Just scanned this outta SCC. i think this is gonna explode.

I think it'll work, Ford has been in the WRC with the Focus for a while. It'll be better than the SRT-4...

yeah, that is the serious kind of car that "sport compact" buyers would want, as long as it's got the Ford price tag (ie: cheap). in fact, i think i'd get that over a Mitsu EVO if the performance numbers were similar... the look is better, it's a very usable car, and i like the chassis (i've driven a few Focus-es).

it could be just what the doctor ordered. :) heh heh, a Focus that could smoke the hell out of the SVT Cobra Mustang... music to my ears.

I think it'd be very good if WRC performance is an indicator of how the street version will be. I much prefer hatchbacks to sedans. However, the car I'd really like to see come from the WRC to the street (in a tuned version of course) is the Peugot 206. They have performed amazingly the last couple of years.

Remember that picture is of a mule. We don't know what the looks of it will be yet. My mom has an 03 ZX3 /w the zetec engine. It's only 130hp but the handling is nice. Do you know if the Focus was designed by Mazda (al la Tribute)?

i think that new focus is getting the same engine used in the Mazdaspeed Protoge. i read that somewhere, but can't remember.

santino

Originally posted by santino
i think that new focus is getting the same engine used in the Mazdaspeed Protoge. i read that somewhere, but can't remember.

santino
I think that was in Car and Driver or Motor Trend. If I am reading this right the car here isn't nessciarily the new focus, but a European rally car based on it, so maybe the new state-side Focus will get the Protege motor until this thing comes over.

Originally posted by cueball1029
If I am reading this right the car here isn't nessciarily the new focus, but a European rally car based on it, so maybe the new state-side Focus will get the Protoge motor until this thing comes over.

...ick. who'd want it then??? i mean seriously, i'd be buying that Focus RS for the Cosworth power, not the stupid Focus look or hatchback utility. doubtlessly the lighter Protege would be a better handler, and with teh same engines, probably be quicker too. :p stupid idea.

i had a feeling i spelled Protege wrong...ooops. too lazy to check, i guess.
:D

santino

Wouldn't suprise me at all if that turned out to be a mule for the new cosworth, fast ford owners have been crying out for a successor to the escort cossi.

In the mean time the RS derivative has proved to be an enormous success, they've closed their dealer sales after shifting their target number of units, in fact you can't even get a copy of the sales brochure (i've tried).

My understanding was that the whole reason the current car was called the RS was to leave then#m scope to produce the cossie if the demand is out there. On the basis of RS sales there's no doubt there's a fan base.

As for myself, my best mate is awaiting delivery of his RS, and I'm desperate to put the '8 up against it (although I doubt it'll really be a match for the RS, particularly in his hands.)

As an aside Ford have a new racing development manager for the WRC, he went back to basics, stripped the car and moved every possible component closer to the ground, hence the fords are finally starting to compete. (simple things)

Originally posted by KEF
Wouldn't suprise me at all if that turned out to be a mule for the new cosworth, fast ford owners have been crying out for a successor to the escort cossi.

In the mean time the RS derivative has proved to be an enormous success, they've closed their dealer sales after shifting their target number of units, in fact you can't even get a copy of the sales brochure (i've tried).


yeah, the RS is bitchin'... we in north america, however, get royally screwed... i really REALLY hope that if they make a Focus Cosworth that it'll make it over here without too much screwin' around (like changing the name to Type R or something dumb)... i'd love to own a vehicle as such (like an EVO/STi, but cheaper).

Originally posted by wakeech


yeah, the RS is bitchin'... we in north america, however, get royally screwed... i really REALLY hope that if they make a Focus Cosworth that it'll make it over here without too much screwin' around (like changing the name to Type R or something dumb)... i'd love to own a vehicle as such (like an EVO/STi, but cheaper).

Hehe...I'd knew you'd come around Wakeech!!:D

Originally posted by revhappy


Hehe...I'd knew you'd come around Wakeech!!:D

wha' chu talkin' 'bout, foo'?? :p

i'm a car nut, period. it just so happens that the RX's are my favourites, it don't mean i can't like others.

good we need a competitve focus, it's by far my favorite american made sport compact, but it's the only one that doesn't have a turbo trim (turbo cavailer is changing names to cobalt and getting a supercharger in 05(ss edition)), i wonder if they'll keep it AWD for the states though, i'd be good to see a focus competing against the likes of wrx's, and evo's

omg please tell me it's not gonna be called cobalt here. Cavalier is such a stupid name as it is. Is there anything else out there names after a rock? I don't think i've ever heard of someone driving a 'granite' or a 'feldspar'. Geeze if they can't make a good car at least give it a cool name.

Originally posted by Farsyde
omg please tell me it's not gonna be called cobalt here. Cavalier is such a stupid name as it is. Is there anything else out there names after a rock? I don't think i've ever heard of someone driving a 'granite' or a 'feldspar'. Geeze if they can't make a good car at least give it a cool name.

dead serious it's all gonna be redesigned (despite still using the j-body platform), i'm kinda curious what teh ss (supercharged) model is gonna be like, i can find the news post if any of your are actually interested, the reasoning behind the rename and redesign is they believe that the cavalier brand name has been compromised by numerous rebates and other incentives