There may be a quicker one coming.
That’s if you believe what Autocar reported Thursday. According to the British publication, Ford engineers in Europe are already be whispering there could be a lighter, quicker version of the 2016 Ford Focus RS coming. Engineers are reportedly aiming for a sub-4 second 0-60 run.
The increased performance won’t come by way of a bigger engine however — the laws of thermodynamics in cramped spaces preclude a bigger bolt-on snail, apparently — but rather the ol’ Colin Chapman route: adding more lightness.
The very detailed description of what Focus RS engineers could do in a hotter version starts with shedding seats, sound-deadening materials and setting MyFord Touch on fire (probably not). Carbon fiber body parts, aluminum suspension, carbon fiber brakes and irreplaceable body parts made from unobtainium would probably come next.
Putting the Focus on a severe diet could save more than 200 pounds, according to Autocar, but it probably wouldn’t be sufficient enough to reduce the Focus RS’s sprint up to 60 mph from 4.7 seconds to less than 4 seconds.
Improvements in the drivetrain — including swapping the manual box for an automatic — may not necessarily shed more weight (the 6-speed Getrag DCT in the Focus weighs 28 pounds more than the 6-speed manual, for instance) but would swap cogs faster on mythical runs up to 60 mph.
Better grip from specially designed Michelin gumballs, carbon fiber wheels from the GT350R and a beefy front limited-slip differential up front and voila! you have a hatchback that probably costs more than $50,000 and doesn’t comfortably seat anyone other than you.
Of course, two things need to happen first: a hotter Focus RS would need to exist; and, it would have to come to the States. Let’s not hold our breath.
It looks like an angry fish.
Those warthog tusk-looking things are the new led headlights – everybody’s gotta have them now.
Is there ANY chance that is a Red vs. Blue reference?
Stop making up animals!
And secondly, how’re we gonna pick up chicks in a car that looks like that?
Engineering notes: “Add more lightness.”
Yeah, not convinced. Few people want a $35k hot hatch. Nobody wants a $50k Focus, especially one that is missing rear seats.
I need back seats for my $50K hot hatch. Or at least some LATCH system anchors.
I’m getting too old to race every kid on the street with his hot rod Civic.
Just do what I do: Look at them, nod your head quickly, face forward and bring the revs up to 5K, and when the light turns green… nothing.
Let them do their own burnouts and 0-60 runs. I’m old and wise enough to never want another pointless ticket, again.
If I’m in a recognizably fast car, particularly somewhere outside the most obnoxiously trust fund’y zipcodes, and some kid that’s obviously an enthusiast rolls up, I still try to put on the tiniest bit of a show. Not to the point of running a severe risk of losing my license, but hopefully enough to keep the next generation’s heart beating to the sound of a hot ICE for just a bit longer.
I wonder how much weight could be saved by removing FWD hardware.
Probably not enough to overcome giving up the traction advantage required to reach a sub 4 0-60
Consumers/fanboys who quote 0-60 times or are obsessed with that one stat are pretty much announcing to the world they know nothing about actual vehicle performance.
I have noticed a correlation.
Too bad that’s what sells cars…
They should call it the Focus UE for “Undrivable Editon”
With no back seat and no insulation material this car would be all but useless for daily use. If you waned a track-only car then there are probably better options for $50K.
I’m going to be contrarian here and say that this is actually a good idea. Ford doesn’t need to do a whole lot of new R&D to pull this off, and they can probably sell a couple hundred of them a year for a substantial markup. Just make it a special edition like the Mustang Boss Laguna Seca.
Tip: while you’re on it…. change the taillights! You want to have something to show for when you whiz by traffic, and not have them look the other way.
This vehicle just might be more desirable than a Mustang.
I do like these hot Focuses.
$50K sticker, $20K ADM, and a line of idiots screaming, “shut up and take my money!”
adding auto would make it less “race car” but make it more a possibility in my house. Nobody wants any more manuals here.
Even the Miata I was looking at is never going to be a standard shift…they sternly have told me.Everybody is getting lazy and the mountains and hills are killing it in my house.
This is the same reason I never was allowed to have the speed3.
Besides…drinking coffee, eating hamburgers and texting is equally important it seems today…….
Front end looks like some sort of mutant fish with its mouth open.