RS

The RS

Late 2002 and after years of waiting Ford finally unleashed the beast that is the Focus RS!

How can you make a Focus even better? By giving it a massive 212bhp engine, flared wheel arches, lowered suspension, a monster set of 18 inch alloys and a front bumper so aggressive that even Vin Diesel would be scared to take it on in a fight.

Interior-wise not too much has changed, the style & layout of the dashboard remains relatively unchanged except for the inclusion of a carbon fibre centre console, a push-button start and a bit of colour-coding around the steering wheel & dials. The standard Focus seats have been ditched in favour of some gorgeous blue & black Sparco racing seats trimmed in leather & Alcantara.  Other neat touches include an aluminium gear knob & gaitor surround, aluminium handbrake cover, aluminium door handles and alloy pedals.

The Focus RS costs just under £20,000 (about $31,000), that’s around seven thousand pounds more than a 2.0 Zetec - so what were you getting for your £7,000? Need you ask! The car is stunning! Some complaints are that the RS is too subtle and maybe Ford should have made the car even lower, given it even wider arches and added an extra inch to the alloys but that isn’t what the RS’s are all about. The RS brand has always been about raw power rather than OTT styling, it’s true at first glance the Focus RS doesn’t seem to differ from a standard model too much but it’s not until everything sinks in that you start to realise just how different this car really is. Most of you reading this are probably into modifying cars but just look at the Focus RS - it’s all done for you, what on Earth could you do to this car to make it look better?

TECH SPEC:
0-60mph in 6.3 seconds
0-100mph in 15.7 seconds
Standing quarter mile in 14.9 seconds
Engine: 4 cyl, 16 valve, dohc, turbo
Capacity: 1988 litres
Max power: 212bhp @ 5,500
Max torque: 229lb @ 3,500
Transmission: 5 speed, manual, fwd
Front brakes: Vented discs
Rear brakes: Discs

Top Gear Magazine

The Focus is cool, very cool with its 18″ alloys, pumped-up wheel arches, deep front spoiler and snake-eyed fog lamps, it looks crouched, purposeful and ready for a fight.

The Fords steering does indeed feel initially light and vague as you turn into a corner, then as the power is applied and the mechanical Quaiffe differential starts working you feel the wheel kick back in your hands. It certainly wouldn’t be there if Ford had gone down the four wheel drive route but even so it never gets out of hand.

Keep your foot on the throttle and the front drive Focus sorts itself out and heads up the road. Learn to live with the squirming feel  from the steering wheel, learn to enjoy it and you’ll realise that the Focus is putting it’s power and torque down exceptionally well without any flashing traction control lights kicking in.

Copyright BBC 2002

SAFETY/INTERIOR
2 airbags
Air-con
6 disc CD headunit
Leather/Alcantara Sparco seats
Wheels: 18×8J
Tyres: 225/40/18