Although the Ford Focus ST has only recently arrived in South Africa, we should see the even more powerful RS within the next two years.
Reports have emerged suggesting that Ford is likely to use a 2,3-litre, four-cylinder EcoBoost engine – that is still under development – to power its halo hot hatch.
Team RS, the department responsible for the development of Fords’ RS models, has expressed a preference towards this bigger engine, as opposed to the turbocharged 2,0-litre EcoBoost unit found in the current ST. Getting more power from the ST’s engine will require a larger turbo, which could potentially have a negative impact on engine response, according to Len Urwin, Team RS’s powertrain engineering manager.
The important news, however, is the new engine’s power output. Whereas the previous 2,5-litre, five-cylinder Focus RS developed 224 kW, the new 2,3-litre unit could deliver as much as 260 kW. Team RS is aware of the challenges that channelling so much power through the front wheels entails, and will be working on a special differential to help put the power down more effectively.
*Look out for the December issue of CAR for a road test on the Focus ST.
**Click here for driving impression of the Focus ST.
