Ford Plans Ultra-Powerful Focus RS Model

The upcoming RS will be based on the current European Focus, which in case you were not aware is an entirely different animal

The upcoming RS will pay homage to the 2002 Focus RS, which wasn't sold in North America. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

than what Ford sells here. Unlike the old Escort days, when Ford of Europe sold a completely different car to its clientele than Dearborn sold to us, while still claiming the car as the best selling nameplate in the world, North American blue-oval fans will soon be able to purchase the Euro model here at home.

Rather than take on the fully updated Focus from day one, Dearborn chose to carryover the current car after updating its styling, inside and out, plus enhance features and refinement levels. The reasoning was simple: the original Focus experienced such an alarmingly high rate of recalls during its first couple of years that it nearly killed the car's image. With the car finally performing flawlessly, or at least better than the majority of its competitors, it

In 2006 the new Mazda3-based Focus will debut in the U.S. and Canada. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

would have been foolhardy to bring the all-new model to market without making sure all of its bugs were ironed out. Thankfully, early adaptors in Europe have taken care of the "testing" phase, and in 2006 the new Mazda3-based Focus will debut in the U.S. and Canada.

Along with that new car, could be the next-generation RS - yes, back where we started. This model, co-developed with engine developer Cosworth Engineering, is expect to feature a high-pressure turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder to exceed 300-horsepower, with some estimates boasting output will be as high as 350-horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque.