New Engine to Power Next-Generation Focus RS

Ford Motor Co.'s third-generation Focus RS due in Europe in early 2014 will be powered by the same 2.3-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine being developed in the U.S. for the Mustang sport coupe, according to AutoExpress.

The British magazine says the engine, expected to produce as much as 350 hp, will deliver its power through a manual gearbox to the front wheels of the four-door hatch.

Ford's previous RS was propelled by a five-cylinder turbocharged engine making 300 hp. The extreme-performance cars are limited-production models developed by Ford's Team RS unit in Europe.

Len Urwin, powertrain engineering manager for the unit, tells the magazine that the group opted for the future Mustang engine because of its compact size and low-end performance. The alternative fitting a larger turbocharger to the 247-hp 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine used in the just-introduced Focus ST performance model would have resulted in a bulkier powerplant with poor low-rev torque and response, Urwin explains.

He adds that the new RS will replace the mechanical limited-slip differential of the previous model with an electronically controlled unit to better improve traction. Another Team RS engineer says the group is mulling whether to offer a dual-clutch transmission, which would add weight and cost.

AutoExpress predicts the new RS will be priced at about $40,000 the same as the previous model.