Ford Focus RS: Shake your tail feather

Ford’s latest performance hero allows drivers to let it all hang out.

2016 Ford Focus RS

AFTER years of chasing the V8 faithful, the Blue Oval now hopes a younger generation will catch its drift, literally.

In a move that’s sure to attract the attention of road safety advocates, the new Focus RS has what Ford claims is a world-first “drift” mode.

The technology sends power predominantly to the rear wheels for tail out, oversteer powersliding.

Ford says the mode, developed with the help of self-confessed “hoonigan” Ken Block, is strictly for use in controlled environments such as race tracks.

The feature is just one of the neat techno tricks available on the new RS hyper-hatch.

Others include launch control and an overboost function that provides 470Nm of torque for up to 15 seconds. A dual-mode sports exhaust delivers as much crackle and burble as legally possible.

2016 Ford Focus RS

The standard six-speed manual is a close ratio, short throw unit and the “pilot” can choose from four drive modes. The driving experience is further improved with alloy pedals, a boost gauge and a cluster of useful dials.

Select the Sports pack and you get black, forged 19-inch alloys and near race specification Michelin tyres.

Creature comforts include Recaro seats, adjustable suspension, keyless entry, 8-inch touch screen, satnav, climate control and push-button start.

All these goodies — and the all-wheel-drive gear — add up to a hefty 1524kg kerb weight.

The RS is hero car number four from Ford in the past 12 months following Mustang and the Falcon XR Sprint twins.

But it’s a much more modern take on the muscle car theme.

It’s also attractively priced at $50,990, a fraction of the cost of potential hyper-hatch rivals from Benz, Audi and BMW.

Word is Ford’s already working on a higher performance version.

In the meantime, Australia is getting a slow trickle of this model that was initially restricted to about 300 units. More have been miraculously sourced from Ford later in the year or next year.

2016 Ford Focus RS

The RS has the 2.3-litre, direct injection four-cylinder petrol engine out of the Mustang with a larger twin-scroll turbo boosting power and torque to 257kW and 440Nm. Engineers reworked the intake and exhaust for better gas flow through the cylinder head and the engine control unit was remapped for performance.

The intercooler is larger, the exhaust is wider and louder, tyres are bigger, suspension is firmer, steering quicker, clutch stronger and the brakes better.

While many competitors have followed the dual-clutch automatic route, the Focus RS has a “raw” drive feel through its six-speed manual only transmission.

ON THE ROAD

Focus RS is precise and entertaining to drive. All dynamic functions are as sharp as a tack with minimal steering input needed to put the car through tight successive turns.

The brakes are similarly powerful and fade free due to Focus RS chief engineer Tyrone Johnson’s demand that the car be able to sustain 30 minutes of continual high speed track driving without any ill effects.

Carsguide took the new RS up through Mt Glorious near Brisbane where it proved to be super quick and safe.

2016 Ford Focus RS

Engine torque is strong across a wide rev range making it easy to drive quickly without having to row between gears. The torque vectoring all-wheel drive operates seamlessly to keep the car pointing the right way.

Turbo lag is minimal and if you do have to change cogs, the ’box is direct and smooth in action.

We tried Normal and Sport modes for the adjustable suspension and found the former best suited road driving.

But the real fun was to be had at a racetrack and skid pan where we were able to sample the drift mode and launch control.

2016 Ford Focus RS

Drift mode is an absolute hoot and easy for a novice to use.

The tail slews out in a smooth sweeping arc that’s easily linked to the next turn in the opposite direction and away you go in a smooth, turbocharged, all-wheel-drive waltz.

The launch control is dead easy to engage and use. Disengage stability control, plant your right foot and sidestep the clutch to get your 4.7-second 0-100km/h time.

VERDICT ★★★★½

The RS is blisteringly quick, planted, engaging and handsome. The drive feel rates with cars costing twice as much. Even the exhaust note stirs your soul and yet you can drive around town like any mundane hatchback. The best of both worlds at an affordable price.

2016 Ford Focus RS

WHAT’S NEW

PRICE

At $50,990 it’s $9000 less than the previous 2010 Focus RS and has more of everything as well as all-wheel drive. The older car had a Volvo 2.5-litre, five-cylinder turbo engine, was slower, thirstier and only a three-door hatch.

TECHNOLOGY

Ecoboost 2.3 engine has direct injection and twin scroll turbo, clever all-wheel-drive system allows rear wheel drift mode and torque vectoring to wheel with most grip, stop/start to save fuel, four-mode drive select, launch control, Sync2 infotainment system, voice control.

PERFORMANCE

Smaller engine produces substantially more power than the earlier model, with 257kW to 224kW. Overboost function produces 470Nm available for 15 seconds. Fuel use drops from 10.4L/100km on previous model to 8.1L/100km. Predictably, it’s also faster, reaching 100km/h in a claimed 4.7 seconds.

DRIVING

Has Recaro seats and D-cut sports wheel. Sharp dynamics thanks to all-wheel drive and sports suspension calibration, quick steering, large Brembo brakes, high-performance tyres, multi-mode exhaust.

DESIGN

The new RS is styled along similar lines to the earlier model, perhaps a bit more subtle but still with aerodynamic enhancements for stability at high speed, a low ride height, front skirt, rear diffuser, large front intakes for cooling engine and brakes and it’s a practical five-door hatchback.

VITALS

PRICE From $50,990; Sports pack (forged wheels and sporty tyres) an extra $2500

WARRANTY 3 years/100,000km

CAPPED SERVICING $1205 over 3 years

SERVICE INTERVAL 12 months/15,000km

SAFETY 5 stars

ENGINE 2.3-litre 4-cyl turbo, 257kW/440Nm

TRANSMISSION 6-speed man; AWD

THIRST 7.7L/100km

DIMENSIONS 4390mm (L), 1823mm (W), 1472mm (H), 2647mm (WB)

WEIGHT 1524kg

0-100km/h 4.7 secs (claimed)