When Ford put an end to the Ford Escort RS Cosworth in 1996, Ford fanboys everywhere died inside just a little bit. It took another six years for the infamous “RS” badge to show back up on the scene, and it just so happened to be on the brands resident hatchback, the Ford Focus. Fast forward to today and the third Generation Focus RS is a monster that boasts all-wheel drive, and a Mustang-derived EcoBoost Four-banger that delivers 350 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque from the factory. Fanboys and hatchback lovers alike are finally happy once again, but there’s still a lot more to the RS’ story to be written, as this baby is very tunable and Full-Race Motorsports has prepared a perfect example for this year’s SEMA show that proves just how tunable the Focus RS really is. And, I’m not talking about the type of tuning that focuses on handling or aesthetics; I’m talking about the kind of tuning that makes this hot hatch pump out 450 ponies!
Needless to say, engine technology has come a long way, with four-cylinders capable of doing things only heavy big-blocks could do 30 years ago. But, it doesn’t necessarily come easy. Full-Race Motorsports had to put in some considerable work that includes a new turbo kit and charge pipes, new exhaust and intake, and some pretty extensive driveline updates. Of course, to keep all of this power under control, there are various updates to the chassis and suspension. Plus, to make things even more visually pleasing, there are plentiful updates to the exterior as well.
With that said, I’m not going to waste any more of your time with generalizations. Let’s dig into this crazy Focus RS and talk about all the goodies that come with it.
Continue reading to learn more about the Ford Focus RS by Full-Race Motorsports.
2016 Ford Focus RS by Full-Race Motorsports
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- Model: 2016 Ford Focus RS by Full-Race Motorsports
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Exterior
So far, Full-Race Motorsports has only released one image that gives us a clear view of the front and side of this incredible Focus RS. AS you can see, it sports a unique livery that includes what looks to be a black roof to go with a BASF Stealth Gray Finish. Fire Orange is used to accent the stripes on the hood, the A-pillars, roof edges, and rear spoiler, and the corner air intakes on the front fascia. There’s also a Fire Orange strip that runs from the lower, inner corner of each wheel well and, to round off everything off, the front and rear calipers also get the Orange treatment. Mechanical modifications to the body are limited but include a front race splitter and side splitters from Velox Motorsports that help maintain adequate downforce. And, while we can’t see it yet, Full-Race Motorsports also says that there is a new rear diffuser. The only other noticeable modifications include the “Full Race” decal on the lower edge of the windshield and that eyelet bracket that protrudes from the passenger side of the hood.
Interior
Note: Standard Ford Focus RS interior shown here.
While we haven’t been able to get a good look at the interior, Full-Race had plenty to say about it. To start, there is a new Watson Racing four-point bolt in rollbar and a Schroth three-inch, quick-fit, five-point racing harnesses for both front seats. To go with that water-methanol injection system is an AEM methanol gauge. Finally, there’s also a COBB Accessport V3. For those of you who don’t know, this is one of the leading ECU tuners that replaces factory tuning with more aggressive calibrations and is the perfect solution to get the most power out of bolt-on upgrades like the ones used on this RS. This device is available for a number of vehicles, including the Ford Mustang, Subaru WRX, and various Nissan and BMW vehicles. For what it’s worth, the model designed for the Focus RS comes at a manufacturer-direct cost of $650.00.
Drivetrain and Chassis
And this is where we get into the meat and potatoes. As with all Focus RS Models, this one is also equipped with that Mustang-derived 2.3-liter EcoBoost. But, Full Race has put some serious wrench time in to pick up where Ford left off on the performance front. To start off, this RS gets a new Full-Race twin-scroll turbo kit that comes complete with a new front mount intercooler and aluminum charge pipes. But, they didn’t stop there. There’s also a new three-inch, turbo-back, dual exhaust system to match the new three-inch cold-air intake system.
There’s also a new crankcase catch can. An AEM, boost-dependent, water-methanol injection system is also in place. The front axle is blessed with a new Wavetrac front differential while a new one-piece carbon driveshaft from The DriveShaft Shop is in place to handle the transfer of power from the transmission to differentials. Finally, there’s a new Borg Warner EFR 76/70 internal wastegate turbocharger. The standard six-speed manual transmission is responsible for shifting duties.
Looking at the one picture that we have, you’ve probably already noticed that this RS happens to sit quite a bit lower than a stock Focus RS. This new, lower ride height comes courtesy of the KW Variant 3 coilover suspension system. While the official body drop hasn’t been mentioned as of yet, it looks like the body sits about one inch lower than it would in stock form. It’s also important to remember that coilover systems are adjustable, so the body height is also adjustable. Finally, new adjustable end-link sway bars from Whiteline have been installed in the front and rear which, in coordination with the coilover suspension kit, should all but eliminate any body roll.
On the wheel and tire front, this baby has been equipped with a pair of Finspeed F110 19-inch wheels that are 9.5 inches wide. They are wrapped in Toyo Proxes R888 245/35-series Z-rated tires. There has been no mention of the performance potential of this heavily modified RS, but with 450 horsepower on tap, and assuming there’s a significant increase in torque as well, the 62 mph sprint should come in around 4.3 seconds if not faster. Top speed has likely somewhere around 172 mph. For reference, the standard RS with 350 horsepower and 350 pound-feet can make the same sprint in 4.7 seconds and tops out at 165 mph. Needless to say, we’re itching to see this baby put in work on the track.
Conclusion
Obviously, this is a pretty intense build, and with an extra 100 ponies on tap, it’s plenty powerful. The best part is that Full-Race didn’t go overboard on the exterior modifications. Even the excessively bright Fire Orange paint is kept under control thanks to that mild primary color. When you add in the lower body height and the minor exterior mods, this is a pretty sexy looking RS. Unfortunately, there has been no word as to what kind of price you would be expected to pay for a similar build, but it probably doesn’t come cheap. Of course, if you’re really interested, I’m sure you could convince Full-Race Motorsports to give you a quote and get you set up. If you happen to be an RS owner going that route, feel free to reach out and fill us in on all the details. We would love to hear from you and see some shots of you ride.