Topic: 2015 Ford Focus RS

[Sir Osis of Liver]

http://images.cdn.autocar.co.uk/sites/autocar.co.uk/files/ford%20focus%20rs%20front%20final_1.jpg

330hp, Revoknuckle, limited slip diff, etc etc. 

It's an Autocar rendering, so take it for what it's worth.

The spokesperson also said this:

“The beauty of One Ford is that every step forward is shared by every market,” she said. “All I can confirm is that the Mustang will feature some new, exciting technologies that will benefit customers in every market. We know there is enthusiasm for the car in Europe, and we know the Mustang name resonates globally. We must ensure it delivers on that promise in every market it’s sold in.

Which is also good news.

[Fobroader]

  If it looks like that.....awesome. Again, too bad about the FWD only, but good lord thats a good looking car.

[Northernridge]

Revoknuckle is a great product name, I wish I would though of that. I like the car just because of it.

[johngenx]

Attention Subaru:  That's EXACTLY what the new WRX should have looked like.  A HOT hatch.  Not a warm sedan.

Best looking hatch on the market, by a huge margin.

Win: Ford.

[johngenx]

Revoknuckle is a great product name, I wish I would though of that. I like the car just because of it.

I thought I was the only one!  I would have a sticker for it somewhere...

[KD]

  Looks great for sure!  Wonder what is the purpose of the hump above the windshield?

[johngenx]

Competition cars don't have AC, so they have an air scoop there to keep the driver and navigator from expiring.  Much more effective than a side window.

[WRX_Pilot]

I see they shopped at Canadian tire to source those hood vents.

330hp, FWD?  What a waste of money.  If they put all the extra money into AWD on the STs power level it would be worth it. (If Ford was to do an RS I mean)

[Snowman]

I see they shopped at Canadian tire to source those hood vents.

330hp, FWD?  What a waste of money.  If they put all the extra money into AWD on the STs power level it would be worth it. (If Ford was to do an RS I mean)

The Revoknuckle removes all torque steer.

[CanuckS2K]

Now that's one hot little hatch!  Hopefully the rendering is pretty accurate!

[Snowman]

Here is the one I seen in Australia a few years ago. Not much has changed.

[Rupert]

   The 'revoknuckle' (strange name for a part) seems like a decent new design... if it is new. This part is far more important than the car itself which is just another over powered car for the track as far as I can see. However the knuckle can have a great influence on FWD acceptance with higher power if it does prevent torque steer, I thought that unequal length drive shafts were also responsible for this aspect. Anyway, a successful outcome for this would give the whole range of FWD Macpherson strut cars  an edge and reduce at least one carping point for gas inefficient AWD.
   

[Fobroader]

   The 'revoknuckle' (strange name for a part) seems like a decent new design... if it is new. This part is far more important than the car itself which is just another over powered car for the track as far as I can see. However the knuckle can have a great influence on FWD acceptance with higher power if it does prevent torque steer, I thought that unequal length drive shafts were also responsible for this aspect. Anyway, a successful outcome for this would give the whole range of FWD Macpherson strut cars  an edge and reduce at least one carping point for gas inefficient AWD.
 

Even removing torque steer it wont stop the fact that the car naturally shifts its weight to the rear wheels when taking off or having understeer when going through a corner. That much power deserves rwd or awd, fwd is ok for a $15k commuter, not for something branded as a racecar or sport.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Most fwd cars are set up for a lot of understeer. The Focus, especially the performance versions are really neutral. So there's no difference entering a corner.

On corner exit with too much power applied, a rwd car will oversteer, while a fwd car will understeer, but neither is really as quick as it could be. Feed in an appropriate amount of power to limit both.

In higher speed corners it isn't such a big deal, and on the street, it shouldn't come into play.

Of course awd puts power down better that either, but with an additional 15% or so drivetrain losses.

I think Ford was trying to keep the price down. I know they've looked at awd a number of times for the Focus.

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[Fobroader]

I drove an SVT Focus way back when, its still to this day the only FWD car Ive found semi acceptable. It handled ok, stuck to the road but the wrong wheel drive still made it hell of an issue to get the power down....and that was with only 170ish horses. The Mazdaspeed 3 I drove, I did not like at all, felt like a teenagers idea of a fast car and the cutting of power in 1st gear was annoying. Id really like to try the Focus and Festiva ST, see what they are like.

[Rupert]

   I don't think that laying rubber should be a feature of car design. That is what rear wheel drive weight distribution will do for you...weight transfer or not and off the mark there is no weight transfer if you are smoking tires in either case. I suspect that the great majority of folk don't do any of this.
   RWD is only better off the mark if it has weight over...rear engine. It's the pure laws of physics and we have been through all of this before.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I drove an SVT Focus way back when, its still to this day the only FWD car Ive found semi acceptable. It handled ok, stuck to the road but the wrong wheel drive still made it hell of an issue to get the power down....and that was with only 170ish horses. The Mazdaspeed 3 I drove, I did not like at all, felt like a teenagers idea of a fast car and the cutting of power in 1st gear was annoying. Id really like to try the Focus and Festiva ST, see what they are like.

The ST is world's better than the SVT, which was pretty good back then.
The electronics and suspension do a pretty good job limiting torque steer and getting the power down, and the power delivery is pretty linear for a turbo.
The RS should be something else again.

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[Fobroader]

   I don't think that laying rubber should be a feature of car design. That is what rear wheel drive weight distribution will do for you...weight transfer or not and off the mark there is no weight transfer if you are smoking tires in either case. I suspect that the great majority of folk don't do any of this.
   RWD is only better off the mark if it has weight over...rear engine. It's the pure laws of physics and we have been through all of this before.

No, laying rubber should be a design feature.....unless its a pony car. But the second you accelarate the car naturally squats....over the rear tires, unloading the front suspension.

[Rupert]

   Yeah, but the weight transfer happens a lot quicker in FWD...why...because it gets going in a hurry...why...better up front weight over traction. All of which means better winter driving for all. Your argument defeats itself.

[Fobroader]

   Yeah, but the weight transfer happens a lot quicker in FWD...why...because it gets going in a hurry...why...better up front weight over traction. All of which means better winter driving for all. Your argument defeats itself.

Winter driving....what the...yes, thats a very important aspect to a sport car....  Id take a BMW or Merc with snow tires over any FWD in the winter. Enjoy your benchseat