08 Focus WRC

[ste898]

As the 07 Focus WRC was'nt out till nealy end of 2007, will Ford wait till nearly the end of 2008 to bring out the 08 version bearing in mind the Focus road car is getting a big face lift,
I'm sure the Ford bosses will want to see the new car on the stage as well as road dont you think?

[Roy]

Maybe look likes this car:
http://www.forddesktops.com/show.asp?f=focus&i=Ford_Focus_RS_2009_02.jpg

The WRC08 comes, referring to Malcolm words, later in 2008, maybe again half season.

[bstrat]

http://www.rallysportmag.com.au/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2233&Itemid=2

[Daniel]

If Ford is listening..... build a Cosworth you morons!

[Roy]

If Ford is listening..... build a Cosworth you morons!

Cosworth isn't part of Ford anymore. They sold it to an American consortium who build the motor for Champ car World series.

[farquar wrc]

If Ford is listening..... build a Cosworth you morons!
There is a new RS Focus due next year,as they are still going to be building ST's,it will hopefully be a 4WD 300BHP flyer

[A.F.F.]

If Ford is listening..... build a Cosworth you morons!

Oh, you mean if they want any success? :D

[AndyRAC]

There is a new RS Focus due next year,as they are still going to be building ST's,it will hopefully be a 4WD 300BHP flyer

From the article I saw, there is no guarantee that it will be 4WD, there was talk of a LSD, and such other devices for improved grip. Unbelievable, what is wrong with Ford? If Mitsubishi and Subaru can make money selling these cars surely Ford can, and if not they're doing something wrong. If it is based on the WRCar, it should be 2L Turbo 4WD, and not 2.5L, which they use for the current ST, which is from a Volvo.

[Tomski]

Dream on boys, Ford only built the Escort Cosworth becuase they needed to, to meet the Group A regulations, and they had the Sierra chassis & running gear to base it on.

The costs of re-engineering the current Focus to accept a turbo 4 cylinder and 4wd, for what will be a low selling car (in Fords terms) would be financial suicide (also remember Ford aren't doing so well at the moment).

The manufacturers were the ones who wanted the WRC regs which basically allows them to build specials with no associated production car run. But with this being the season of goodwill etc. maybe, just maybe they'll build the real deal.......

[Daniel]

http://www.rallye-info.com/article.asp?sid=0&stid=6675

Well it's going to be a "no compromise car"..... Sure they could squeeze some more power out of the car but there comes a point of diminishing returns with FWD. I would suspect they're going to build a 4wd roadcar.

[SubaruNorway]

Seems like it's going to be AWD and they've said they are looking to take on the Impreza and EVO

http://www.crash.net/motoring/roadcars/news/article/20230-0/new_proper_focus_rs.html

[jparker]

Dream on boys, Ford only built the Escort Cosworth becuase they needed to, to meet the Group A regulations, and they had the Sierra chassis & running gear to base it on.

The costs of re-engineering the current Focus to accept a turbo 4 cylinder and 4wd, for what will be a low selling car (in Fords terms) would be financial suicide (also remember Ford aren't doing so well at the moment).

The manufacturers were the ones who wanted the WRC regs which basically allows them to build specials with no associated production car run. But with this being the season of goodwill etc. maybe, just maybe they'll build the real deal.......
That's sounds logical to me, but it brings the question, why do WRC? Why winning manu titles? I guess WRC title will sell more cars, but it could do a lot more, that's for sure.

[Daniel]

The thing is Mitsubishi and Subaru do quite well out of their cars. The downfall of group A road cars was the fact that to have a big turbo on the rally car you needed a big turbo (and the associated lag) on the road car and that wasn't a good thing in the slightest. The Focus ST is selling quite well. I would think that unless Ford get the price very much wrong that a 4wd turbo version would probably sell quite well.

[ste898]

Wonder if Ford will maybe also produce a Group N Focus from the new RS?

[c4]

Wonder if Ford will maybe also produce a Group N Focus from the new RS?

Can't as RS will have 2.5 litre engine.

[Daniel]

Will it have a 2.5l engine for sure? I would think that if and it is an if Ford was going to go 4wd I would have thought they would consider something that people could go out and rally easily.

[c4]

Will it have a 2.5l engine for sure? I would think that if and it is an if Ford was going to go 4wd I would have thought they would consider something that people could go out and rally easily.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIAL/car_page_content/38515.html It does look like it will have the Volvo 2.5 engine.

[Zico]

The previous Focus RS was also rumoured to be 4wd long before it reached production. I'll believe it when I see it.

[Daniel]

Ok cheers c4 :)

[J4MIE]

Aren't Subaru also using a 2.5 litre engine these days?

[Daniel]

Yes but they also do a 2l version of the car which can be used in group n