Ford Focus III RS (Spy)

[Touareg 2.5]

The RS version of Ford’s new-generation Focus could be powered by both a turbocharged petrol engine and a torquey electric motor mounted on the rear axle, according to senior company sources.

Although the RS Focus has yet to appear on Ford’s confirmed future model cycle documents, the success of the current model has encouraged Ford management to keep the project in pre-development.

The man in charge of Ford’s global development, Derrick Kuzak, confirmed at this year’s Geneva show that the company would build a “global performance version” of the all-new Focus.

Insiders say this global model will use Ford’s turbocharged 2.0-litre Ecoboost petrol engine, producing 250bhp and driving the front wheels.

Ford has just started discussions on what to call the car; hot Fords have been known as ST, SVT and XR in various markets.

A new RS Focus, however, will have to be significantly more powerful — a tricky job when Ford’s Team RS will probably not be able to use today’s Volvo-derived five-cylinder turbo motor, which is good for 345bhp in the Focus RS500.

Team RS, led by Jost Capito, is keen to reflect the strong prevailing environmental concerns within the motor industry with a future mega-Focus.

Very senior sources within Ford have told Autocar that Team RS has started early conceptual studies into matching the 2.0-litre Ecoboost engine with an electric motor mounted on the Focus’s rear axle.

Ford has already explored this technology on the 2005 Reflex concept, and it’s just about to be adopted by Peugeot on the 508 executive saloon.

The advantages of the layout for a high-performance car are manifold. It enables the use of a relatively small-capacity engine, but the strong torque from an electric motor gives the car a considerable performance boost.

It also makes it all-wheel drive without the complexity of a conventional set-up using a power take-off and propshaft.

Electric motors are also relatively compact and can easily be packaged within the type of multi-link rear axle used by the new Focus. Space, however, would have to be found for a battery pack.

A hybrid Focus RS would most likely be able to match the performance of today’s RS500, but with much-improved economy and lower CO2 emissions.

Depending on the size of the battery pack, the RS hybrid would also be capable of running at zero emissions for short distances, a facility that is likely to become essential for American-market sales in the near term.

The chances of the RS hybrid becoming a reality are further underpinned by the move towards greener competition vehicles, exemplified by Porsche’s new 911 GT3 hybrid.

Indeed, last year Capito told Autocar, “We certainly have to guard the RS badge and its motorsport heritage very carefully. We won’t put an RS badge on any type of car; it has to have a race or rally link.”

A hybrid race car is regarded by many in the company as an essential part of Ford’s future competition portfolio.

However, if the electrified rear axle does not make it into Ford’s forward engineering plan, Team RS is also likely to look at Ford’s existing hybrid drivetrain, which is currently used by the Mondeo-sized Ford Fusion in the US.

In its current form, the hybrid drive combines a 156bhp 2.5-litre engine and an electric motor to deliver 191bhp to the front wheels.

The next-generation set-up (which should be offered in the global replacement for the Mondeo) is expected to be more efficient.

Combining the new 2.0-litre Ecoboost engine with an electric motor should deliver north of 300bhp, albeit through the front wheels.

autocar

E a quanto pare, anche questa è bella e confermata.

[_hainz]

E' un'ottima soluzione che ho sempre sostenuto anche perché ha il plus della trazione integrale in abbinamento con la riduzione di consumo e il plus di essere ibrida. Perciò ti porti a casa un sorta di auto dalle incredibili prestazioni finalmente con consumi umani...

[itr83]

E' un'ottima soluzione che ho sempre sostenuto anche perché ha il plus della trazione integrale in abbinamento con la riduzione di consumo e il plus di essere ibrida. Perciò ti porti a casa un sorta di auto dalle incredibili prestazioni finalmente con consumi umani...

Poi se fai un trackday dopo 2 giri vai meno della sorella minore ST per via della "zavorra"...

Scherzi a parte, mi preoccupa il peso già l'attuale pesa 1400-1500 kg, questa tra batterie e motore elettrico quanto peserà?

