First Drive Review Ford Focus RS

Our drive took place at the Ford test track in Lommel, Belgium, on the corner of the most boring of the most boring country in Europe. Prototype camo-clad other vehicles had been disposed for a day and we have a government practically full of places, which cover more than 50 miles of tracks that range from oval high speed with a round turn onto Route 7, the course dynamic that combines a replica of a favorite corner of the real world senior engineers Ford '.

The first and most obvious point when checking RE close is how familiar look. Yes, body kit has a little more muscle definition than the Focus ST, and a larger rear wing and front air vents enlarged (and covered with motorsport-style mesh). But can you tell two separate focus heat from across the street is dark at night? Probably not. It's the same story in the cabin, with some hospitals graphics and blue trim, plus the red zone of the rev counter sits fractionally higher. But other than that, and the control panel to four switchable driving modes next to the gear selector, very little has changed.

After a brief turn in the passenger seat, while the senior engineer of Ford tried to introduce us to the track and introduced us with our breakfast while showing an impressive level of lateral acceleration RS is able to produce, it's time to take over.

Our first instinct-as we imagine you will-is to thrash RS like donkeys stolen during our all too brief time behind the wheel. But with the same Ford senior engineer now sits shotgun, and see another prototype RS buried in the gravel trap serve as evidence of how slippery the track got in Belgium perma-rain, we chose to start with a more cautious pace.

The first question to be answered within 100 yards of leaving the parking lot, that being whether the RSS engine feels different from EcoBoost Mustang. Both cars share what is essentially the same unit, although it has been turned to the side in the hospital. Hatch also gets a twin-scroll turbocharger that is stronger and various internal modifications to handle the boost pressure increase gives his title-making 350 horsepower.

The power delivery strange in an era when the car maker seems determined to do all they can to hide the nature of the increase of forced induction, but you soon get used to the excitement it brings. There's something refreshingly honest about it; while the RS feels brawnier and have a more linear throttle response from the beginning of the Impreza WRX STI or Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, there is something similar in the same spirit at play here. And that is meant as a compliment.

At everyday speeds, RS feels very similar to ST. Dynamic big difference is the steering wheel in a fixed-ratio ST ultra-fast system of variable-ratio, which makes the initial response seemed a little slower. A six-speed manual gearbox feels pretty much identical to that in the Focus ST, with a nice weight and action. Quality rose slightly toned-adjustable dampers come as standard-and the exhaust note has a harder edge.

Upping the pace in the corner again Lommel shows that, at the point when the front end of the Focus ST will start running the width, smart rear RS started to help and bring the car back to the path that you choose. The rear wheels are driven slightly faster than the front under hard cornering, creating some of the same sense of anxiety you get in a rear-drive car is strong. Push beyond sweet spot that is dynamic and what happens next depends on the selected driving mode. In Normal, RS tried to remain as neutral Belgium itself, while Sport allows slightly floated from behind. Track allows some well contained the power oversteer.

When Ford announced, pretty much set the internet on fire. Ford would not let us play with this on-road sections from different courses emulate Lommel, so instead we experience it at one of the wide asphalt lake at the facility. After engaging the mode selector to drift through, all that is needed is to apply the appropriate ratio steering lock and throttle pedal at the same time. There are some early "Are you sure about this?" Understeer, acting as a sort of dynamic liability waiver, and then, as most of the engine's output is transferred to the outer rear wheel, the transition to oversteer smoking.

RS can be made practical spin length yourself if you are so minded, but at higher speeds the system works to limit the angle of drift-deny a kind of two-turn opposite the key that drives most purple prose -With auto stability system intervention by pinging the front brake to help keeping the RS in the field. It's surprisingly difficult to resist the slide for more than a few seconds, although we suspect this will be enough for most owners.

In the Belgian test track Focus RS brilliant. Now all we need to wait is to discover how the hottest Focus will deal with the outside world simulation of Lommel carefully honed it. RS does not have the raw charm of its predecessor received their cult following in Europe

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