Focus Fans Rejoice!
by CP Staff
Automotive News is reporting today that Ford Motor Company is considering making the European Ford Focus RS available in North America.
Hermann Salenbauch, Ford Motor Co.'s director of advanced product creation and global performance, says the decision to sell the Focus RS here will depend on reaction from U.S. car enthusiasts.
The current incarnation of the RS marque began production in January, following its preview at the Paris Auto Show last year. With a 300+ HP turbocharged 2.5-liter, 20-valve, 5-cylinder engine and six-speed manual transmission, the car is capable of sub-six second 0-60 mph times and a top speed of 260 km/h (144 mph).
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Built at Ford of Europe's Saarlouis plant in Germany, the Focus RS features a number of unique exterior and interior design details including new body parts to incorporate wider wheel arches and a wider track, complemented by revised, deeper side rocker mouldings and unique front and rear bumpers.
At the rear a large venturi tunnel and a dramatic rear spoiler create a purposeful look. Such is the exclusivity of the new RS, that European customers have a choice of just three expressive exterior colours: Ultimate Green, Performance Blue and Frozen White. No plans for color availability have been announced for North America.
At the car's production launch in January, John Fleming, Ford of Europe Chairman and CEO said, "We've had a huge amount of interest in this model from the loyal army of Ford RS enthusiasts as well as potential customers who have never owned an RS before. I am confident that they will fall for it the moment they get behind the wheel."
Within weeks of the Focus RS' preview at the British International Motor Show in London in July, enthusiasts had placed more than 1000 orders for the car.
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