[<angel84>]

Inevitabilmente una versione ibrida rispetto ad una normale si porta dietro il peso di batterie e motore elettrico. Qualche kg credo lo risparmino sul motore, che non sarà più il 5 cilindri di origine Volvo ma il 2.0 Ecoboost. Di sicuro c'è il vantaggio di avere una distribuzione dei pesi migliore, grazie al maggior peso sull'asse posteriore.

Idea interessante, vedremo se i vantaggi in termini di consumi e prestazioni saranno confermati nella pratica .

[Touareg 2.5]

The Frankfurt Motor Show that took place in September 2011 saw the debut of the Focus ST. It was the new global model's first foray into high performance. We now expect the American auto maker to work on a peak performance Focus RS, but it will not hit the market until 2014 as a 2015 model.

According to a report by Top Gear, we can now bring you some tentative details of what to expect. Under the hood, Ford will be using a turbocharged 2.3-liter direct-injection engine. It should produce at least 320bhp ( 238 kW / 324 PS ) and a de-tuned version will also make its way into the 2014 Ford Mustang.

The Focus RS will only be available in front-wheel-drive. It has been decided that the extra weight that results from the all-wheel-drive system isn't what the market wants. Additionally, it wouldn't fit alongside the lowered sports chassis without hacking away at the floor.

The Focus RS will only be available as a five-door hatchback when it is launched.

Si parla addirittura di 2014 - 2015 . Arriverà quindi con il facelift dell'attuale, immagino.

[Touareg 2.5]

In a recent interview, Ford's vehicle line director for the global C-segment platform revealed the company has delayed development of the next-generation Focus RS.

Speaking with Car Advice, Gunnar Herrmann said the model has been put on the back burner to concentrate on the various other vehicles and variants - like the Escape/Kuga and Focus Electric - that also ride on the Focus platform. As Herrmann noted, "It's just because we have other priorities to clean up and, effectively, we have to make a final decision on how we proceed [with the new RS]."

As we have previously reported, the model is expected to feature a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine with at least 320 hp (238 kW / 324 PS). It will send power to the front wheels through a limited slip differential and a Revoknuckle front suspension which promises to minimize torque steer.

WCF

Al momento il futuro della nuova RS è incerto.

[crabble]

Non dicono molto ma almeno si inizia a parlarne

New Ford Focus RS to get 330bhp

New 2.3-litre turbocharged EcoBoost engine could power third-generation Focus RS, says top engineer

More details are emerging about the all-new third-generation Ford Focus RS – and it's likely to be powered by a 2.3-litre EcoBoost turbocharged engine producing up to 330bhp.

Speaking at the launch of the 247bhp Focus ST, chief program engineer for the ST and all other global performance cars, Matthias Ton, stated that the 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine used by the ST was close to its power limit without significantly upgrading its fuel system and turbocharger.

Ton confirmed that, if a next-generation Focus RS is produced, it is likely to use a tuned version of the 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine currently under development in North America. Though destined to replace the heavier V6 units found in entry-level Ford Mustangs in the US, this powerplant could be calibrated to suit the sportier Focus RS.

With 330bhp the new 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine would have 32bhp more than the previous generation 301bhp 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo RS, and almost as much power as the 345bhp limited edition RS500.

The new Focus ST was designed to be reasonably subtle in appearance, keeping a space open for a more extreme-looking car with a tarmac-scraping front spoiler and prominent rear wing. There is also significant scope to upgrade the interior of the ST, with more sporty Recaro seats.

A mechanical limited slip differential (not available on the ST) would most likely be standard on the new RS, making it more suitable for regular use on track.

Bigger brakes and stiffer suspension will also feature. It is unknown at this stage whether the RS will retain the ST's Torque Steer Compensation system and variable ratio steering rack or use Ford's RevoKnuckle front strut, which featured on the last RS and was a mechanical system designed to aid traction and reduce torque steer.

