New focus RS is going to be 350 bhp

More powerful, third-gen RS on the way, says FoMoCo, and it's still two-wheel drive...

Ford has confirmed that the new Focus platform will spawn a third version of the Focus RS superhatch - and that it will get even more power than the 300bhp Mk2 car, and yet stick to front-wheel drive.

Ford's global chief of small cars, Gunnar Herrmann, has even hinted to the Sydney Morning Herald that the new hatch could be heading towards a 400bhp power output.

"I think [more power for the next RS] is sustainable. With the limited edition RS500 we went up to 350 horsepower and some of our development units we have them up to 380hp. And then you really get into engine durability. But it can handle it."

It seems more likely that an output of around 350bhp will be the true figure, but either way the clever Revoknuckle suspension and Quaife limited-slip diff are going to have their work cut out this time around.

Those 350 horses will come from a pumped-up version of ford's 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine, which will deliver around 250bhp in the ST. That means the warble of the off-beat turbocharged five-pot engine is done with - but we knew that was gone anyway, killed by Euro5 regs.

The new Focus RS is expected to revealed - at least in concept form - at the Frankfurt motor show this September, although PH's friends at Ford reckon that we might even see something a little sooner than that.

"2.0-litre EcoBoost engine"

fudging eco regs!!!!


350bhp in a FWD car will be useless when its wet. Should make it 4WD and give it the 380bhp talked about above. Although l couldnt see that happening due to cost.

Either way good on ford for bring out these quick cars

i get struggle to get 290bhp down in the wet in the Vixxer hoping the LSD will help with this

But then again there's a FWD drag car in america running a 2.0 ecotec 70psi turbo engine with 1700bhp and that's beating most of the RWD cars

Most FWD drag cars run no rear suspension, but just a scaffold bar instead. Don't fancy that on the road

it cannot feel any worse than what it allready feel's like at the moment with the state of our roads