Tom Fords review of the new Focus RS
22 February 2009, 05:25 PM
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Tom Fords review of the new Focus RS
Two page feature in the Sunday Times' 'in gear' section.Gets a great write up.Ford says "...And heres the big news:Its better than all current fiur wheel drive systems in gofast hatchbacks"
Surely a dig at the new 'softer' direction for Subaru.I love scoobs,but we knew that with Subarus new stance,we would be left behind,with only past victories to fall back on...Shame really
Surely a dig at the new 'softer' direction for Subaru.I love scoobs,but we knew that with Subarus new stance,we would be left behind,with only past victories to fall back on...Shame really
22 February 2009, 07:27 PM
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22 February 2009, 09:00 PM
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He says that the lack of torque steer is down to the clever Quaife diff and makes no mention of the mysterious Revo Knuckle.
Lol at this comment on the article
Lol at this comment on the article
Encouraging people to speed through country B roads? These killing machines should stay on the race track and leave the peace and quiet of the countryside to get on being just that.
chris , Bagshot, UK
chris , Bagshot, UK
Last edited by Daz34; 22 February 2009 at 09:02 PM.
22 February 2009, 09:11 PM
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end of the day its a ford (found on roadside dead) 
and when that gearbox explodes wich it will how much will they charge for a new one from quaiffe 6 or 7k
and when that gearbox explodes wich it will how much will they charge for a new one from quaiffe 6 or 7k
22 February 2009, 09:32 PM
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What about against the almost new RA-R though
22 February 2009, 11:59 PM
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Its all good though, if this RS Focus is great then surely it means other manufacturers will respond with something "special" and so as consumers of these cars we will end up winning with some great choice of motors 
Ahhh but then there's the credit crunch............
Ahhh but then there's the credit crunch............
23 February 2009, 09:23 AM
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Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn ......... (You get the idea)
Looks like I was rather too quick taking my name off the list. I really didn't think they'd do it, but by the sounds of it Ford has managed to get 300bhp to the front wheels without causing you to crash. Having owned the Mk1, I just didn't think the Mk2 would work.
Will still be a tw*t to get the power down in 1st & 2nd in anything other than a bone dry road, but after reading that review, I wish I'd kept my name on, and payed my deposit.
May give the local dealer a ring and see what the situation is.
Looks like I was rather too quick taking my name off the list. I really didn't think they'd do it, but by the sounds of it Ford has managed to get 300bhp to the front wheels without causing you to crash. Having owned the Mk1, I just didn't think the Mk2 would work.
Will still be a tw*t to get the power down in 1st & 2nd in anything other than a bone dry road, but after reading that review, I wish I'd kept my name on, and payed my deposit.
May give the local dealer a ring and see what the situation is.
23 February 2009, 11:11 AM
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Encouraging people to speed through country B roads? These killing machines should stay on the race track and leave the peace and quiet of the countryside to get on being just that.
chris , Bagshot, UK
chris , Bagshot, UK
23 February 2009, 11:17 AM
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23 February 2009, 11:39 AM
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If anything does happen (and its out of warranty), then a new LSD is approx £600.
23 February 2009, 12:14 PM
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"Is the torque limited in the first 2 gears?"
Where did you read that ?
Jost Capito himself states that there is no "taking off of torque electronically".
See here:
New Focus RS Video
Hear him yourself in the FWD vs 4WD, plus turbo power part - about the middle. There is also a very informative document here if you realy want to read up about it
Look here:
:: FORD Focus RS - PressKit 2009 ::
D.
Where did you read that ?
Jost Capito himself states that there is no "taking off of torque electronically".
See here:
New Focus RS Video
Hear him yourself in the FWD vs 4WD, plus turbo power part - about the middle. There is also a very informative document here if you realy want to read up about it
Look here::: FORD Focus RS - PressKit 2009 ::
In Focus RS, RevoKnuckle has been developed to work alongside the differential in enhancing traction and drive in a range of situations. Focus RS’ Quaife epicyclical design relies heavily on friction of the gear surfaces which builds with differential speed, and has been tuned finely to avoid ****** and rapid torque changes.
