The Ford Focus RS has been a favorite of the European market for a while, a so-called “hot hatch” that comes with some formidable muscle in a small package. And now the Focus RS is “coming home,” so to say, as it prepares to touch down in America.
The 2016 Ford Focus RS, just to remind you, is a 320-horsepower hot hatchback that comes with all-wheel drive, and it underscores Ford’s performance-oriented initiatives that have included the Ford GT, Shelby Mustang GT350R, and F-150 Raptor, all three of which were on display at the Detroit Auto Show last month. The new Focus RS comes with the same 2.3-liter EcoBoost I4 that powers the Mustang’s four-cylinder variant, but said engine is a bit more powerful, at over 320 horsepower and 320 lb/ft. torque. Ford has yet to reveal exact figures, but if you consider that the Focus is a compact hatchback, that is a lot of power under the hood.
Aside from its small, yet power-packed engine, the 2016 Ford Focus RS also comes with a torque vectoring system that is capable of driving up to 70 percent of power to the car’s rear wheels, and up to all of its power to either one of the rear wheels. Other performance-oriented goodies include sport suspension, electric power steering, anti-roll bars, and more, while the car also comes standard with 19-inch Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires for the road, and Sport Cup 2 tires for the racetrack. The new RS has 19-inch wheels, outsized exhaust tips and rear spoiler, and an aggressive, sporty-looking design to top it all off.