Looks like a new Focus RS is to be launched??

[alancdavis]

New RS cars ............ ............ ain't we been here before !!!!!!

Will they be as sought after in 40 years from now the same as the Mk1 and MK2s ?

[Frosticles]

Will they be as sought after in 40 years from now the same as the Mk1 and MK2s ?

All the MK1 & 2's would have rusted away by then!

[flyingpilot]

RS brand with Ford is long gone, just a marketing ploy.

The new Mustang is officially coming to Britian, RWD with two engine options too. Same money as a Focus, no brainer really.

[rwdrs]

This led to the Escorts RS Cosworth. One of the best RS's that has ever been produced.

The Escort Cosworth was only nominally a Mk5 Escort, the body was radically altered and the running gear was Sierra Cosworth.

You ask anyone that owned a basic run-of-the-mill Mk5 Escort/Orion what they think about them, absolutely fücking horrendous cars, the new Zetec engined ones (top of range Ghias etc) wouldn't start due to sticking valves, the electrics were atrocious, especially the CJB and even the microswitches in the door locks packed up and wipers stopped working it was even a pain to remove the gearbox in comparison to the Mk4.

When I worked at Whites in Taunton we had a Mk6 Escort as a loan car, it had not even completed 2,000 miles and the 1.4 CVH had completely packed up. It had to have a new engine…

No, the Mk5 Escort was an insult to anyone that'd parted with their hard earned for a car. A mate of mine had an Orion (after loads of Vauxhalls) and had the door locks changed about 4 times, he said he'd not buy another Ford!

I am just thankful that Ford are keeping the RS marque alive. Long may it continue.

Are they "keeping it alive"? Was the '95 Mexico keeping the Mexico model alive?
And why would anybody be thankful that the "RS marque" is being keep alive?
It's a marketing tool of a multi-national company that is extracting itself from the market where it wants people to buy its products.
That Ford don't produce a proper "halo" model until the platform's life is almost at an end is their own stupidity, not a thing to be thankful for.

I suspect most died-in-the wool Mini enthusiasts hate the BMW 1-Series that is apparently a Mini, have you seen the size of those things? I don't know what it has to do with mini…

[rwdrs]

Will they be as sought after in 40 years from now the same as the Mk1 and MK2s ?

In 2018/19 the first driverless (you sit there and read the Sunday Times) cars are planned to go into production, the technology has been tested and available for about 5-6 years now.
Couple that with the fact that certainly in capital cities, people are renting cars to go from A-B, then rent another to go from B-A, B-C or wherever (BMW Drive Now etc). The days of people owning cars and investing large amounts of their bank balance in them is disappearing.

Cars have become just transport that most people (certainly younger drivers) just don't see the need to own one, especially if, as soon may be the case, you won't physically be doing any driving anymore...
Like once upon a time you bought a Walkman and a camera etc etc, now a lot of people buy a smartphone and combine all devices in one, in 40 years time the only place you're likely to see a Focus is in a museum…

[Rallye]

In 2018/19 the first driverless (you sit there and read the Sunday Times) cars are planned to go into production, the technology has been tested and available for about 5-6 years now.
Couple that with the fact that certainly in capital cities, people are renting cars to go from A-B, then rent another to go from B-A, B-C or wherever (BMW Drive Now etc). The days of people owning cars and investing large amounts of their bank balance in them is disappearing.

Cars have become just transport that most people (certainly younger drivers) just don't see the need to own one, especially if, as soon may be the case, you won't physically be doing any driving anymore...
Like once upon a time you bought a Walkman and a camera etc etc, now a lot of people buy a smartphone and combine all devices in one, in 40 years time the only place you're likely to see a Focus is in a museum…

Cat in the hat.

[Frosticles]

The Escort Cosworth was only nominally a Mk5 Escort, the body was radically altered and the running gear was Sierra Cosworth.

You ask anyone that owned a basic run-of-the-mill Mk5 Escort/Orion what they think about them, absolutely fücking horrendous cars, the new Zetec engined ones (top of range Ghias etc) wouldn't start due to sticking valves, the electrics were atrocious, especially the CJB and even the microswitches in the door locks packed up and wipers stopped working it was even a pain to remove the gearbox in comparison to the Mk4.

