2009 Ford Focus Sedan Gets New High-End SEL Version

Unlike the 2009 Focus Coupe that received some minor tweaks earlier this year –details and images here, the only thing new for the 2009 Focus Sedan is the addition of a new high-end version called SEL along with the availability of the electronic stability control on all models. Powered by a 140HP 2.0-liter engine, the Focus Sedan SEL comes equipped with 16-inch Euroflanged alloy wheels, chrome door handles, chrome heated mirrors, leather trimmed heated seats and the Ford SYNC hands-free communication and entertainment system. Ford has yet to reveal pricing on the 2009 Focus Sedan. -Image gallery after the jump

Video: 2009 Ford Focus RS vs First-Gen Focus RS

Car Magazine’s Chris Chilton had the opportunity to take the awesome first generation Focus RS for a quick spin along with the man who’s responsible for the development of both RS models, Ford Team RS chief, Jost Capito. The two then headed back to Ford’s studio to compare the Focus RS Mk1 with the new 300HP Focus RS that made its official debut at the British Motor Show earlier this month.

Capito says that the new Focus RS will probably be about half-a-minute faster than the old RS on the Nurburgring race track. While we didn’t find an official time for the Focus RS Mk1, we did discover that Sport Auto lapped the ‘Ring with the old RS in 9’05’’. However, we shouldn’t make any hasty conclusions as the new RS is still under development. You can read all the details and see our high-resolution image gallery on the 2009 Focus RS by clicking here or just follow the jump to see the video. -Continued

Via: Car Magazine

Ford Focus RS: Live Images from London

The Focus we’ve all been waiting for since the launch of the second generation model in 2005 made its first public appearance at this week’s British Motor Show in London. Equipped with a 300Hp 2.5-liter turbocharged 5-cylinder engine, the Focus RS will be able to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than 6.0 sec. Even though Ford maintained the front wheel drive setup of the less powerful Focus ST, the company says that the RS is able to target a class-leading balance of traction, handling and performance. Read all the details on the Focus RS here of follow the jump to see live images of Ford’s lime-green monster at the London show. -Continued

250,000th Russian Built Ford Focus Rolls off Production Line

Ford’s 250,000th Russian-built Focus rolled off the production line this week at the company’s plant in Vsevolozhsk, near St. Petersburg. The commemorative model was a silver 1.8 litre Focus Ghia Wagon that will be delivered to a customer in Moscow. The Focus that is built in Russia in four body styles (3d, 5d, sedan and wagon) has been Russia's best-selling foreign car for the past five consecutive full years. -Continued

"We were the very first foreign manufacturer to open our own production facility in Russia and when the first locally-built Focus was built at Vsevolozhsk in 2002, the plant had an annual production capacity of 25,000 cars," said John Fleming, president and CEO, Ford of Europe.

"In order to keep pace with demand from customers in Russia, that figure has risen today to 75,000, and it will rise again to 125,000 in 2009, when the Ford Mondeo will also be produced at the plant," he added.

Ford Focus RS 300Hp: 22 High Res Images and Full Technical Details

It is by far the most important debut at this month’s London Motor Show and perhaps the most anticipated attainable performance car of the year; Ford’s scorching hot 300Hp Focus RS. Following an earlier leak today, we managed to get our hands on the high resolution image gallery along with the official press release.

You may have noticed that we haven’t mentioned the word concept this time; that’s because neither does Ford as the London Show’s Focus RS is actually the production version that will go on sale in Europe in early 2009. Although the new RS is based on the recently revised Focus ST, Jost Capito, Ford Europe’s Director for Performance Vehicles, and his team, performed many mods to the car, starting with the 2.5-litre 5-cylinder turbocharged engine.

Revisions include unique camshafts, a revised cylinder head and gasket and new intake and exhaust manifold system. According to Ford's engineers, the improved 2.5 Turbo is targeting a power output of 300PS and over 410Nm of torque (ST: 225Hp). Although the hot hatch is still under development, Ford supports that early performance testing indicates a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) time of less than 6.0 seconds. -Continued

Like its predecessor, the first generation Focus RS that went out of production in 2002, Ford’s newest hot hatch retains the front wheel drive set up of the Focus ST. In order to put 300PS on the road through the front wheels in a civilized manner, Capito and his team of engineers performed several modifications, starting off with the addition of Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing limited-slip differential.

Moreover, the RS gained an innovative front suspension system known as a ‘RevoKnuckle’, which is designed to reduce unwanted steering disturbance and torque steer. According to Capito, the results are staggering and it eliminates the need of an AWD system that would add extra weigh to the car.

“Our work has shown clearly that our approach in combining a tuned RevoKnuckle with the Quaife differential is an ideal solution for a high performance front-wheel-drive road car like Focus RS”, said Jost Capito.

“As you would expect, we gave all-wheel-drive careful consideration, but by combining and tuning these elements and learning from Ford’s expertise in industry-leading handling, we have managed to eliminate the weight of AWD from the car and still have been able to target a class-leading balance of traction, handling and performance. The result is a lightweight set-up, that will deliver the right blend of traction and razor sharp controllability” Capito concluded.

Other improvements for Focus RS include a 40mm wider track, stronger, longer driveshafts, revised springs and dampers, a thicker, longer rear anti-roll bar, retuned steering system and most importantly, a special version of Ford’s ESP system designed to allow a very sporty driving style before activating. The Focus RS also boasts uprated brakes, with 336mm ventilated front discs and 300mm rear discs.

