All-New Ford Focus RS Performance Figures Revealed: 0-100 KM/H In 4.7 Seconds, 266 KM/H Top Speed

When Ford first introduced the all-new Focus RS way back in February, they were pretty reserved when it came to providing any details on the hot hatch’s exact performance figures. Only in June were we told the official power figures of the EcoBoost engine and now, the Blue Oval has decided to divulge just what its third-generation Focus RS is capable of.

The key number here is 4.7 because that’s the amount of seconds the Ford Focus RS will take to hit 100 km/h from a standstill, essentially making it the fastest-accelerating RS model Ford has ever built.

Keep the accelerator floored and as you cycle up through the six-speed manual gearbox, the 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine, which produces 345hp at 6,000 rpm and 440Nm of torque from 2,000 to 4,500 rpm, will bring the hot hatch to a top speed of 266 km/h.

Putting things into perspective, the Ford Focus RS out-accelerates the all-new Honda Civic Type R (5.7 seconds), just edges out the Volkswagen Golf R (4.9 seconds), but just loses out to the new Mercedes-AMG A 45 (4.2 seconds).

Ford credits the Focus RS’ impressive acceleration to the introduction of launch control technology that configures the car’s chassis and powertrain systems to deliver the fastest possible acceleration – in various track conditions.

They’ve even detailed how this system works:

“The driver selects launch control from the cluster menu, engages first gear, applies full throttle and releases the clutch. The system then delivers optimum drive – including distributing torque through the all-wheel-drive system, maintaining maximum torque using the turbo overboost function, managing traction control and setting the dampers.”

The Ford Performance All-Wheel Drive uses twin electronically controlled clutch packs to manage the torque split to the car’s front/rear, and can control side-to-side torque distribution on the rear axle – enabling torque vectoring capability to improve handling and cornering stability.

Multiple vehicle sensors transmit data to the system at up to 100 times per second, working alongside the electronic stability control, including its brake-based Torque Vectoring Control that works in parallel with torque vectoring all-wheel drive.

Four different drive modes are selectable by the driver – Normal, Sport, Track, and the all-important Drift (thanks to Gymkhana star, Ken Block serving as a consultant on the car’s development) where the car’s systems, dampers, steering and engine responses, and even the exhaust note are adjusted to deliver the best performance and experience for the given situation.

How much for all this excellence? Well, in the United States, the Ford Focus RS is priced from $36,605 or RM155,454 with a direct conversion.

Read more:

• New 2015 Ford Focus Review In Adelaide: Beyond Just A Facelift