It’s only been a few days since Ford announced that the EcoBoost Mustang was finally getting some attention from Ford Performance. It’s not a lot, but the EcoBoost can now be equipped with a cold air intake and an ECU remap that boosts its output by 25 horsepower and 70 pound-feet of torque, bringing the grand total up to 335 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. AS fate would have it, the Focus RS still has 15 ponies on the EcoBoost Mustang, but the Mustang now tops the RS’ torque by 40 pound-feet. It took about five minutes for RS fanboys everywhere to call out that the RS uses the same 2.3-liter engine as the EcoBoost Mustang. Well, you RS fanboys can rest easy, as Jesse Kershaw told Road & Track that there is a calibration kit for the RS coming down the pipeline.

“From an engine and powertrain standpoint, we feel very comfortable with doing something on the RS,” said Kershaw. “I hesitate to give any dates or any more information than that, but I can tell you we're working on it, and we fully expect to have a Focus RS calibration in the future.”

With that in mind, it’s also important to remember that the RS does have at least one major limitation – that all-wheel-drive system. See that system was designed and specifically optimized for the RS’ factory output of 350 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. On top of that, the RS already has some advanced ECU calibration to give those extra 40 ponies over the EcoBoost Mustang. So, don’t expect this tuning package from Ford Performance to show up tomorrow, as there is some work to do. But, coming from Ford Performance, it should offer mild bumps in horsepower and torque, while also allowing you to maintain your factory warranty.

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Why it Matters


For a stock hatchback, the Focus RS really is a monster. But, several sources have pointed out design flaws that could make it difficult to increase power by much – one of which is the AWD system. It just isn’t strong enough to handle excessive amounts of power. Other sources have dissected the RS and found that the rear control arms and the driveline itself are also subpar for a car that has a lot of upgrade potential. That doesn’t mean that a decent kit from Ford Performance won’t happen because, well, it just has to. Just keep in mind that it isn’t going to be easy and isn’t something you’ll be able to get by the end of the year. With any luck, Ford Performance will be able to safely squeeze an extra 20 horses and maybe another 30 pound-feet from the RS. That would put it at 370 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. That, my friends, would be an impressive little hatchback. We’ll be looking out for the new kit from Ford Performance, so stay tuned for future updates.

Read our full review on the Ford Focus RS here.