Focus RS mk2

[goodall]

http://www.rs-ford.co.uk/focus-rs-mk2.php

what do people think, i like idea 5pot turbo

but why no awd even if was haldex since volvo use haldex on same platform as focus would be better than putting all the power through front wheels
and the over reliance on a atb/torsen diff?

I know from feel my quattro torsen isnt really that much a god send because you never quite notice how little grip you have, because all happens so seamlessly you get caught out the odd time or does anyone else find that, or can i not drive for crap

[GazzaG60]

had the same discussion with a mate expecting it to be 4x4.

i think in all honesty it was done as a way to save some cash and make it faster than the other 300hp 4x4 machinery. itll handle better too.

id have liked to see 4x4 and so would my mate but then again the ford RS brand died the day they parted with cosworth.

imagine how many would sell if it was a focus RS cosworth and not jst a focus RS.

[S2central.net]

It will be lighter than 4WD - no argument - so gonna be faster on the 0-60-100 etc for all those arguments down the pub with Scooby & Evo owners.

Be being lighter it should have better handling I suppose - well it will until it exceeds the limit of traction - which would be higher if it had 4WD.

Surely the torque steer and wheel spin on FWD with 150bhp per driveshaft is going to be horrific though. I wouldn't like to drive that thing hard in the wet - suppose it will be bristling with electronic gizmos for traction control etc but they just take the fun out IMO.

[A80Avant]

my brother's Focus ST which now has produced around 310hp measured with the perfomance box,it pretty much slidding up to half 2nd gear before it has any grip.
They say that with a LSD diff things tend to be a bit better,but still far from being 4x4.

There is someone here in the UK that has made the focus 4x4,and others say that it shares the same chassis with the volvo model that is 4x4.Im trying to persuade my brother to look into it...
then make him buy my 3071R kit...hehe

[Greenm3]

From what I heard on the grape vine, (Quaife) they said it was because Ford wanted to keep the car in a certain price bracket, would have been prohibitivley expensive with the 4x4 and missed thier target audience.

I would have prefered it 4x4 as well.

So what chassis from the volvo range does it share which has 4x4? The XC60?

[A80Avant]

have no idea...

[Ian Simmonds]

It will be lighter than 4WD - no argument - so gonna be faster on the 0-60-100 etc for all those arguments down the pub with Scooby & Evo owners.

Be being lighter it should have better handling I suppose - well it will until it exceeds the limit of traction - which would be higher if it had 4WD.

Surely the torque steer and wheel spin on FWD with 150bhp per driveshaft is going to be horrific though. I wouldn't like to drive that thing hard in the wet - suppose it will be bristling with electronic gizmos for traction control etc but they just take the fun out IMO.

Not so sure there, yes potentially lighter, but 4WD traction will dominate in the first 50yds off the line, the handling is probably a better place to prove 'quattro' against 2WD, as the chassis stability will be far less de-stabilised than with 2WD, so a smooth, high speed driving approach will reap dividends against a Front wheel drive vehicle with a similar weight and engine output.

Axle tramp, torque steer and understeer are all factors that are reduced or negated with 4WD too…

So a dragstrip run might see the 2WD car shine over the full quarter, but add the mix of ‘real roads’ with real cars and real drivers and the 4WD car of similar power and performance will shine…

The B743 from Strathaven to Muirkirk is one road I have driven many times, with 300bhp S2’s, S4’s, RS4’s, Type 85 coupe quattros and Ur quattros, + numerous modern hire cars…. And the ‘quattro’ cars ‘work’ harder, dig deeper and pull earlier, they fight less and they maximise what they have….

A 136bhp Coupe Quattro over the B743 is as quick as a 200bhp Megane, Sure, the longer straights see the Renault gain higher up, but come the steep contour changes and 2nd gear switchbacks with damp, wet and gravel, the Quattro system stamps it’s authority, soon backing off for fear of colliding with the Megane bootlid.

