Ford has confirmed that it plans to deliver an all-new, high performance Focus RS model for launch in Spring 2009.

The new Focus RS will be based on the new Focus ST under the leadership of Jost Capito, having recently been greenlit by Ford of Europe, but Ford is remaining tight-lipped until nearer to the launch date.

A concept version of the car is due in mid-2008, with Capito promising a ´no-compromise RS model that will become the ultimate road-going Focus´.

"Just as the Focus RS WRC owns the rally circuit, we want the new Focus RS to own the road, so we have the major competitors in our sights as we develop the car´s performance, design, handling and braking," said Capito. That means the Impreza WRX STi, Mitsu Evo X and VW Golf R32 among others.

It´s expected that the RS will use a tuned-up version of the the 2.5-litre turbo unit that powers the Focus ST, with a lot more grunt - think 300bhp and a similar amount of imperial torques.

"With two consecutive Manufacturers´ World Rally Championship titles under our belt, the time is right to create a new Focus RS," said John Fleming, Ford of Europe´s President and CEO.

"With the Fiesta and Focus ST models, Jost and his team have proved already that they can deliver exciting and practical performance road cars

Haven't they given up on this?




Clicky

thats the mk1 rs matey. ford are buildin a proto type mk2 rs later this year

I think Ford should concentrate on getting thier business into line instead of launching more and more pointless and niche market models.

If their core market isnt selling enough, entering niche markets isnt going to help them.

Its only a matter of time before they go bust the way things are going...

i'm getting mixed messages. they are in trouble, but the new mondeo is selling like hot cakes. when the new focus st came out a whole crowd of people wanted and bought one. but they are still loosing money? rest assured if we get any brand new ones in work i'll put some picture and spec up for you lot.

i see tons of fords, mostly fiestas... lots of st models in all ranges (fiesta/focus/mondeo) so yea, i am confused too as to how they are in money trouble :-s

Maybe its just build quality issues then... as in, their selling loads of cars, but the profit their making on them is getting outweighed by having to fix numerous things under warranty??

Also, I dont think advertising on every single ad break at a rate of like £2000 for 15 seconds on a lot of programmes, and paying millions to advertise on events like the champs league is helping...

They are advertising like they have billions to spend, when in reality, the only reason they are still even in business is simply because the US government is giving them billions of money just to keep the company afloat for the fear of losing tens of thousands of jobs across the US and causing havoc on the the economy.

Another company were doing the same thing a few years back, albeit on a smaller scale, and very quickly went bankrupt... AOL.

last two fiestas gf has had both were perfectly fine and since i had been with her only went to the garage for the services or new tyres lol

That doesnt mean there isnt issues with some cars/engines that are eating into their profits heavily...

Im pretty sure there are even happy customers of TalkTalk broadband, that doesnt change the fact the service is running at a loss thanks to mass problems as well as fines from the regulators because of their service levels being shite.

Something is wrong with Ford right now, they are hemoraging money left right and centre, and whatever it is, will, sooner or later (whenever the US government chooses to stop bailing them out), crucify them.

They are already selling off Land Rover and Jaguar in a desperate bid to get some cash... other manufacturers like Nissan, Renault, Toyota, Honda etc, are all financially very healthy and secure, so why are Ford feeling the strain, it cant be solely blamed on the world economy, their obviously doing something wrong.

Niche models never make money, 90% of them lose money due to developmental costs, hence my rekoning they should stop churning out more and more niche market products and concentrate on generating enough revenue from their core market to be profitable.

I thought it was only ford US that was in trouble, Ford europe is healthy.

However i'm normally wrong.

Ford US and GM are in trouble big time...mainly due to the implosion of the "cheap" subprime credit market worldwide and that they supply amazing pension/healthcare packages to staff that they now realistically cant afford.
Added to that headache the likes of china and india can build cars far cheaper due to the lower wages/lack of staff welfare etc etc and you see that the picture isnt a good one.
The cost of living is rising exponentially in the uk and wages arent matching it..look at the problems such a northern rock and high oil prices..the world is heading for financial meltdown and theres fkall anyone can do about it!
sorry to be such a doom merchant but everything i read about fincial market isnt good!
labour has fkd this country BIG TIME..(not that tories or lib dems are any better....)
the general public just doesnt know whats gonna hit them!
welfare as we know it and the NHS service are both also doomed...more and more people are paid for by less and less...it doesnt take a rocket scientist to work that one out!
and all im wanting is my fair 2.5% rise....below the actual inflation of in excess of 5%!!