Η Ford επιβεβαίωσε και επίσημα πως το νέο Focus RS έρχεται μαζί με περισσότερα από 12 αυτοκίνητα επιδόσεων. Η Μπλε Οβάλ εταιρία το περιγράφει ως:
Το αυτοκίνητο που δεν θα έχει συμβιβασμούς στην οδήγηση και θα μπορεί να προσφέρει εξαιρετικές επιδόσεις στην πίστα, όταν απαιτείται, παρέχοντας παράλληλα εξαιρετική καθημερινή οδήγηση.
Επίσης η εταιρία στο δελτίο τύπου αναφέρει πως το μοντέλο θα είναι είναι διαθέσιμο στους πελάτες της “στις μεγάλες αγορές παγκοσμίως για πρώτη φορά” κάτι που σημαίνει πως θα πωλείται εκτός από την Ευρώπη, και στις Η.Π.Α και Κίνα.
Εμείς ξέρουμε πως το μοντέλο ίσως παρουσιαστεί τον Ιανουάριο στην έκθεση του Detroit, δύο χρόνια προτού παρουσιαστεί η νέα γενιά του Focus. Το Focus RS θα φορά τον 2,3-λίτρων Ecoboost κινητήρα απόδοσης 330-360 ίππων με τις πιο πρόσφατες φήμες να κάνουν λόγο πως ίσως τελικά η Ford εξοπλίσει το μοντέλο της με σύστημα τετρακίνησης με torque vectoring τόσο στον μπροστά όσο και στον πίσω άξονα, βελτιώνοντας το σύστημα διεύθυνσης και την σπορ αίσθηση που θα προσφέρει στον οδηγό.
Το νέο Ford Focus RS θα διαθέτει την Revoknuckle μπροστά ανάρτηση, θα φορά επιθετικό bodykit, μεγαλύτερα φρένα, χαμηλότερη ανάρτηση και φαρδιά ελαστικά, με τον κινητήρα να συνδυάζεται με ένα 6-τάχυτο μηχανικό κιβώτιο.
Παράλληλα με την ανακοίνωση του Focus RS, η Ford επιβεβαίωσε ότι είναι τα τμήματα Ford Racing, Ford SVT και Team RS, πλέον ενώνονται σε ένα, στο Ford Performance.
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FORD CONFIRMS ALL-NEW FORD FOCUS RS; MORE THAN 12 VEHICLES COMING FROM NEW GLOBAL TEAM
- Ford is launching an all-new Focus RS – the ultimate performance version of the world’s best-selling global nameplate
- Focus RS will be made available globally for first time
- Ford bringing more global performance vehicles to customers worldwide; more than 12 new performance vehicles through 2020 – including Focus RS – to be available globally
- Ford uniting regional performance engineering and racing teams as one global team under Ford Performance, delivering more new vehicles and parts, sooner
COLOGNE, Germany, Dec. 11, 2014 – Ford today confirmed it will be launching an all-new Focus RS – the ultimate performance version of the world’s best-selling global nameplate.* The company announced that the all-new RS will be made available to customers in major markets around the world for the first time.
Ford also announced that the all-new Focus RS is one of more than 12 new performance vehicles coming for global enthusiasts through 2020. This is part of the company’s plan to deliver more performance vehicles, parts and accessories for customers around the world – more quickly – through a new global Ford Performance team.
“Ford remains committed to innovation through performance,” says Raj Nair, Ford’s group vice president, Global Product Development. “Through our global Ford Performance team that ties together racing, performance vehicles, and parts, we can more quickly bring to market products and accessories that meet the needs of customers around the world on-road and on the track.”
Focus RS, which builds on a pedigree of driving excellence dating back to the first Ford RS in 1968, was last introduced in 2009.
“To earn the RS badge, the vehicle has to be a no-compromise driver’s car that can deliver exceptional performance on the track when required while providing excellent every day driving,” Nair said.
In addition to pleasing enthusiasts, vehicles such as Focus RS help deliver the company’s One Ford plan for profitable growth, product excellence and innovation in every part of its business. Performance vehicle sales are growing around the world – with sales in Europe and the U.S. up by 14 percent and 70 percent respectively, since 2009.
Powering performance vehicles, such as the Fiesta ST and Focus ST, is Ford’s award-winning EcoBoost engine range. Since the introduction of the EcoBoost engine in 2009, Ford has produced more than 2 million EcoBoost engines globally.
“EcoBoost is a strong example of how we are migrating technology and engineering across our line-up, ensuring our vehicles are fun to drive – not just our Ford Performance line-up,” Nair said. “From our most nimble Fiesta to our hard-working full-size pickups and racing vehicles, our line-up benefits from the innovations we deliver at the track and at the limit.”
New global team
The new Ford Performance organisation unifies Team RS, Ford SVT, and Ford Racing globally, serving as an innovation laboratory and test-bed to create unique performance vehicles, parts, accessories and experiences for customers.
This includes developing innovations and technologies in aerodynamics, light-weighting, electronics, powertrain performance and fuel efficiency that can be applied more broadly to Ford’s product portfolio.
In addition to race tracks around the world, the team also will develop new vehicles and technologies at Ford’s engineering centres globally and at a new technical centre in Charlotte, North Carolina. This state-of-the-art facility helps the team deliver racing innovations as well as advancing tools for use in performance vehicles and daily drivers alike.
The Ford Performance organization is led by Dave Pericak, who has been appointed director, Global Ford Performance.
Heritage of Performance Innovation
Performance and racing are deeply embedded in Ford’s DNA, dating back 113 years ago when Henry Ford won the Sweepstakes Race against Alexander Winton – then America’s greatest racer.
Following a remarkable upset victory in front of Detroit’s business elite, some of whom immediately came forward to back whatever automotive venture Henry had in mind, Ford Motor Company opened 18 months later.
“Ford still races for the same reasons Henry Ford did in 1901 – to prove out our products and technologies against the very best in the world,” Nair said. “The Ford Performance team will continue to pursue performance innovation, ensuring we can deliver even more coveted performance cars, utilities and trucks to customers around the world.”
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