Such a mechanical approach was very deliberately chosen over other available solutions, such as electronic torque truncation, or Electric Power Assist Steering algorithms to ‘mask’ torque steer effect by adding ‘counter-steering’ force into the steering system.
Such a mechanical approach was very deliberately chosen over other available solutions, such as electronic torque truncation, or Electric Power Assist Steering algorithms to ‘mask’ torque steer effect by adding ‘counter-steering’ force into the steering system.
23 February 2009, 12:21 PM
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surely 4 wheel drive is always going to be best.
winter/wet roads etc etc.
likewise putting all that power down will cause an undue strain: again doing it through a 4 wheel drive system must be best.
at end of the day its no quicker than my bog standard wrx sl- let alone what you guys do, tweaking yr cars all day long.
and it'll be a cold day in hell before I buy a ford.
winter/wet roads etc etc.
likewise putting all that power down will cause an undue strain: again doing it through a 4 wheel drive system must be best.
at end of the day its no quicker than my bog standard wrx sl- let alone what you guys do, tweaking yr cars all day long.
and it'll be a cold day in hell before I buy a ford.
23 February 2009, 12:48 PM
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surely 4 wheel drive is always going to be best.
winter/wet roads etc etc.
likewise putting all that power down will cause an undue strain: again doing it through a 4 wheel drive system must be best.
at end of the day its no quicker than my bog standard wrx sl- let alone what you guys do, tweaking yr cars all day long.
and it'll be a cold day in hell before I buy a ford.
winter/wet roads etc etc.
likewise putting all that power down will cause an undue strain: again doing it through a 4 wheel drive system must be best.
at end of the day its no quicker than my bog standard wrx sl- let alone what you guys do, tweaking yr cars all day long.
and it'll be a cold day in hell before I buy a ford.
Come on the next ST owners club meet if you fancy it up in the Dales as we were on yesterday - neither the RS4 or WR1 with us had any advantage.
There will be a meet in April I would imagine and we will have 2 or 3 RS's there, so please pop along in your WRX.
Last edited by Dream Weaver; 23 February 2009 at 12:49 PM.
23 February 2009, 01:08 PM
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"Is the torque limited in the first 2 gears?"
Where did you read that ?
Jost Capito himself states that there is no "taking off of torque electronically".
See here:
New Focus RS Video
Hear him yourself in the FWD vs 4WD, plus turbo power part - about the middle. There is also a very informative document here if you realy want to read up about it Look here:
:: FORD Focus RS - PressKit 2009 ::
D.
Where did you read that ?
Jost Capito himself states that there is no "taking off of torque electronically".
See here:
New Focus RS Video
Hear him yourself in the FWD vs 4WD, plus turbo power part - about the middle. There is also a very informative document here if you realy want to read up about it
Look here::: FORD Focus RS - PressKit 2009 ::
D.
I simply don't buy the whole 4WD made it boring and it was either FWD or no RS cause the car has to be exciting argument though. I don't even think he believes it having driven the old Escort Cossies.
This is marketing spiel....for 4WD is too expensive.
The Focus RS is looking great and I can't wait to have a go, but simple physics dictate, you will never get the traction with a FWD car that you get with a 4WD car. This will show up on wet and bumpy roads and I'll bet that good though the revo knuckle system is, torque steer is still evident.
When Jost says no torque is taken off electronically, I think he's referring to torque steer and the fact that the suspension reduces it via mechanical action, not electronic interference.
That does not mean that the engines torque output has not been reduced in the first two gears to aid traction though...my money is on a cap.
Ns04
Last edited by New_scooby_04; 23 February 2009 at 01:09 PM.
23 February 2009, 02:04 PM
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The Focus RS is looking great and I can't wait to have a go, but simple physics dictate, you will never get the traction with a FWD car that you get with a 4WD car. This will show up on wet and bumpy roads and I'll bet that good though the revo knuckle system is, torque steer is still evident.
