Ford Focus RS hot-hatch to get 250kW turbo four-cylinder: report
The next iteration of the fiery Ford Focus RS hatch is set to be powered by a 250kW-plus turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost engine, stepping up from the previous car's 224kW five-cylinder powerplant.
UK publication Auto Express reports the new Ford Focus RS will see a freshly developed four-cylinder engine send as much as 257kW to the front wheels through an active limited slip differential, or E-diff, via a manual gearbox.
For some perspective, Ford's hottest hatch offering currently available is the recently released 184kW Ford Focus ST, with its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine providing enough poke for a 0-100km/h time of 6.5 seconds.
Ford’s Team RS powertrain engineering manager, Len Urwin, told Auto Express the group made the decision not to develop the Focus ST’s powerplant as increasing power would necessitate the use of a bigger turbo.
“If it’s too big and capable of too much power, you lose bottom-end torque and response,” Urwin said.
The new Focus RS will be looking to fill some awfully big shoes when it arrives early in 2014.