When I worked at Whites in Taunton we had a Mk6 Escort as a loan car, it had not even completed 2,000 miles and the 1.4 CVH had completely packed up. It had to have a new engine…

No, the Mk5 Escort was an insult to anyone that'd parted with their hard earned for a car. A mate of mine had an Orion (after loads of Vauxhalls) and had the door locks changed about 4 times, he said he'd not buy another Ford!




Are they "keeping it alive"? Was the '95 Mexico keeping the Mexico model alive?
And why would anybody be thankful that the "RS marque" is being keep alive?
It's a marketing tool of a multi-national company that is extracting itself from the market where it wants people to buy its products.
That Ford don't produce a proper "halo" model until the platform's life is almost at an end is their own stupidity, not a thing to be thankful for.

I suspect most died-in-the wool Mini enthusiasts hate the BMW 1-Series that is apparently a Mini, have you seen the size of those things? I don't know what it has to do with mini…

I have come to the conclusion that you are far too old.

[rsjon]

What engine will be in this one I wonder? It's all badge engineering,last proper rs was the escort cosworth,the rest just shopping cars.

[TugsW]

Just curious , have you owned a frs ??

Sadly not and unlikely to in the future last time I had £25K in the bank it got spent on moving house, the next time I have +£20K it will be spent on building a garage for the Escorts and workshop for model engineering.

Of course if there are any budding philanthropist's on here, then I might get to own one.....

[mike77cos]

I think its a good thing, the amount of doors argument always annoys me, I have a brilliant Sapphire Cosworth, and a 2 Door Mk2 escort, but can still have fun in my sierra Estate

[rwdrs]

I think its a good thing, the amount of doors argument always annoys me, I have a brilliant Sapphire Cosworth, and a 2 Door Mk2 escort, but can still have fun in my sierra Estate

I don't think anyone would deny that you can have fun in your etsate or four door Sapphire (first there was the 2-door though).
The points were simply, one, it is supposed to be an RS (rally sport derived car) these aren't estate models AFAIK or usually even 4-door cars, as far as the Sierra goes it was developed to go touring/saloon car racing, so not really (truly) RS in the origiinal sense either.
The other point about the 3-door v 5-door discussion is simply that motorsport cars (which clubmen can use) are 2/3 door, as it is for motorsport, not lugging a family about and consequentially lighter.
The previous point ties in with the fact that no high-performance Focus has the lighter (typical for motorsport) 3-door layout; because Ford have run away from offering a 3-door shell.

Lastly, the fact that this "RS" is not using any fancy kit (apart from cosmetic stuff) 4WD etc (despite the platform being readily available) and just being used cynically as a "run out model" to keep sales afloat for the last months of this platform's life is a blatant "abuse" of the RS moniker.

Once the RS cars were something special, not just a chipped up and spoilered up standard car.

[Mogsmex]

Pmsl "lastly the fact"

What facts would they be ??? you are basing your entire argument on a speculative specification

[Duratec John]

When was the RS dealer network done away with ?
To me this was the end of the real RS.

[Graham Robson]

Sorry to say that the RS dealer chain was abandoned because it simply wasn't selling many cars. Does that mean that it was people like you and me who didn't like what was on offer, or were there, really, not so many of us still around to make it economically worthwhile ?

[rwdrs]

Pmsl "lastly the fact"

What facts would they be ??? you are basing your entire argument on a speculative specification

It has been widely reported, in fact, leaked what the spec will be "more or less" there have even been interviews with the managment where it has been "confirmed" that, for example, 4-WD will not be on the cards.

This RS cannot be launched as a 3-door, becuase their isn't one, FACT.
It has also been reported for the last 3 years or so that the car will not get all wheel drive (just like the last one and the Mk1 Focus RS).
True the car hasn't been formally presented but, in the reported spec, will be give-or-take what hits the streets.

Just the same as the press reports on the ST were correct.
I suspect the magazines are "briefed" anyway, to get punters interested…