle of the end of an era – and we haven’t even realised it yet. Sure, the economy’s been better, but we’ll pull through… right?
According to British web rag iMotor, a conversation with an unnamed Ford staffer revealed that the new Ford Focus RS is likely to be the last.
The Ford insider, via iMotor:
“The new Focus RS is pretty special, and not just because of its incredible performance, but because it’s likely to be the last car of this type you will see from Ford.”
The unnamed employee went on to explain that once (if?) the company returns to profitability, its focus will be entirely on economical and eco-friendly vehicles, believing there is no business case for performance models.
He (or she) finished with a grim piece of advice for enthusiasts everywhere.
“People should enjoy cars like the Focus RS while they can. It’s unlikely you will see driver-focused high performance hatchbacks ever again.”
Whether this conversation ever took place, or whether it’s just a fluff piece to get some readers, is of course tough to say. Given the current climate both globally and within Ford itself, it’s easy enough to believe.
Is this the a sign of things to come? Are we looking at the last Mazda3 MPS? The last WRX STI and Evo?
If the world’s biggest automaker can’t justify finishing its own sports car project, what hope do its smaller competitors have?
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GALLERY » 2010 Ford Focus RS
[iMotor]
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sorry guys, just want to correct you on something:
you wrote ‘the new Ford Focus RS (sold in Australia as the Focus XR5)’. this is not the case. the Focus RS isnt on sale here nor has it been confirmed, i think you’re getting confused with the Focus ST.
anyways… keep up the good work! i enjoy TMR!
D’oh, excellent work on my behalf there, haha. Thanks Beno, much appreciated!
in the current economic climate, I thought only profitable cars would survive. That doesn’t mean performance cars can’t continue to be developed, as long as they are profitable. Given the amount of interest in the Focus RS in Europe, I find it hard to believe that it wouldn’t be. Plus technology (hence cost) of the high performance models usually filters downwards to be baser models anyway, so the actual cost of developing high performance cars is diluted across different models. Would we currently have all the modern advances in fuel efficiency and engine refinement if we never had high performance cars? What about how much tires have improved over the last 40 years, if the world was driving whitegoods a - b cars, we would not have developed anywhere near as much.
Considering Ford has built a reputation of building great handling, high performance small cars in Europe, I find this statement hard to believe.
What ever. This is a scam. There is no way that car manufacturers will leave 20% of the new car market untapped. I for once would not buy a car just bacause its economical and eco friendly, and neither would any other true car lover. There will always be cars that are “drivers cars” simple. Toyota already exists so if Ford wants to go down the same path they may, we’ll just turn toward Nissan, or Alfa, or Mazda or any other manufacturers that offers a drivers car, not whitegoods on wheels(Camry/Corolla/Falcon/similar junk)
Its a blag - Ford empolyee! lets spread a rumour that will push the prices up.Rumbled!!
- iMotor Eh! i’ll have a look.