Ford is considering 305-hp 2009 Ford Focus RS to the U.S., Would You Buy It?

no

— RaulT (View Profile)

Posted on 4/6/2009 3:45:06 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -9   

Sold! I would buy one over the current STI hatch, the Ford has better lines.

— Whelan (View Profile)

Posted on 4/6/2009 3:48:01 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 10   

only if it was AWD or RWD.

— 1dott8 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/6/2009 4:03:48 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Hell no. The focus is a piece of garbage. Would you put a 300hp engine on a Ford Pinto?

— SanJoseDriver (View Profile)

Posted on 4/6/2009 4:04:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -16   

Do any you naysayers have any idea how good the European Focus RS has been?

This car would probably put a Subaru WRX or an EVO in their places real quick.

— 222max (View Profile)

Posted on 4/6/2009 4:31:27 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 9   

At a time when gas prices have eased, or should I say paused, Ford thoughts turn to putting a 300+ HP engine in a Focus.

Really what has changed about US auto manufacturers' point of view in 20+ years? It is still how fast, as if it was the 1960's.

I read somewhere that towns are giving more speeding tickets than ever since there is a shortage of state money in almost/every state and this is just the car to collect a few.

— nipsip (View Profile)

Posted on 4/6/2009 4:41:59 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

It's incredible how intelligent this conversation this is and how uninformed 2 individuals can be.

— mini22 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/6/2009 4:51:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

this would be an amazing car for ford to bring over here. As long is it exactly like the european model!!!!! no compromises!!!!!!!!!!!!!read my lips ford Exactly like the european model!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:)

even the crappy american focus isnt a bad car for the moneythis is light years ahead of the US version

— chris357 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/6/2009 6:07:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

I'd have to see what the Chevy Cruze would be like first

— ChevyFan100 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/6/2009 6:28:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

The current Subaru Impreza WRX STI already has a 2.5L 305hp engine, so American buyers had that to choose from to start with. The Subaru also has a unique racing heritage. However, it would be awesome to have an American option in this class of car for Americans ourselves.

— Anthony (View Profile)

Posted on 4/6/2009 7:40:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

The blue one for me please!

— laurent (View Profile)

Posted on 4/6/2009 7:57:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

So, they do this when the Evo/STI craze has died down? The idiots at Ford never cease to amaze me. First back in the 50's they decide to make the T-bird a 4 seater, because they say that their was no viable market for 2 seaters, yet it was the Corvette's main domestic competitor,and look at the Corvette now, and look where the T-bird is, extinct!
Next, they claim that the Lincoln LS V8 didn't have a manual because they didn't have a manual that could take the torque, yet they produce the Mustang!!!

Then, they decided to keep the Mustang with a solid rear axle, saying that drag racers are biggest buyers of Mustang V8 GT's, when in fact, they didn't want to spend money developing a IRS, now the Mustang gets outhandled by Lexus IS350's

They also were developing a V10 engine that produced more HP than the 5.4 liter engine in the Ford GT, but FORD execs (on the development team) were in rush to get the GT out in 2005, they bypassed a better engine.

And then, this blunder, I have been wondering why haven't they brought a answer to the EVO/STI, because FORD also Rally races, and since the Playstation Gen knows this, they would have had a domestic competitor to the Japanese imports...It would have been a marketing execs wet dream...

— Inline6 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/6/2009 8:13:25 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

I wouldn't buy it, but I hope they sell it in the U.S. It's good for domestic manufacturers to produce hot little cars.

— 204E60 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/6/2009 8:27:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

I whish them luck and it should do well, i dont like hatch backs they are for girls.

— 1UAW (View Profile)

Posted on 4/6/2009 10:41:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

This is no blunder. This is the latest and greatest (read the online reviews of numerous euro mags that already hail this the greatest hot hatch, if not ever) installment of RS hatches. Ford of Europe has a deep rich history of building hot hatches (look it up, not all of them great!) and this is a big deal. As big as a new Mustang over here.

'Whats that?' I hear you say. I understand if in America the concept is lost on many who were raised on a diet of muscle cars and hatches were for those who couldnt afford anything better.

