Ford Releases Focus ST Mountune with 260 HP

Since we’re still a few months ahead of the market launch of the almighty 300HP Focus RS, Ford’s UK division decided to offer an optional performance package for the Focus ST. Developed by Mountune Performance in association with Ford Team RS, the performance package consists of a larger intercooler, a high-flow air filter and revised engine calibration. Together, this lifts power output from the ST’s 2.5-liter turbocharged 5-cylinder engine from 225 HP to 260 HP at 5,500rpm and maximum torque from 320Nm to 400Nm at 2,500rpm. -Continued

According to Ford’s preliminary specs, the performance upgrades reduce the Focus ST’s 0-60mph (96 km/h) sprint by 0.6sec to 5.9sec, and the 0-100mph (160 km/h) time by 1.9sec to 14.1sec.

The optional performance pack will only be available at selected Ford dealers around the UK from Sept 2008 with retail prices set at £1,120 or $2,000 / €1,400 but you’ll have to pay extra for fitting. The upgrades carry a minimum of 12 months/12,000-mile dealer warranty up to a maximum of three years/36,000 miles and as expected, the upgrade kit does not affect the vehicle warranty in any way.

Ford UK Receives Over 1,000 Orders for 300HP Focus RS

Imagine that; even though we’re still about six-months away from the Focus RS' European market launch and despite the fact that Ford has not announced any pricing whatsoever, just two months after the car was previewed at the 2008 London Motor Show in July, over 1,000 customer orders have been placed in Ford’s UK dealerships alone. Although no details of available colors have been confirmed, around 40 percent of the applicants requested the Electric Green shade of the London Show vehicle while other popular requests were Frozen White and Electric Blue. -Continued

“We’re delighted by the reaction of performance car enthusiasts to the new Focus RS and that so many want to place orders even though it will not be available until early next year,”said Roelant de Waard, Chairman and Managing Director of Ford of Britain.

According to the company’s preliminary specs, the front-wheel drive Focus RS that’s powered by a 300HP 2.5-liter turbocharged 5-cylinder engine is the fastest ever European Ford production car accelerating from nought to 100km/h (62mph) in under 6.0 sec while top speed top speed targeted to be 260 km/h (162 mph) or more. Check out our high-res image gallery of the new Focus RS by clicking here.

Ford and VW Launch Soccer Edition Models

For some reason, German automakers find that wrapping a vehicle in soccer-team livery is something quite cool. Ford for example presented a limited edition version of the Ford Focus 1.4 dressed in the colors of the German football club FC Cologne while Volkswagen’s proposition, which is based on the Polo, is dedicated to Werder Bremen. If you ask us, both are propositions tasteless. Plus don’t forget that decals of that sort seriously depreciate the value of a car so if we were you, we’d think twice before we’d buy any of the two soccer team editions. -More pics after the jump

Saleen Racecraft Introduces Sub-$20k Ford Focus Coupe-based RC2

In an attempt to draw the attention of the budget-minded tuning fans, Saleen’s Saleen’s value-performance Racecraft division presented a souped up version of the Ford Focus Coupe that will be available during the first quarter of 2009 with a base price under $20,000. Dubbed the RC2, Saleen Racecraft’s proposal features a bodykit with a new front fascia and mesh grille, side skirts, a boot lid spoiler, a rear skirt and 18-inc alloy wheels wrapped in Bridgestone performance tires. Performance upgrades will include an estimated 15 HP bump over the base 2.0-liter engine’s output of 143 HP. A sport suspension and a more powerful braking system will also be included in the package. -Continued

Via: Autoblog.com

2009 Ford Focus Sedan Gets New High-End SEL Version

Unlike the 2009 Focus Coupe that received some minor tweaks earlier this year –details and images here, the only thing new for the 2009 Focus Sedan is the addition of a new high-end version called SEL along with the availability of the electronic stability control on all models. Powered by a 140HP 2.0-liter engine, the Focus Sedan SEL comes equipped with 16-inch Euroflanged alloy wheels, chrome door handles, chrome heated mirrors, leather trimmed heated seats and the Ford SYNC hands-free communication and entertainment system. Ford has yet to reveal pricing on the 2009 Focus Sedan. -Image gallery after the jump

Video: 2009 Ford Focus RS vs First-Gen Focus RS

Car Magazine’s Chris Chilton had the opportunity to take the awesome first generation Focus RS for a quick spin along with the man who’s responsible for the development of both RS models, Ford Team RS chief, Jost Capito. The two then headed back to Ford’s studio to compare the Focus RS Mk1 with the new 300HP Focus RS that made its official debut at the British Motor Show earlier this month.