Traction, handling and feedback are key to exploiting big power, and a linier ECU to slap your wrist at it’s perceived limits isn’t the answer… Total traction is.

[goodall]

well put ian, its not the amount of power you have it how offend you can put down and how controlled

torque steer will have been reduced by the atb i guess and there is also a "RevoKnuckle" which is fords genius idea apparently to reduce torque, want see a engineering reasoning for this
i think be a really good car had full time awd like the old escort rs2000 4x4 (not the cossie) or the mondeo of the same thing. Or if they even fitted haldex so get off the line and outa corners fast

how much weight would awd of added extra 100kg maybe, all is a diff 3 shafts and a bit more gearbox

[goodall]

revo knuckle diagrams any wants see what is





seems be a even heavier mac-y strut but looks like will deflect less which i guess may help reduce torque steer alright

why not just use double wish bone what i dont get, lighter, as stiff and produces better geometry, also looks like has less parts so couldn't cost any more

[S2central.net]

Not so sure there, yes potentially lighter, but 4WD traction will dominate in the first 50yds off the line, the handling is probably a better place to prove 'quattro' against 2WD, as the chassis stability will be far less de-stabilised than with 2WD, so a smooth, high speed driving approach will reap dividends against a Front wheel drive vehicle with a similar weight and engine output.

Axle tramp, torque steer and understeer are all factors that are reduced or negated with 4WD too…

So a dragstrip run might see the 2WD car shine over the full quarter, but add the mix of ‘real roads’ with real cars and real drivers and the 4WD car of similar power and performance will shine…

The B743 from Strathaven to Muirkirk is one road I have driven many times, with 300bhp S2’s, S4’s, RS4’s, Type 85 coupe quattros and Ur quattros, + numerous modern hire cars…. And the ‘quattro’ cars ‘work’ harder, dig deeper and pull earlier, they fight less and they maximise what they have….

A 136bhp Coupe Quattro over the B743 is as quick as a 200bhp Megane, Sure, the longer straights see the Renault gain higher up, but come the steep contour changes and 2nd gear switchbacks with damp, wet and gravel, the Quattro system stamps it’s authority, soon backing off for fear of colliding with the Megane bootlid.

Traction, handling and feedback are key to exploiting big power, and a linier ECU to slap your wrist at it’s perceived limits isn’t the answer… Total traction is.

I totally agree with that - on real roads - with real corners - wet and dry - quattro wins every time... I think there are enough trophies in the old cabinet to prove that But on a dry day, if the traction control allows a nice clean start on that new Focus it will be quick up the drag strip against heavier 300bhp machines.

[Prophet_dlx]

No it won't!!! It is anounced around 6 seconds, that is slower than an S2

[GazzaG60]

guys i know we love the s2 but it simply doesn't handle well.

a tight fwd car will handle better no problem. in the wet a different ball game.

my old corrado would easily outhandle the S2 in the dry. in the wet a different story.

maybe not a stable or grippy but ultimately faster through the bends.

dragstrips are not the best for fwd unless really setup. a normal 4x4 will win there
over an above average fwd.

id have my money on the S2 in a straight line but not on a twisty dry run. in the wet no contest 4x4

[Rusty]

Every time I see on I feel dirty... I want one even though I know it's wrong.

[Heat Seeking Missile]

guys i know we love the s2 but it simply doesn't handle well.

a tight fwd car will handle better no problem. in the wet a different ball game.

I've got to be honest here, I drive my Rover much harder than the Audi and I feel I can corner quicker than the S2 in the dry. Maybe that will change once I fit my brakes which might inspire a bit more confidence that I can actually slow down for a bend.

Mark

[GazzaG60]

and thats a rover. my rover is like driving a living room. its a 620 sdi. then s2 wins there.

the s2 is a great wet weather car with its flexi-chassis.

i think the wheels on the focus let it down somewhat. i dont like to be able to see the cost saving.