SEMA is one of our favorite times of the year. It gives us a chance to go into enthusiast mode and really get into all of the concepts that flood the show each year. This year is shaping up pretty well with so many variations for the Focus ST and Focus RS that we can barely keep track of them all. Fortunately, they are all completely unique, and all have their own story to tell. Take this Ford Focus RS put together by H&R Special Springs and StanceWorks. As the name of the builders imply, the main focus of the concept based on aesthetic and ride quality improvement. There’s a pretty sweet body kit and livery, an awesome suspension system, and a couple of minor mods to the interior and powertrain too.

With the Focus RS making such a huge splash in the hatchback market, it should come as no surprise that the Focus RS has been a focal point of a lot of tuners this year. With 350 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque on tap, all wrapped up in a sporty and aggressive package – not to mention that drift mode – the Focus RS has become a favorite of many. It even inspired Mercedes to add a “drift mode” to the AWD Mercedes-AMG E63. Funny comments and videos of drift mode fails aside; that’s pretty cool when you really think about it.

With that said, let’s take a good look at what H&R and StanceWorks did to their Focus RS and what we can expect to see at the car's official debut at SEMA.

2016 Ford Focus RS by H&R Special Springs/StanceWorks

Specifications
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  • Model: 2016 Ford Focus RS by H&R Special Springs/StanceWorks
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Exterior

All we have so far as a visual representation is a rendering, so there’s still a lot of mystery as to what it will actually look like in the metal. On the outside, you can expect to see a rear diffuser and hood vents from Ford European RS, while the side skirts and front splitter come from Triple R Composites. This is actually pretty cool because, a lot of the time, full body kits look better when parts are mixed and matched. Based on what we see in the rendering, the sides skirts and front splitter are pretty basic, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s really more than what meets the eye. Even more important in this department is the extensive livery that adds so much character to the concept. With several shades of blue mixed in with some white and just a hint of red, there’s definitely a lot going on here. It looks great in the rendering we have on hand, so seeing it in the metal will probably be even better. Keep your eyes out for this one!

Interior

Note: Standard Focus RS shown here.

As far as visually checking things out the interior is a complete mystery, and both companies responsible for the concept have had little to say. The chances are that the interior was left bone stock, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In stock form, the Focus RS comes complete with Ford’s latest infotainment system, a sleek dash design, a flat-bottom and sporty steering wheel, and one of the coolest instrument clusters you’ll see that isn’t directly from Audi, BMW, or Mercedes. Customers in Europe and Asia also get the option of a nice set of Recaro Shell seats that are wrapped in microfiber fabric panels. It has been said that this concept is blessed with a cargo area protector and all-weather floor mats from Ford Accessories, so there’s that.

Drivetrain

Since this concept is based mainly around exterior aesthetics and suspension work, there aren’t any engine upgrades to really speak of. However, it has been equipped with a short shift kit and aluminum shift bushings from FSWERKS. It’s been said that the Focus RS is a dream to shift, so it’s safe to say that the short shift kit and aluminum shift bushings will add an extra bit of sportiness to the overall feel of the car. On the chassis and suspension front, this concept gets a customer, RSS Performance coilover suspension kit from H&R. As is the usual case with coilover kits, the ride height should be lowered a bit, probably by an inch or so. The rendering doesn’t reflect a lower ride height, unfortunately, so we can’t say for sure. But, that’s the beauty of coilover kits – they are fully adjustable, and the ride height can be lowered or raised on demand. On a side note, the smaller springs often have a completely different spring rate compared to the stock units and normally stiffen up the ride quite a bit – giving that “lowrider bounce, if you will.”

Putting the power to the pavement is a set of O.Z Racing Rally wheels that are 18-inches in size and eight inches wide. They are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2, 235/40-series, Z-rated tires. The wheels are spaced correctly, thanks to a set of H&R Trak+ wheel spacers. Even though we can’t get the full effect from the rendering, you can be sure this thing probably looks pretty amazing and has an awesome stance when you see it in person. We’re certainly looking forward to the full reveal.

Conclusion

And that’s the full story as we know it right now. Surely, we’ll learn more with the official debut, and we’re impatiently waiting to see how all of the Focus RS concepts stack up against one another. The diversity is crazy this year, with some concepts focused on increased performance, others focused on looks, and some coming as the perfect well-rounded package. This specific concept looks to fall into the well-rounded package thanks to the suspension kit and extreme livery, but we’ll definitely reserve final judgment for when the concept is officially revealed. Until then, keep all four wheels on the ground and stay tuned.