Mad Hatch
- Published: 2/04/2010 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: Motoring
Ford has turned the RS into a manic front-wheel-drive with 350 ponies to deal with under its bonnet.
- Man, that colour looks cool!
You bet, and that is certainly the way to go in making a special edition of a high-performance car. In this case, we are talking about the Ford Focus RS which has evolved into a beast known as RS500.
Ford calls such livery black "foil" paint which makes the car look like Darth Vadar's choice of transport. As seen is these official pictures, the paint's effect is best appreciated with sunlight filtering in setting the surrounds aglow.
Whereas other brands are turning to flashy colours like green and orange (like the Lexus LFA Nurburgring in the report below), Ford has seemingly made a tasteful choice with that carbon-like feel that helps bring out the aggressive lines of the RS.
Its badge indicates how many will be made.
- And those red seats inside...
Yeah, another work of art, or maybe that's a little subjective. But the way the red colour contrasts with the exterior's surely stirs up emotions.
However, the same could not exactly be said of the fascia and steering wheel which feel rather ordinary, despite some red stitches on the wheel, gearbox cover and door panels.
Probably, potential owners of the RS500 wouldn't really care because they are most likely to be after the enhanced performance the car promises.
- And how much madder is it now?
It's now madder by a good 50 horses. To be precise, the RS500 produces 350hp - arguably the highest output ever seen in a production model with front-wheel drive.
What the high-performance blokes at Ford's SVT team did was modify the induction and exhaust systems to gain on that 15% amount of increase.
As a result, the 0-100kph sprint is down by 0.3sec to 5.6sec. Top speed remains the same as the regular RS, 260kph.
Despite the use of an electronic differential on the front axle, the RS500 should really be a mad car to handle on the limit. According to the European media, torque steer is already so prevalent in the normal RS.
- Hmm... wouldn't an Evo or STi suffice then?
Seats and the exterior get contrasting colour schemes.
Maybe, because the Evo X from Mitsubishi and the STi from Subaru - and also the Golf R from Volkswagen - employ four-wheel-drive to keep all their power at bay.
The Evo produces 280hp, STi 300hp and Golf R 270hp. But don't let those inferior figures fool you. The vee-dub, for instance, goes from 0-100kph in a claimed 5.5sec - 0.1sec faster than the RS500 - armed with a dual-clutch automatic. The RS500 still has a traditional gear stick.
That said, RS500 owners would take more pride in owning the most powerful Ford Focus, not the meanest hot hatch around.
While this is certainly a matter of personal taste, the RS500 only comes in three-door form like the Golf R; the Mitsu's a four-door saloon and Scooby a five-door hatchback.
And as Motoring has learned, Subaru is introducing the STi treatment to the Impreza saloon at the New York auto show.
- Can I get any of these cars in Thailand?
The only one available on an official basis is the five-door STi costing B4m. The Evo X is estimated to cost B5.2m if it reaches Thai shores, which could roughly be the price of the RS500. Brand representatives, especially mass-market ones like Ford and Mitsubishi, usually don't take interest in selling these high-performance machines because of servicing complexities.
Despite relatively small engines, their imported status and macho power outputs exceeding the 220hp tax barrier means the maximum in taxes.
The RS500 could come via the grey market. And there will definitely be a handful of enthusiasts in Thailand asking for it simply because it looks kewl.
Relate Search: FORD FOCUS RS500
About the author
- Writer: Motoring
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