Trust me on this, my ST never ever shows any TS at all, and yesterdays run in the Dales was the ultimate test of that!!
Although technically speaking 4WD will have a small advantage over FWD, you would have to be driving very dangerously to see that advantage on a decent road.
23 February 2009, 02:06 PM
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23 February 2009, 02:32 PM
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Watch the video here and see what the reviewer says about the total lack of torque steer - Autocar Videos - Autocar.co.uk
Trust me on this, my ST never ever shows any TS at all, and yesterdays run in the Dales was the ultimate test of that!!
Although technically speaking 4WD will have a small advantage over FWD, you would have to be driving very dangerously to see that advantage on a decent road.
Trust me on this, my ST never ever shows any TS at all, and yesterdays run in the Dales was the ultimate test of that!!
Although technically speaking 4WD will have a small advantage over FWD, you would have to be driving very dangerously to see that advantage on a decent road.
Don't get me wrong, I'm betting it'll be a cracker. I know the Focus ST quite well and like it a lot. BUT I don't believe for one minute the line that ford are coming up with about not going AWD. Marketing spiel and clever engineering to conceal a problem that wouldn't have been there with AWD.
And in the dry, the differences may not be that apparent, in the wet, unless they've reigned in that torque, and/or are relying on some pretty hefty traction control, it's gonna squirm like buggery, and the AWD advantage will become much more demonstrable.
Also, we should note that Autocar have been less than subjective in the past in order to curry favour with manufacturers to obtain the first drives etc..
I look forward to hearing what performance car mag has to say about it!
Last edited by New_scooby_04; 23 February 2009 at 02:39 PM.
23 February 2009, 02:51 PM
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I'd still get a low mileage Megane R26 (not the impractical r26.6) for £11k and save myself a lot of money in the process, it uses the same tech in a lighter shell, get it remapped to 280bhp and it would be just as fast if not faster than the RS along B roads.
I admire Ford for doing this, and I'm glad to here (from this source) that they HAVE done it successfully this time, but £25k plus options for a focus just sounds too expensive in the current climate, however fast it is, having said that I can see where the price comes from, they made such a loss on the old RS that they have to price the mk2 carefully! But as I said before, you'd be an idiot to buy any new car at the moment, even if it is special.
You can see the group tests against the RS now......... and dare I say it, magazines will be chucking in their much admired and over publicised R26R again lol.
I admire Ford for doing this, and I'm glad to here (from this source) that they HAVE done it successfully this time, but £25k plus options for a focus just sounds too expensive in the current climate, however fast it is, having said that I can see where the price comes from, they made such a loss on the old RS that they have to price the mk2 carefully! But as I said before, you'd be an idiot to buy any new car at the moment, even if it is special.
You can see the group tests against the RS now......... and dare I say it, magazines will be chucking in their much admired and over publicised R26R again lol.
23 February 2009, 03:04 PM
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The latest video discusses the revo-knuckle in depth and again re-iterates the way it puts the power down as "defying logic". Alos touches teh topic of increases the power and torque.
Autocar Videos - Autocar.co.uk
Can't wait to have spin myself.
D.
Autocar Videos - Autocar.co.uk
Can't wait to have spin myself.
D.
23 February 2009, 03:09 PM
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CAR magazine's quick opinion: Ford Focus RS (2009) CAR review | Road Testing Reviews | Car Magazine Online
next mag out on 25th Feb could be worth a look..
"You’ll see how the new second-gen Focus RS stands up against the best hot hatches of all time (Renault Clio Williams, Peugeot 306 GTi-6, original and current VW Golf GTi, Lancia Integrale and more) in the new April 2009 issue of CAR Magazine out 25 February"
next mag out on 25th Feb could be worth a look..
"You’ll see how the new second-gen Focus RS stands up against the best hot hatches of all time (Renault Clio Williams, Peugeot 306 GTi-6, original and current VW Golf GTi, Lancia Integrale and more) in the new April 2009 issue of CAR Magazine out 25 February"