FORD Focus RS

[Chunkee]

Saw pix and write up..cool looking little car..fast with good MPG rating...even the steering wheel in on the 'proper side' ...so why no in USA?

rope a dope

 

[StageLeft]

I kind of don't believe its highway MPG.

 

[Chunkee]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I kind of don't believe its highway MPG.

Where is Robert L. Ripley when you need him?

 

[angry hampster]

Judging but its in-town performance, I'd say it's just got a hell of an overdrive gear.

 

[DivideBYZero]

You don't have it for the same reason you don't currently have the same gen Focus as Europe; The RS versions of Euro Fords have always been pricey and herein lies the problem. Most US buyers would rather stab their first born to death than pay $38k for a fast hatchback, let alone a Focus and definitely not with a Ford badge on it.

It's a shame, as the Mk1 Focus RS is a performance legend and you missed out on that, too.

 

[Arkaign]

Focus in Europe has been on the newer and substantially heavier C1 platform since '04 model. Focus in US has gone through 2 refreshes of the original 1998 MK1 platform in that time, leading the US Focus to be a lighter, more econobox-style car, while the respect Ford gets as a badge in Europe lets them sell the Focus there as a more upscale, more expensive vehicle.

With exchange rates, the Focus RS pricing is out of sight for what people in the US would pay for a Ford Focus.

That said, global C2 (or C1.1, depending on how you look at it) is on tap for 2011 IIRC. It's somewhat improbable that we'll see US spec Focus models with the same level of equipment that the Euro Focuses get, due to pure economics and what people will expect to pay for Ford vehicles here vs. there.

 

[DivideBYZero]

You also miss out on the metal Renault Megane R26-R, that posted an insane(for FWD) 8:17 'ring time.

 

[ElFenix]

the UK passat 2.0T gets 26/36
the US jetta 2.0T gets 19/29

so if all they've done is convert from imperial gallons to US gallons, they still have a ways to go. the city mileage on that kinda blows.