Spied: Ford Focus RS - Car News

Super-Focus poised to take on EVO X in Europe.
BY STEVE SILER, PHOTOGRAPHY BY HANS G. LEHMANN/HIDDEN IMAGE
October 2006

What amounts to rubbing salt in the long-bleeding wounds of American Blue-oval enthusiasts, Ford TeamRS (the European equivalent of SVT) is preparing yet another hot-rod morsel based on its Euro-only Focus: the Focus RS. Though on the outside this test mule looks just like the three-door Focus ST, a turbocharged front driver with a 225-hp five-cylinder engine, certain items like a larger front air intake and unique wheels portend that this one might be, um, special. As in a 300 horsepower, all-wheel-drive special.

How do we know? According to our source, as these shots were snapped, the driver put his foot down, which was followed shortly by the “rally-like sound of a dump valve while shifting gears” and an exhaust note that simply couldn’t be confused with that of the ST’s more modest motor. Oh yeah, and the fact that the resultant rocket-like acceleration came unaccompanied by either any high-pitched squealing or clouds of white smoke from either front tire.

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Excerpt from CarAndDriver.com

At least one of the SVT teams is still in business. Wouldn't mind taking this for a test drive.

It seems like it takes too long or too much effort to release these American tuners in the states. You always read about them hitting the overseas markets. Bring the technology home and get with the program guys.

Id imagine the restrictions on some of these vehicles is why this "technology" cant be had overhere, well from the factory that is. 5 cyl huh? Wonder how much of a PITA it is to tune that bad mamajama?