Ford Focus

legion · 12-05-2005, 10:26 AM

Correct me if I am wrong, but Ford does not offer an AWD version of the Focus for sale to the public, correct?

Subaru has the Impreza WRX Sti.

Mitsubishi has the Lancer Evo.

Why no rally-based version of the Focus?

gaijindabe · 12-05-2005, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by legion

Why no rally-based version of the Focus?

Because the economy car version of this crappy product barely works.

(See my posting in the "Ford stock" thread.)

legion · 12-05-2005, 10:55 AM

The base Lancer is a much crappier car than the base Focus. People still like the Evo.

tcar · 12-05-2005, 11:38 AM

There is a competition version available. Special order, and you have to know someone.

V8, mid engine, AWD

TerryBPP · 12-05-2005, 11:42 AM

I know SVT has a souped up Focus that ford sells but I dont think its AWD. I recall something on Top Gear or Car and Driver referring to a extremely fast production Focus only sold in Europe (

RallyJon · 12-05-2005, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tcar
There is a competition version available. Special order, and you have to know someone.

V8, mid engine, AWD

I call BS. Post a pic.

legion · 12-05-2005, 11:55 AM

I'm just thinking that Ford could make a killing on a turbo-four AWD Focus.

TerryBPP · 12-05-2005, 12:15 PM

They are too busy selling trucks. Thats their bread and butter. Would be nice to see a Focus AWD turbo with 250hp.

tcar · 12-05-2005, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RallyJon
I call BS. Post a pic.

Oops. I remembered wrong... big time.

It's not mid engine. It's not AWD. It's front engine, rear wheel drive. RS8.

There's an AWD Focus in Europe, but it's an I4 (turbo option, I think).

I haven't been able to get a pic to upload.

masraum · 12-05-2005, 12:45 PM

I think the only really sporty focus is in Europe. Nothing too cool here in the states

oldE · 12-05-2005, 02:00 PM

With the new generation Focus in Europe, (based upon the Mazda 3 & Volvo V40 pan), I believe Ford dropped the hot AWD version, for now. That spot will be taken over by a version with the 5 cylinder turbo motor from Volvo. The euro Focus is a nice piece of work. Solid, stable above 80mph and a very good handling car. The rental I drove had the 1600cc engine, but there was no problem keeping up with most traffic on the M roads in the UK. The euro version is also a bit bigger than the origional and the warmed-over North American version, which wasn't replaced for two reasons, one it was only part-way through its cycle, second, the upsize would leave a large space at the bottom of Ford's product line up in NA. I look for Ford of NA to bring in the Fiesta as a replacement for the Focus in another two to three years. That would give them the 500, the Fusion, (based upon a stretched Mazda 6 platform) and a car just a little smaller than the current (NA)Focus. In a parking lot, I found it takes a second glance to differentiate between the Fiesta and the new (euro), Focus 4 door hatch.
Les

dd74 · 12-05-2005, 02:26 PM

Ford released a Euro-only Ford Focus RS last year. Here's a review:

http://motortrend.com/roadtests/coupe/112_0308_focus/

This is all I could find for an AWD version:

kaisen · 12-05-2005, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dd74

This is all I could find for an AWD version:

Umm.... I don't see any rear wheel drive hardware under that jacked-up Focus.

Anyway, Ford hasn't been too forward thinking on what they send here for high-performance cars. The Euro Mondeo was pretty hot, but all we got was the half-assed SVT Contour.

I agree that Ford should have capitalized on the tremendous success of their WRC effort. An EVO-like Focus would have been a nice halo on Ford's small-car offerings.

E

turbo6bar · 12-05-2005, 03:39 PM

Top Gear and Fifth Gear had segments about the apparently Euro-only Focus ST. It's the first Ford I've liked in quite some time. I could actually visualize buying one.

dd74 · 12-05-2005, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kaisen
Umm.... I don't see any rear wheel drive hardware under that jacked-up Focus.

E

That's the point, E.

Adam · Adam's Garage

We're getting a new-shape Focus ST/XR5 Turbo with the Volvo 5-cylinder 2.5 turbo (250+hp), 6-speed trans and fancy brakes/wheels etc in Q1-2006.

Should be interesting...

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

It would be cool if Ford made a souped up version - their SVT Focus ZX3 was ok, but could have been more.

While an AWD version would be cool, even a FWD turbo, ala the now defunct Neon SRT-4 would be fun. Give it a limited slip, a 200-ish hp powerplant, tighten up the suspension, and whamo - you've got a fun little pocket rocket!

For some reason, I always liked the look of the little Focus hatchback.

-Z-man.

Purrybonker · 12-06-2005, 07:29 AM

Focuses are excellent little gems. I've had mine since '01 and bought it after being really taken by them while bouncing around europe in '99. They are light weight, have neutral, well balanced handling and are numerous enough (best selling car in the world, I believe) that there are loads of aftermarket goodies available.

Mine has a Cosworth ~ Powerworks (now owned by Mahle) supercharger and makes circa 220 HP. 85k and not a rattle or squeak - best car I ever bought.

With the weight and HP advantage both going to the car on the left, guess which one hauls the groceries back from the store quicker? Biggest challenge with the Focus is keeping traction. Can get expensive smokin' those SO3's on a regular basis - but damm it's hard to resist...

Latest versions of the Focus get the duratec engines that are found in the Mazda products.

dd74 · 12-06-2005, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Adam Chaplin
We're getting a new-shape Focus ST/XR5 Turbo with the Volvo 5-cylinder 2.5 turbo (250+hp), 6-speed trans and fancy brakes/wheels etc in Q1-2006.

Should be interesting...

With our (poor) luck, I bet we won't get one like this.