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2011 Ford Focus RS Black Racing Edition by Anderson Germany
 
We’re used to seeing these "Black Edition" tuning packages from Anderson Germany on many different sports cars available, but their latest project seems to be a little on the questionable side of the spectrum. The talented tuning firm has gone from the Ferrari 458 Italia and the Audi R8 V10 to a run-of-the-mill Ford Focus RS. Don’t shake your heads just yet though; after all, thrill-seeking speed is not just for people with thick wallets and hefty bank accounts. Like with all of the other Black packages offered by Anderson Germany, the RS Black Racing Edition starts off with a black exterior and red contrasts. The aerodynamic package includes more pronounced wheel arches, an extra thick spoiler, and a matte black wrap. For the interior, the tuner has added leather upholstery, Alcantara, and beautiful red stitching. The real work, however, was done under the hood. Anderson Germany took a hatchback that produced 305 HP out of its 2.5L 20 V DOHC RS engine and added a turbo system and a new exhaust to achieve 420 HP. Now that’s how you kick a hatchback in the ass and get it going. It may not be a sports car, but at least now it can drive like one. 2010 Ford Focus RS by Stoffler
The Ford Focus RS is no doubt a very powerful car, but it’s simply not powerful enough for a car with its stance. Enter German tuner, Stoffler, with their new series of updates. Thanks to the adapted intercooler, the improved fuel pump, the down pipe, and the suction pipe, the 2.5 liter engine found in the sporty hatchback has been updated to deliver 356 HP and a peak torque of 440 NM. This package also comes with a choice of three different exhaust systems for optimal power performance, including a sport exhaust with remote-control made from stainless steel. And if you want even more, Stoffler is also offering 200 cell sport catalytic converters and GGR Sport Air Filter or the GGR Carbon Air Filter. The package comes with all the MOT certification for driving on regular roads. Stoffler didn’t unveil how these new additions would affect the car’s performance, but we figure they still won’t be as good as the tuning package provided by BBR for the same hatchback. BBR was able to get the Focus to deliver 404hp and 408 lb.-ft. of torque, which, in our books, makes their package that much better. Aesthetically speaking, the two versions are pretty similar so it really comes down to the performance aspect. Nice try, Stoffler, but BBR has you beat. Press release after the jump. Full story The Ford Focus RS gets new, colorful brakes by Mov’it
High speeds require great brakes, and brake specialists, Mov’it, have created a brake system for the Ford Focus RS that will facilitate the stopping power needed to control the 300hp produced by the sports car’s 2.5L 20 V DOHC RS engine. Currently, the Focus RS comes with large 336mm x 30mm, ventilated front discs gripped by stiffer, single 60mm piston calipers and supported by 302mm x 11mm rear discs. This is good, but Mov’it has done better. This new brake system combines a BILLET caliper made from solid pieces of ultra-high-strength aircraft spec aluminum and special performance brake discs made from a special alloy. What makes this brake system even better is that it can be painted according to the customer’s wishes, as shown in the Ultimate Green brakes pictured. Prices for the Ford Focus RS’ new brake system by Mov’it have not been announced yet. Press release after the jump. Full story Video: Porsche Boxster vs Ford Focus RS
On the surface, this comparison seems like it wasn’t thought out all the way through. For starters, the two cars belong to two different markets. One is a German marquee brand recognized as one of the most sought-after automakers in the world while the other is an American original that’s more of the everyday brand. But for the purposes of comparison, here we are. Auto Express took it upon themselves to undergo a comparison test between a Porsche Boxster and a Ford Focus RS. In fairness to these guys, the whole point of the comparison test wasn’t focused so much on the car’s engine performance and styling points, but more so on which car should get you the most bang for your buck. Over in the UK, both cars come out with pretty similar price tags so, as far as Auto Express is concerned, choosing between the two boils down to preference. By numbers alone, if you’re looking for a car with more ponies in it, then the Focus RS is the way to go. But if you’re more interested in which car is lighter, then the Boxster is the one for you. Continued after the jump Full story 2010 Ford Focus RS by BBR
The British tuner BBR has unveiled a tuning package for the Ford Focus RS sporty hatchback. The kit is offered in four different power levels, each coming with a suspension upgrade package. In phase one the engine’s power is upgraded to 342 HP and the peak torque to 369 lbs-ft. This package includes calibration of the standard Focus RS MK2 ECU, fuel, ignition, torque, airflow, and boost requirements. In phase two, the engine’s output goes to 355 HP and 378 ft-lbs of torque. Next to the engine upgrades, the phase two also includes gloss black and an aggressive front grille. In phase three the Focus RS develops a total of 382 HP and 388 ft/lbs of torque. For this phase, BBR is also offering a Turbo back high flow exhaust with sports cat and BBR spec high flow fuel injectors. And finally, in phase four, BBR was able to take the engine to an impressive 404 HP and 408 ft/lbs of torque. BBR took the Ford Focus RS through 18 months worth of testing to ensure that no other Ford tuning company could possibly have a more complete range of tuning kits for the hatchback. Press release after the jump. Full story
Next-generation Ford Focus RS rendered
