Skip advert
Advertisement

Next Ford Focus RS officially dead

Europe’s increasingly stringent emissions regulations have forced Ford to kill off the next-generation Focus RS

Ford Europe has officially confirmed it will not develop a fourth-generation Focus RS, bringing the model and indeed the RS badge, to a close. Ford has said the increased engineering costs associated with developing a new Focus RS have now become impossible to justify given the low-volume nature of the model.

Advertisement - Article continues below

It was previously confirmed that in order to conform to both new EU emissions standards, and keep the fleet average below 95g/km, Ford would need to engineer an electrified powertrain in the next Focus RS, whether that be of mild-hybridisation or a plug-in system of more substance.

Ford has already invested a large amount into the development of efficiency-biased hybrid powertrains that will be used in its smaller EU-focused models such as the Focus, Kuga and new Puma SUV, but its application in a new generation of Focus RS has proved too far a stretch, insinuating the need for a larger-scale development of new tech, with a larger budget.

All three previous generations of Focus RS models featured some form of specialised engineering, pushing it to the extreme of hot hatchback for the time. Technology, such as the Quaife locking front differential in the Mk1, detached wheel hubs in the Mk2, or the Mk3’s torque vectoring rear differential and drift mode all represented a huge outlay in development costs for what in all three instances were extremely low-volume models.

Ford isn’t the only European hot hatchback manufacturer feeling the pressure from the EU’s new emission standards either, with Peugeot also acknowledging it will need to employ some form of electrification on its next-generation 208 GTi to pass emissions laws, which have become especially stringent in France.

Ford has confirmed its ongoing commitment to its Ford Performance sub-brand though, which includes the current Fiesta ST, Focus ST, Mustang and Raptor Ranger, so don’t expect these models to be taken off-sale any time soon. But for many fans, the loss of the RS Focus is not just the cancellation of a hot hatchback to come, but also the end of an RS dynasty, for now.

Click on the links below for our reviews on all the Focus RS models through the years 

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Ford GN34 – dead on arrival
Ford GN34
Features

Ford GN34 – dead on arrival

This Ghia-styled, mid-engined V6 coupe came close to becoming Ford’s answer to the Honda NSX
28 Sep 2023
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

The new Mercedes-AMG G63 has arrived, and it still has a V8
Mercedes-AMG G63
News

The new Mercedes-AMG G63 has arrived, and it still has a V8

Some of Affalterbach’s range-toppers are swapping eight cylinders for four, but the AMG G-class retains its V8 for 2024
26 Mar 2024
The new Toyota GR Yaris costs £44,250 – too much for a hot supermini?
Toyota GR Yaris Gen 2 – front
News

The new Toyota GR Yaris costs £44,250 – too much for a hot supermini?

Our early impressions of the Gen 2 GR Yaris suggest that it’s an improvement in every area that counts, but can it be worth £18k more than an i20 N?
27 Mar 2024
Land Rover Defender OCTA: twin-turbo V8 and McLaren-style suspension tech for hot off-roader
Land Rover Defender OCTA – front
News

Land Rover Defender OCTA: twin-turbo V8 and McLaren-style suspension tech for hot off-roader

The OCTA promises to be the fastest, toughest and most capable Defender yet when it launches later this year
26 Mar 2024