2011 Ford Focus RS: First U.S. Drive
http://jalopnik.com/5535150/2011-for...first-us-drive
http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets...irst_drive.jpg Driving a Focus RS quickly around a corner is shockingly different from anything else I've attempted in rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive cars. On turn-in, and with the revs up, you brace yourself for the transfer of weight as the car leans out, and then the hard yank of the differential as it does its job. It never happens. Instead of a standard differential or hideous e-diff, the RS uses a more complex automatic torque biasing Quaife limited-slip. It gently twitches the car a corner, creating an experience both comforting and exciting. I imagine magical fairy creatures inside the diff making just the right adjustments to keep the car moving. This is where benchmarking becomes a challenge. The RS outclasses any FWD drive car you can imagine and therefore has to compete with more complex cars like Mitsubishi's Evo and Subaru's WRX STI. But after a few minutes in the Focus, that feels like cheating. Like hitting home runs with a 13-inch novelty bat, the Ford just feels better. The only thing I'd change is power — I want more. I want to see how far you can go before the diff trick stops working. |
On turn-in, and with the revs up, you brace yourself for the transfer of weight as the car leans out, and then the hard yank of the differential as it does its job. There is no hard yank if you accelerate into/thru the turn with modern suspension. |
helluva car!
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:agree:
And a 2 door hatchback! Come on Ford.... US wants one. |
Originally Posted by cdynaco
(Post 5865745)
:agree:
And a 2 door hatchback! Come on Ford.... US wants one. |
Yes I want one. I want one so much it hurts.
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Way, way, way overrated.
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It may be. But I need a FWD hatchback 4 banger for winter.
Ford doesn't offer one so I had to go to brand X. |
Originally Posted by Red Star
(Post 5865819)
Way, way, way overrated.
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Cause for 36,000 euros (or ~$50,000) I expected from Focus RS to be faster than $22,000 Chevrolet Cobalt SS at Nurburgring.
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Is an expanse of blackness on the front the new trend?
http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/cro...-rs_460x0w.jpg http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/res..._x_rally_n.jpg http://nickbeaver.ca/wp-content/uplo...0FF26331E.jpeg http://www.carbizweekly.com/wp-conte...-gti-image.jpg http://www.autospectator.com/cars/fi...-L-W-12-07.jpg |
Originally Posted by cdynaco
(Post 5865860)
It may be. But I need a FWD hatchback 4 banger for winter.
Ford doesn't offer one so I had to go to brand X. |
nothing! The 2002-04 SVT was wonderful. Just needed a turbo.
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Originally Posted by Red Star
(Post 5865960)
What's wrong with 2000-2007 Focus hatchback?
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Originally Posted by Flagstang
(Post 5865965)
nothing! The 2002-04 SVT was wonderful. Just needed a turbo.
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This car would rock my world..
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