New Ford Focus RS Ups Output, Adds "Stall Recovery" Feature

Ford Motor Co. says the 2.3-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine in its new Focus RS hot hatchback is tuned to make 350 hp and a like amount of torque. The company previously had estimated the engine, which is mated with a 6-speed manual transmission, would generate 345 hp and 324 lb-ft of torque.

In the Mustang, the same powerplant is rated at 310 hp and 320 lb-ft.

Ford attributes the power jump in the Focus RS to an all-new, low-inertia twin-scroll turbocharger, which features a larger compressor than the one used in the Mustang. The car also gets a larger intercooler, improved exhaust system and an electronically actuated valve that manages back pressure and sound level.

The new hot hatch will have a top speed of 165 mph and can race from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds.

The car also will have stop-start functionality that temporarily turns the engine off to save fuel when idling. In addition, it will be the first model to use Ford’s new “stall recovery” feature that uses the stop-start system to automatically restart the vehicle—when the clutch pedal is depressed—if the driver accidently stalls out during gear shifts.

Developed by a small team of Ford Performance engineers in Europe and the U.S., the third-generation Focus RS will be produced at Ford's Saarlouis, Germany, facility. It is due to bow early next year with a base price of $36,600 in the U.S.