Skip advert
Advertisement

Focus RS specs

Official specification of 2009's highly awaited Focus hot hatchback revealed

After months of speculation the final specification of the Ford Focus RS has been confirmed. Its 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo – an upgraded version of the unit in the Focus ST and Volvo C30 T5 – produces 300bhp and 324lb ft.

That means hikes of around 35 per cent over the ST, with the top speed up 13mph to 163 and 62mph arriving nearly a second quicker at 5.9sec: an impressive stat in a hot hatch weighing 1467kg. Fourth gear acceleration from 30-60mph takes 5.3sec.

Advertisement - Article continues below

It’s all channeled through the Focus’s front-wheel-drive chassis via Ford’s ‘Revoknuckle’ suspension technology, which is mounted to the Macpherson strut front suspension and is responsible for eliminating torque steer. Rear suspension is based on the control blade independent suspension that Ford debuted on the Focus; there’s a larger anti-roll bar for the RS.

Your £24,995 also gets you a suitably large set of 19in alloys, wrapped in 235/35 Continental rubber. Combined fuel economy is a claimed 30.5mpg while carbon emissions are 225g/km, sneaking the RS into £300-a-year tax band K.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Jaguar Land Rover chief creative officer Gerry McGovern allegedly fired
Gerry McGovern
News

Jaguar Land Rover chief creative officer Gerry McGovern allegedly fired

Gerry McGovern, the architect of Jaguar's controversial reinvention, leaves after 21 years
2 Dec 2025
Puncture-proof airless tyres are on the horizon, but they won’t work on performance cars
Airless tyres
News

Puncture-proof airless tyres are on the horizon, but they won’t work on performance cars

Airless tyre technology developed by the likes of Goodyear, Michelin and Bridgestone could see use in autonomous vehicles and public transport in the …
28 Nov 2025
How a sub-200bhp runabout exposes the problem with today’s performance cars
695C Turismo
Opinion

How a sub-200bhp runabout exposes the problem with today’s performance cars

A shortage of long-term test cars flags up a wider problem, says Meaden
27 Nov 2025