Ford has announced the formation of a new global Ford Performance team to bring 12 new performance vehicles to market by 2020, spearheaded by 2015 Ford Focus RS.
FORD WILL DELIVER 12 new performance vehicles by 2020 with the 2015 Focus RS available in major markets around the world for the first time ever. Ford boss, Mark Fields confirmed yesterday at a press conference that the new 2015 Ford Focus RS would be revealed at the Detroit Motor Show next month.
Details are still very thin on the ground with a handful of spy images purportedly showing the Focus RS. It’s expected the RS would get a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with up to 260kW, mated to a six-speed manual, all-wheel drive is also rumoured to help the Focus RS get its power to the ground.
At the same conference, the Blue Oval said a new Ford Performance team would bring together racing, performance vehicles and parts – with Ford SVT, Team RS and Ford Racing merging into one, becoming Ford Performance.
“Ford remains committed to innovation through performance,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development.
“Our new global Ford Performance team ties together racing, performance vehicles and parts. It will allow us to more quickly introduce products and accessories that meet the needs of customers around the world on-road and on the track.”
Leading its performance vehicle charge, the 2015 Ford Focus RS will join Fiesta ST, Focus ST, Mustang Shelby GT350 and F-150 Raptor. “To earn the RS badge, the vehicle has to be a no-compromise driver’s car that can deliver exceptional performance on the track when required while providing excellent every day driving,” said Nair.
Going against Ford Australia’s recent decision to pull out of V8 Supercars after the 2015 season, Ford says it “considers racing an important proving ground for cultivating passionate engineers – allowing them to innovate in top-level competition as they face challenges that require successful solutions in very compressed time frames”.
saw one of these at my local dealer the other day. it was one of those imports ford brought into the country a few years ago,50g price tag second hand, what was the output of those cars and how many were brought in? as i understood it they were basicly a rally car built for the street
Hi Damo, there were 315 brought into the country and $50k seems pretty steep for something that was $60k new. The story was that Ford Oz lobbied for them and eventually got a consignment of cars intended for Ireland. Output was 224kW and 440Nm. Cheers Isaac (editor).
i thought so about the price too,probably trying to cash in on their collectabillity.
I’d say so. It was a good car, but it certainly wasn’t as good as some scribblers made out. I remember taking one for a good long strap out of Sydney to Oberon and across some of my favourite twisty roads… I’d take the less-power and cheaper too Focus ST. Cheers, Isaac.