The current generation Ford Focus RS turned out to be a great car, even though Americans can’t enjoy it. There’s good news for us on the horizon, however, because with the next generation Focus RS, Ford plans to go global. Want some more good news? The next RS will be offered with both a turbocharged petrol engine and an electric motor mounted on the rear axle. Depending on the market, the next RS will be called the ST, SVT, and XR. The current Focus RS is powered by a 2.5 liter 20 V DOHC RS engine that delivers 300 hp at 6500 and a peak torque of 440 NM, but the next generation will be more powerful than that. As for the electric version, Team RS is already testing the combination between a 2.0-liter Ecoboost engine with 250 HP with an electric motor mounted on the Focus’s rear axle. The result will be the same performance as the current RS500, but an improved economy and lower CO2 emissions. When talking about the next RS, Jost Capito said: "We certainly have to guard the RS badge and its motorsport heritage very carefully. We won’t put an RS badge on any type of car; it has to have a race or rally link." 2010 Ford Focus RSW by Weitec
Weitec has unveiled a new tuning package for the Ford Focus RS. The package is called the RSW and includes lowered springs, sports shock-absorbers, and complete coilover suspension systems. The car’s ride has been lowered by 30 mm thanks to the addition of new SPORT F Springs. If you want to lower the ride somewhere between 10 to 40 millimeters you can opt for the WEITEC HICON GT coilover suspension. The package also includes the WEITEC HICON TX "plus" coilover suspension. This system allows the setup to be adjusted at any time to the driver’s preferences and the demands of the track. The tuner is also offering a complete suspension solution with pre-set shock absorbers. All elements and dust covers are always included in delivery from WEITEC. The tuner is not offering any improvements for the engine, but the package is enough to considerably improve the car’s aerodynamics. It’s a shame Weitec did not offer any exterior modifications that could spice up the popular Ford Focus RS as they did with the Volkswagen Golf back in May. The Golf received the same suspension system, but also got the chance to ride around with Lambo doors and an extensive body kit. It seems they stopped a little short with the Focus Press release after the jump. Full story Video: Production of the Ford Focus RS500
Ford of Europe unveiled a new presentation video that shows how the special edition Focus RS500 is produced at the company’s Saarlouis plant in Germany. So, if you ever wondered how Ford creates a sports car then this would be the perfect video to watch and learn. Of course, we really doubt anyone cares, but they put forth the effort to make the video so we might as well watch it. Don’t worry, it’s less than two minutes long which is plenty of time to watch how a sold-out vehicle is made. Yes, the RS500 will be limited to only 500 units and all of them have already been sold. The Focus RS500 is powered by an improved version of the 2.5L 20 V DOHC RS engine from the standard RS. The addition of an improved induction kit and a revised exhaust system will allow the engine to deliver a total of 345 hp (up from standard 300) and a peak torque of 339lb ft. The result is a sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds and a top speed of 163 mph. Top Ten Cars Not For Sale In America
The large car craze in the United States is at the end of its life cycle, at least we hope. Gas prices are still a bit high, but they will need to rise just a bit more in order to really bring the small car back into our thoughts again. That being said, some of the most popular cars on the market today were once considered way too small to be safe. Take the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris for example. The three-door Yaris is a pretty popular car, but many still find it to be the size of a shoebox rather than the size of a proper car. The Fit is a little bigger, but Americans still find it a bit too small for their tastes. Maybe the seats just aren’t wide enough. Modern safety laws and design have helped these small cars earn five-star safety ratings, but size still matters in some people’s minds. It’s going to take a few very special small cars, and even a few minivans and wagons, to shake America’s love with large, oversized vehicles. Here are the top ten cars that aren’t available in the United States. Hit the jump to see the list. Full story 2010 Ford Focus RS Le Mans Classic Editions
Ford unveiled today a collection of just five Focus RS cars in unique color schemes, each paying tribute to the Ford cars which made ’blue oval’ history at the Le Mans 24 Hours. The five cars will be seen in action at the 2010 Le Mans Classic in July. The list of five special Focus RS models will include: a black with silver stripes edition that pays tribute to a Ford Mk II, which was victorious in 1966; a red model with white stripes that is recalling the Mk IV which won in 1967; a white model with a thin blue center stripe surrounded by a red border that pays tribute to the beautiful Ford Mk IIB, entered by Ford France in the 1967 Le Mans 24-hours; a two-tone sky blue and orange edition reference to the modern GT40s which dominated Le Mans in 1968 and 1969 and a two-tone white and blue model representing the livery of the Capri RS 2600 which took the Touring category in 1972. All models will feature a customized interior featuring Recaro seats upholstered in leather and diamond-quilted alcantara, front and back, with stitching that matches the bodywork. They will also feature a gearshift gaiter, hand brake handle, and central arm-rest all upholstered in real leather with a leather safety belt guide for the front seats. Each of the five cars will carry a personalized numbered plaque on the dashboard confirming its exclusivity as part of the collection. Press release after the jump. Full story | featured reviews:Ford Focus RS latest reviews:
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