The new Focus RS..

[kas750]

Does anybody have any info as to whether one is in the pipeline and if so any ideas when?It was mooted that the next one would be a 5 door?

[Frosticles]

http://bbs.rsownersclub.co.uk/showthread.php?t=545120

[rwdrs]

I've not heard owt, but it's bound to be a five door car, given that you can't get a three door Focus anymore AFAIK

[kas750]

If it does turn out to have a five door option then I will definitely place a holding deposit.It would suit the missus just fine and if it follows the cycle of the other models you can run one for a couple of years and pretty much get your money back..

[rwdrs]

A bit peculiar if you ask me though. No three door model, especially the "halo model", a so called Rally Sport derivative

Ford are watering down their products, at the same time VW/Audi etc are making very exciting high-powered cars including a lot of niche products, Ford is going the other way.

300+ bhp and no 4wd and now not even a three door. I'm sure it'll be a nice motor to drive and all but hardly a "purists" car.

[kas750]

Sapphire was a 4 door and that's 25 years ago now..I know not the finest moment but the commercial value of the RS has always been paramount to ford.

[Gremlin]

Chances are any new RS will be based on the current world rally car, so Fiesta it is Focus is old hat

[taffr]

Stop messing about Ford, get it built......Kaz750 is getting twitchy, his wife will love it

[rwdrs]

Sapphire was a 4 door and that's 25 years ago now..I know not the finest moment but the commercial value of the RS has always been paramount to ford.

I suppose so, but you could at least buy a 3 door Sierra Cosworth.
I'm not sure about Ford's commitment to the ethos of the RS brand/marque.

Originally, motorsport, especially rallying, was used by Ford (thanks to Walter Hayes) to get good PR for Ford. Then, to shift shells, Ford created up-spec "rally replica" models to get Joe Public buying bog standard cars while drooling over the expensive models in the showrooms.
This was turned into a business putting Ford labels on Bilsteins etc and the RS parts programme was born. This was eventually killed off and then it became just a brand for flogging up-spec (sports-performance spec) cars. The flurry of RS models including the return of the RS 2000 was the death knell for any commitment to the RS and was just a badge job for whatever Ford was flogging at the time.

This is even more the case now with the "halo" models. Ford actually even seem reluctant to make an RS model, usually with a two year wait after model launch before a new RS car is even announced. I suppose the mainstream development team does the standard car and then starts work on the RS???

[Frosticles]

Stop messing about Ford, get it built......Kaz750 is getting twitchy, his wife will love it

Would be great if they did

[NORTH YORKS RS SPARES]

As said , Ford have lost there edge , every other manufacturer are building top notch special sports cars that are pulling people away from Ford

Ford are just slapping RS badges on STs now

Who the hell buys a sports car with 4 doors these days

[fox2fox]

As said , Ford have lost there edge , every other manufacturer are building top notch special sports cars that are pulling people away from Ford

Ford are just slapping RS badges on STs now

Who the hell buys a sports car with 4 doors these days

Well said that man..in my eyes an"rs" is 2/3 doors full stop!!..

[Gremlin]

There is a good reason why Ford dont release many RS models and when they do they tend to be in limited numbers that's because they haven't made any money on them since the end of the mk2 Escort

[rwdrs]

There is a good reason why Ford dont release many RS models and when they do they tend to be in limited numbers that's because they haven't made any money on them since the end of the mk2 Escort

That's the point of a "halo" model though, not to make money but to increase the sales figures of the rest of the range and the goodies (accessories), after all parts is where the money is for volume manufacturers.
Nevertheless, other manufacturers do manage to make money on their models, Ford has a problem, value retention, which may be OK on the RS/ST but not the standard cars and is the reason why Ford can't charge more for the basic product, meaning the price of the entire range is lower than it should be, i.e. little profit.

[kas750]

I think Ford must be one of a very few manufacturers that make cars that still go rusty!..The ethos of Ford is the same as it was back to day one....Pile 'em high and sell 'em cheap!..Its not perceived as a premium product and never has.