Capito says that the new Focus RS will probably be about half-a-minute faster than the old RS on the Nurburgring race track. While we didn’t find an official time for the Focus RS Mk1, we did discover that Sport Auto lapped the ‘Ring with the old RS in 9’05’’. However, we shouldn’t make any hasty conclusions as the new RS is still under development. You can read all the details and see our high-resolution image gallery on the 2009 Focus RS by clicking here or just follow the jump to see the video. -Continued

Via: Car Magazine

Ford Focus RS: Live Images from London

The Focus we’ve all been waiting for since the launch of the second generation model in 2005 made its first public appearance at this week’s British Motor Show in London. Equipped with a 300Hp 2.5-liter turbocharged 5-cylinder engine, the Focus RS will be able to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than 6.0 sec. Even though Ford maintained the front wheel drive setup of the less powerful Focus ST, the company says that the RS is able to target a class-leading balance of traction, handling and performance. Read all the details on the Focus RS here of follow the jump to see live images of Ford’s lime-green monster at the London show. -Continued

250,000th Russian Built Ford Focus Rolls off Production Line

Ford’s 250,000th Russian-built Focus rolled off the production line this week at the company’s plant in Vsevolozhsk, near St. Petersburg. The commemorative model was a silver 1.8 litre Focus Ghia Wagon that will be delivered to a customer in Moscow. The Focus that is built in Russia in four body styles (3d, 5d, sedan and wagon) has been Russia's best-selling foreign car for the past five consecutive full years. -Continued

"We were the very first foreign manufacturer to open our own production facility in Russia and when the first locally-built Focus was built at Vsevolozhsk in 2002, the plant had an annual production capacity of 25,000 cars," said John Fleming, president and CEO, Ford of Europe.

"In order to keep pace with demand from customers in Russia, that figure has risen today to 75,000, and it will rise again to 125,000 in 2009, when the Ford Mondeo will also be produced at the plant," he added.

Ford Focus RS 300Hp: 22 High Res Images and Full Technical Details

It is by far the most important debut at this month’s London Motor Show and perhaps the most anticipated attainable performance car of the year; Ford’s scorching hot 300Hp Focus RS. Following an earlier leak today, we managed to get our hands on the high resolution image gallery along with the official press release.

You may have noticed that we haven’t mentioned the word concept this time; that’s because neither does Ford as the London Show’s Focus RS is actually the production version that will go on sale in Europe in early 2009. Although the new RS is based on the recently revised Focus ST, Jost Capito, Ford Europe’s Director for Performance Vehicles, and his team, performed many mods to the car, starting with the 2.5-litre 5-cylinder turbocharged engine.

Revisions include unique camshafts, a revised cylinder head and gasket and new intake and exhaust manifold system. According to Ford's engineers, the improved 2.5 Turbo is targeting a power output of 300PS and over 410Nm of torque (ST: 225Hp). Although the hot hatch is still under development, Ford supports that early performance testing indicates a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) time of less than 6.0 seconds. -Continued

Like its predecessor, the first generation Focus RS that went out of production in 2002, Ford’s newest hot hatch retains the front wheel drive set up of the Focus ST. In order to put 300PS on the road through the front wheels in a civilized manner, Capito and his team of engineers performed several modifications, starting off with the addition of Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing limited-slip differential.

Moreover, the RS gained an innovative front suspension system known as a ‘RevoKnuckle’, which is designed to reduce unwanted steering disturbance and torque steer. According to Capito, the results are staggering and it eliminates the need of an AWD system that would add extra weigh to the car.

“Our work has shown clearly that our approach in combining a tuned RevoKnuckle with the Quaife differential is an ideal solution for a high performance front-wheel-drive road car like Focus RS”, said Jost Capito.

“As you would expect, we gave all-wheel-drive careful consideration, but by combining and tuning these elements and learning from Ford’s expertise in industry-leading handling, we have managed to eliminate the weight of AWD from the car and still have been able to target a class-leading balance of traction, handling and performance. The result is a lightweight set-up, that will deliver the right blend of traction and razor sharp controllability” Capito concluded.

Other improvements for Focus RS include a 40mm wider track, stronger, longer driveshafts, revised springs and dampers, a thicker, longer rear anti-roll bar, retuned steering system and most importantly, a special version of Ford’s ESP system designed to allow a very sporty driving style before activating. The Focus RS also boasts uprated brakes, with 336mm ventilated front discs and 300mm rear discs.

In terms of styling, we think the pictures speak for themselves. The Focus RS is one hatch you definitely won’t ignore on the road, even without the provocative bright green paint that brings to mind the 1970s Le Mans Green of the Escort RS1600 era. The Focus RS is equipped with an aggressive bodykit that includes a new front bumper, a twin-element black roof spoiler echoing RS models of the past and a newly designed rear bumper that incorporates a large venturi tunnel and two chromed exhaust tail pipes.

Moreover, the widened front and rear quarter panels have been revised to incorporate wider wheel arches that house 19-inch alloys, wrapped in 235/35 low profile Continental tires. Other notable features include the styling details highlighted in gloss ‘piano black’, the RS-badged vents behind the front wheel arches and the two 80’s RS-style bonnet louvers.

Admittedly, the Focus RS’ cabin is less impressive than car’s outside as the most notable differences between the ST concern the bi-colour sculpted Recaro bucket seats, the brushed aluminium highlights and the carbon-look trim on the centre console. However, having driven the 225Hp Focus ST, that’s the last thing we’d care about once we got behind the wheel of this green monster.