The new Ford Focus RS is expected to go on sale by the end of 2013 at a substantial premium to the ST.

autocar.co.uk New Ford Focus RS to get 330bhp | News | Auto Express

[Touareg 2.5]

Ford has suggested the next Focus RS could get a clever active front limited-slip differential to tame torque steer in a car that could send as much as 350hp through the front wheels, much as VW is doing with the next-gen Golf GTI. Officially Ford hasn't even admitted it's doing another version of giant-slaying Focus, but of course it is and we're slowly discovering what form it'll take when it arrives in a year or two.

Can an active diff tame a more powerful RS?PistonHeads got talking to the powertrain engineering manager of European performance division Team RS (there's one clue), Len Urwin, who revealed his admiration for the active diff.

"You can drop a mechanical diff in as we did with the previous Focus RS ... but an E-diff would take that a step forward in that you can really optimize traction in all situations," he said. The helical Quaife diff in the last RS coped manfully with the 2.5-litre engine's 305hp, but the car still suffered torque steer and, as Urwin says, the system wasn't programmable.

As we learned in our differential masterclass, the problem with passive front LSDs is that the set-up is always a compromise. An active diff would theoretically remove those compromises.

RS Focuses have tried various diff optionsUrwin's been up to Sweden in the snow to test an active diff called Twinster made by British engineering giants GKN (who also do the BMW M active diff). He came away impressed. "It works better than I expected," he told us. "It's on the list."

Four-wheel drive is also a possibility, but its use is hampered by the fact that the 4WD systems available within Ford are all the front-wheel biased Haldex type. "It's inherently an understeering system," Urwin said. "We would need to do something we could make fun to drive."

They're also heavy, but as he says, in terms of traction they're still superior to a front LSD.

The engine could be a version of the two-litre Ecoboost seen in the Focus ST, but tuned past the 250hp it makes in the 'warm' hatch. As it was pointed out, the same engine in the Radical SR3 SL makes closer to 300 hp. It would require a larger turbo we were told, but this causes problems. "If you size it too large and capable of too much power you lose bottom-end torque and response," said Urwin.

ST is already hot, RS would be more soThis wasn't talked about, but the more likely option is a 2.3-litre version of the Ecoboost rumoured to be under development in the States and capable of around 350hp. What is 99 per cent certain is that the next RS will be a five-door only, for the very good reason Ford hasn't got a three-door version of this generation Focus.

It'll also likely to be sold in the States for the first time, which is a good thing because the sheer numbers will bring economies of scale (ie affordability) for initially expensive integration of hardware like an E-diff.

At the end of the interview, Urwin had a question for us: what did we think PHers wanted in the next RS? We attempted to answer, but the best response would be "read the comments." Here's your chance - over to you!

Pistonheads

Info praticamente ufficiali sulla futura RS .

Vediamo un po' :

- Differenziale a slittamento limititato sviluppato dalla GKN (gli stessi che lo fanno per le BMW M)

- 2.3 EcoBoost da 350Cv ancora in fase di sviluppo.

[Beckervdo]

2.3 Turbo Ecoboost, se è un 4 cilindri, mi suona di vecchio motore Ford-Mazda di base.

[makomako]

Inevitabilmente una versione ibrida rispetto ad una normale si porta dietro il peso di batterie e motore elettrico. Qualche kg credo lo risparmino sul motore' date=' che non sarà più il 5 cilindri di origine Volvo ma il 2.0 Ecoboost. Di sicuro c'è il vantaggio di avere una distribuzione dei pesi migliore, grazie al maggior peso sull'asse posteriore.

Idea interessante, vedremo se i vantaggi in termini di consumi e prestazioni saranno confermati nella pratica .[/quote']

non è che la distribuzione dei pesi 50:50 sia la manna per tutte le auto eh, ferrari porsche e qualsiasi f1 non ce l'hanno. E lo stesso per una ta non è che avere il peso equamente ripartito sia automaticamente il top.