Breaking News: US plans to receive Ford Focus RS Canceled

[mikeyb]

About a month ago WCF published a story about a Ford Focus RS spotted in Michigan. This raised some hopes of Ford taking some RS stock stateside. Further fueling this speculation was an interview done by Automotive News with Ford's director of advanced product creation and global performance, Hermann Salenbauch, in which the man was quoted as saying his company was looking for feedback (about the RS) from media and the public. "How much do they like it? Is it really what they want? We are pretty confident that it is," he said.

Fast forward to now and it appears the wind has changed direction. AutoCar interviewed Jost Capito, the new head of Ford's global performance division. Capito and his team of bean counters reckon the whole exercise of homologating the RS for North American consumption would be too pricey to bear.

"We'd like to," said Capito, "but the base car isn't homologated for North America and that's too costly a job to carry out just for a niche vehicle like the RS."

Again we cannot help but wonder how it is that Ford's best-performing hatchback ever will not be sold on the Blue Oval's home soil. That's a bit like Sony selling the PlayStation console series everywhere else but in Japan.

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[jred321]

meh. high power fwd cars are pointless anyways. until they go with awd i'm not missing it

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

Darn, I should have bet everyone. I knew it wasnt coming.

 

[Flash5]

damn that stinks, i was really hoping it was gonna be coming here

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

I agree that now isn't the time, but my faith holds out that we will eventually see the bliss that is the Ford Focus RS!

 

[coolmazda5]

Booooh, at least bring the ST like in south of the border

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

Well, if not this version, the next-gen Focus RS should come stateside by the time the economy starts to lift.

 

[clicknext]

What's the difference between the RS and the regular euro focus? Is the regular one still coming?

 

[bani]

can't let anything threaten mustang sales.

 

[Wagonbacker9]

What's the difference between the RS and the regular euro focus? Is the regular one still coming?

about 200hp.... lol

 

[Mazdaspeed2oo35]

This is the most ridiculous thing ive ever heard... They are just scared to get the cobras and mostangs, and vettes, camaros etc, to get pounded by a car like the RS, they know this little car will break the sales of any V8 vehicle made and sold in USA, not to mension the MPG difference between them. no homologating what ? there is nothing to homologate besides the way the head lights lighting work... Europe is more strict than USA, in here they really do make things they way they should. just my .02 cents since ive lived in both continents...

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

I was really hoping for this...bummer.

 

[tunersteve]

I can understand why this one won't be coming over. Give it a few years and once the plants are retooled and the Focus rides on its global platform, bringing a Focus RS (SVT) over here won't be as costly as it would have been.

Let's be serious, how many people would have paid $30K+ for a Focus? Not too many. It has nothing to do with the Mustang and other sports cars, it's just not cost-effective right now.

 

[Mazdaspeed2oo35]

I can understand why this one won't be coming over. Give it a few years and once the plants are retooled and the Focus rides on its global platform, bringing a Focus RS (SVT) over here won't be as costly as it would have been.

Let's be serious, how many people would have paid $30K+ for a Focus? Not too many. It has nothing to do with the Mustang and other sports cars, it's just not cost-effective right now.

How can you say a Focus worth 30k ? Do you have any knowledge about what RS means, history background etc ? i can tell you have no idea buddy... Ford Europe and their Rallye Sport Edition RS aint the same as regular ford.. so please if you dont know what you are saying is better to do a research before posting....

SVT is s*** all around next to RS division.. Ford Europe are millions of years ahead of Ford North America.. you have to live here in europe to know and appreciate what RS and Cosworth does to FORD in here..

 

[jred321]

This is the most ridiculous thing ive ever heard... They are just scared to get the cobras and mostangs, and vettes, camaros etc, to get pounded by a car like the RS, they know this little car will break the sales of any V8 vehicle made and sold in USA, not to mension the MPG difference between them.

lol. just like all of those other high powered fwd cars. they're stealing sales from sports and muscle cars left and right.




oh wait. they're not because the person who is shopping for a muscle or sports car is not interested in a hopped up econo car.

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

How can you say a Focus worth 30k ? Do you have any knowledge about what RS means, history background etc ? i can tell you have no idea buddy... Ford Europe and their Rallye Sport Edition RS aint the same as regular ford.. so please if you dont know what you are saying is better to do a research before posting....

SVT is s*** all around next to RS division.. Ford Europe are millions of years ahead of Ford North America.. you have to live here in europe to know and appreciate what RS and Cosworth does to FORD in here..

Chill out man. We're just having a discussion...no need to take it personally.

 

[Mazdaspeed2oo35]

Chill out man. We're just having a discussion...no need to take it personally.

What did i do to chill out ? Im fine, not angry or mad. just reading and posting, thats all... im just noticing that there is not enough knowledge from people here to say 30K focus, RS and Cosworth are very prestigious divisions of Ford here in the European Union, its like Saying a regular mustang is the same as an SVT, or Dodge and Henessy, Honda and Muggen or Spoon. well saying or comparing them is just a crime.

 

[Kymerik]

What did i do to chill out ? Im fine, not angry or mad. just reading and posting, thats all... im just noticing that there is not enough knowledge from people here to say 30K focus, RS and Cosworth are very prestigious divisions of Ford here in the European Union, its like Saying a regular mustang is the same as an SVT, or Dodge and Henessy, Honda and Muggen or Spoon. well saying or comparing them is just a crime.

problem is, most people in this country are ignorant fools who don't pay attention to the differences in cars. People in the states would see a Focus RS and say one of three things: "too much flash" "oh look its just a modded focus" or "they want how much for a focus"

Ignorance is bliss to the typical dumbass american.

 

[mikeyb]

How can you say a Focus worth 30k ? Do you have any knowledge about what RS means, history background etc ? i can tell you have no idea buddy... Ford Europe and their Rallye Sport Edition RS aint the same as regular ford.. so please if you dont know what you are saying is better to do a research before posting....

SVT is s*** all around next to RS division.. Ford Europe are millions of years ahead of Ford North America.. you have to live here in europe to know and appreciate what RS and Cosworth does to FORD in here..

Just to let you know SVT and ST were suppose to merge.

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080722/FREE/607642641/1065

 

[Mazdaspeed2oo35]

Just to let you know SVT and RS are the same division now.

oh yeah,,, what makes you think that ? you must have proof of that, any info you can share, I have lived in USA and in here in the past and i can tell you from Know SVT is Crap and sorry to say no comparison in design, technology or safety next to RS... im no trying to be an ass or wanting to fight with anybody, but you have to live in here to really know What RS and Cosworth is and mean ....


Let me ask you a question Mike... Have you been in Europe, England, Spain etc ? have you see in person or heard about RS and Cosworth before ? or just searching the internet and posting the info you find around ? you can post as many links as you find, that doesnt mean or say anything, you have to live around it and learn it and see how special, rare they are. Owning a RS is a very special thing in here, dont matter what model, People loves them because of the history, technology and performance. I had and 1990 Ford Escort RS Turbo, and when i bought it 10 years ago and still today owning an RS means a lot to the community, on meetings people uses to check my old ride out then faster and newer cars, same happens to those that owns newer RS models, Escort RS Cosworth, Sierra RS Cosworth etc in order to really appreciate what RS and Cosworth is you have to live with it. as i said you can post as many links you want that is not going to change the Insanely difference from SVT and RS Cosworth buddy..