In terms of styling, we think the pictures speak for themselves. The Focus RS is one hatch you definitely won’t ignore on the road, even without the provocative bright green paint that brings to mind the 1970s Le Mans Green of the Escort RS1600 era. The Focus RS is equipped with an aggressive bodykit that includes a new front bumper, a twin-element black roof spoiler echoing RS models of the past and a newly designed rear bumper that incorporates a large venturi tunnel and two chromed exhaust tail pipes.

Moreover, the widened front and rear quarter panels have been revised to incorporate wider wheel arches that house 19-inch alloys, wrapped in 235/35 low profile Continental tires. Other notable features include the styling details highlighted in gloss ‘piano black’, the RS-badged vents behind the front wheel arches and the two 80’s RS-style bonnet louvers.

Admittedly, the Focus RS’ cabin is less impressive than car’s outside as the most notable differences between the ST concern the bi-colour sculpted Recaro bucket seats, the brushed aluminium highlights and the carbon-look trim on the centre console. However, having driven the 225Hp Focus ST, that’s the last thing we’d care about once we got behind the wheel of this green monster.

Ford Focus RS Concept – First Official Images?

After the premature leak of the new BMW 7-Series, the second crack in the dam today comes once again from Germany. This time it’s the highly anticipated Ford Focus RS Concept that will be revealed to the public for the first time at the British Auto Show in London on July 22.

We traced these pictures -that look pretty official - back to the German car magazine “Autozeitung”. We remind you that a couple of weeks ago, Ford released a set of official images featuring a lightly camouflaged Focus RS on the Ring along with the initial details on the car’s specs - click here

Ford had told us then that the Focus RS will be equipped with a revised version of the Focus ST’s 2.5-liter turbocharged 5-cylinder engine generating over 280PS and more than 400 Nm of torque. According to Autozeitung, the RS will deliver exactly 300 Hp to the front wheels along with 410 Nm of torque. -Continued

We’re not so sure about the lime-green color of the concept, but the Focus RS sure looks menacing. As for the interior and apart from the bi-color bucket seats, we can’t see any visible changes compared to the Focus ST’s cabin.

Ford Focus & C-MAX with Dual-Clutch Gearbox on Sale in the UK

Ford’s new six-speed dual clutch semi-automated gearbox is available for order in the UK. Called PowerShift, the transmission is offered on the Focus and C-MAX (minivan version of the Focus) range with the 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engine. Buyers can opt between two states of tune for the diesel engine with 136Hp or 110Hp.

Regardless of power rating, body style or series, all Focus models equipped with PowerShift offer a combined fuel economy of 40.5 MPG (US) or 48.6 MPG (UK), with average CO₂ emissions of 154 g/km while C-MAX delivers 40.0 MPG (US) or 47.9 MPG (UK) and 159g/km. Prices start from £18,195 for the Focus 3dr Zetec, 110 PS 2.0l TDCi and from £18,895 for the C-MAX Zetec, 110 PS 2.0l TDCi.

Update: Ford Focus RS Pictures Official After All

Earlier today, Ford released two official images and initial details on its long awaited Focus RS –see here. As you might remember, a couple of days ago we showed you a set of pictures depicting a greenish Focus RS but we weren’t sure whether or not they were official as it was evident that they had been photoshoped.

However, we spoke with Tom Phillips from Autoexpress who also runs the Car Tribe website and he confirmed they were indeed official pictures leaked from Ford. Looks like the folks at Ford came up with these photoshops to either illustrate what the car might look like when it enters production or maybe even to persuade company board members during early development stages that they should go ahead and give the... green light. -Continued.

Link: Car Tribe

2009 Ford Focus RS Official: 2.5-liter Turbo with 280 PS!

These are the first official images of the all-new Ford Focus RS, a pre-production version of which will be shown at the 2008 London Motor Show in late July. The Focus RS, shown here lightly camouflaged while undergoing performance and durability testing at the challenging Nürburgring Circuit in Germany, will enter the European market in early 2009.

The all-new Focus RS features a specially developed, turbocharged version of the Duratec 2.5-litre engine, based on Focus ST, but significantly revised to generate over 280PS and more than 400 Nm of torque. Power will transferred to the front wheels, with a limited slip differential helping to get those 280PS on to the road. Further technical details of the all-new Focus RS will be released closer to launch. -Continued

Jost Capito, whose Team RS development group were responsible for the first generation Focus RS in 2002, and more recently, the Fiesta ST and the new Focus ST, said: “The new Focus RS is as much a car for driving enthusiasts as the one before it and classic Ford RS models of the past. We’re staying true to the core RS principles of a no-compromise, affordable high performance road car you can live with. The new Focus RS will have the muscles, heart and soul of a genuine RS and will be exciting to drive every day.”

"We have no doubt that we can enhance the acclaimed qualities of the already excellent Focus for an even higher performance model than the ST," Capito added. "Now, we are going through the rigorous job of proving out our technical approach in extensive testing and tuning over a variety of roads including the most demanding track in the world, the "Green Hell" that is the Nürburgring Nordschleife!”

"With two consecutive Manufacturers’ World Rally Championship titles and the success of Fiesta and Focus ST models, we have the knowledge and the experience. The time is right for Ford to deliver a new high performance model for the legions of loyal Ford RS customers around Europe," Capito concluded.