Well, if Ford bring it to the US and I get an opportunity to buy one at US and not euro prices, I'll get one for sure.

For those who are already haters and haven't sampled a euro focus or the old Cosworths and RS Fords, bite your tongue and drive it when it gets here! You'll get your first glance as one passes you and you can't catch it.

— elduderion (View Profile)

Posted on 4/6/2009 11:48:03 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

They are only NOW considering this?!?!? This focus has been in Europe forever and is leaps and bounds better than the crap one we have in North America...

I have to agree with pretty much everything that Inline6 said...another fine example of how the "Big" Three are WAAAAAYYYY behind the curve.

— asternmadkatz (View Profile)

Posted on 4/7/2009 8:05:09 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

As and EVO owner I say, bring it. There is nothing like AWD, turbocharged, light weight, car to kick a little tail every now and again. Yes, Ford is way way behind the curve, but the will gain market share. Everyone who knows about Ford and rally wishes the RS200 would have made it to the States. It kinda pisses me off that they are so late to the table with this. I suppose thats why they're in a SNAFU, among other things.

...maybe the could do some nice upgrades to get a step ahead. Direct injection, beefier trannys, internals to match, kind of a wish list of all the performance items one would like to see, and still remain true to the sport of rally, while still kicking ass on the street.

— TheDevil (View Profile)

Posted on 4/7/2009 9:11:18 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I only wish we had the Escort Cosworth over in the states back in the 90s too.

— Whelan (View Profile)

Posted on 4/7/2009 9:57:58 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

The Focus RS in Europe is considered at the top of the hot hatches. In fact it beat out the Renault Megane R20 in handling according "Car" magazine. It will certainly out perform and out handle any VW GTI by a wide margin. Also it looks coupe like. Now that VW is officially not bringing the Scirocco across the pond(incredibly stupid move),this would more then take it's place.

— mini22 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/7/2009 9:59:20 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

THESCOOTER, Lincoln engineers told Car and Driver magazine that the LS V8 didn't get a manual, because they didn't have one to handle the torque. They lied.

But I agree that the Ford Focus RS needs to be brought over here. I remember that they had a similar variant in the US that had 175 HP, it was shown on the "Alias" TV show, the double agent Sydney was driving it.

But Ford is coming late to the party, they had a huge marketing coup if they brought this along when everybody was modding EVO's and STI's, the only other domestic offering at the time was the Dodge Neon SRT4's (and now the Colbalt SS's). And they could have use the fact that they were beating Mitsu and Subaru in Rallies as well, in fact winning Championships

Again, FORD taking their eye off the ball. I guess better late than never. And I firmly believe that the Ford Focus RS would fly as well.

About the V10, they first started by putting a mule V10 in a Mustang and let Motortrend at it. They then refined it and it was put in the Shelby GR1 concept vehicle. By this time the Ford GT was already out. But there was a sneaky thing, after the Ford GT came out as a Concept, the team fanagled a way to get money for funding it so that it would come out in 2005. Due to the fact that it has a Supercharger, it would not maek a viable Endurance race car, if it had the V10 it would have. also they were trying to price it within the F430, yet beat that performance wise, which it did.

— Inline6 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/7/2009 11:23:06 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

This will NEVER Make it's way over to the US under the present political climate...Doesn't matter that Ford didn't get any "Bail Out" money.

Cars=Appliances=Political Correctness

O.K. Maybe if it gets "Tuned-Down" to about 210hp

— TheDepressingTruth (View Profile)

Posted on 4/9/2009 8:41:47 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Hell yeah I would buy it. The American Focus looks like a 5 year old stretched a wet blanket over something that resembles a car. The European Focus RS is a hot hatch with strong lines and an aggressive stance. This is definitely a move that Ford should make. With the economy the way it is this move might actually put some coin in Ford's pocket.

— carsaregood (View Profile)

Posted on 4/24/2009 4:00:53 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

me, no. But I have lots of friends that would...

— ThierryHenry14 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/20/2009 2:22:06 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1