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Ford Focus RS looks like being FWD

You may remember the mysterious teaser image (above) released last month when Ford decided to give us a taste of their upcoming Focus RS. The eagerly awaited hot hatch has been the source of much speculation with many saying that it will finally be an al


You may remember the mysterious teaser image (above) released last month when Ford decided to give us a taste of their upcoming Focus RS. The eagerly awaited hot hatch has been the source of much speculation with many saying that it will finally be an alternative to Subaru’s WRX and Mitsubishi’s EVO.

It was only a few months ago when speculation suggested that the RS would be fitted out with an AWD system courtesy of Volvo, which would have turned it into a serious WRX contender but according to Autocar, that is no longer the case. The Focus RS appears to be another hot hatch that will have a few too many kilowatts pumping through the front wheels.

Autocar have also confirmed that the new Focus RS will be based on the 2008 Ford Focus restyle and it will blend the restyle with the flares and enlarged intakes suggested in the teaser image.

The RS will feature the same 2.5-litre Volvo sourced five-cylinder that is found in the Focus ST, however, the wick will be wound-up with the RS expected to sport an impressive 209Kw/280hp. Ford claim to have a new electronic front differential that will be able to deal with this level of power but that remains to be seen. The gearbox is an unknown quantity but Ford are said to be looking at Volvo’s new six-speed PowerShift dual-clutch unit.

Performance will be brisk, with the 0-100km/h dash expected to be taken care of in under six seconds. European pricing is expected to be around the £25,000 mark and there is no word yet on an Australian appearance for the RS. It’s a pity Ford have side-stepped the AWD option, given that the RS’s main rivals are all AWD equipped. Lets hope their new ‘tricky diff’ is up to the task of dealing with 206kW.

[Source: Autocar via Autoblog]

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