Focus RS Hits 62 MPH in 4.7 Seconds and Checks in Under $37K

2016 Ford Focus RS (Credit: © Ford)

As the happy owner of a Focus ST, I have been chomping at the bit to get all the details surrounding the Focus RS since Ford unveiled it and announced that it will come to the States. Today, nearly all of my needs were met, as Ford officially revealed the sprint time, MSRP, and the approximate release date of the Focus RS.

» Related: 2017 Focus RS Configurator Hits the Web

We all learned months ago that the Focus RS will make use of a modified Mustang Ecoboost 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Thanks to a new twin-scroll turbo, a larger intercooler, a new intake, a new exhaust system, and other internal tweaks, this engine pumps out 350 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque – 40 more horsepower and 30 more pound-feet than the Mustang Ecoboost.

The Ecoboost four-banger mates to a six-speed manual transmission that delivers the power to all four wheels via Ford’s torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system. This AWD system monitors conditions 100 times per second to deliver the perfect torque split for traction and performance. What’s more, there is a Drift mode that allows the hot hatch to get sideways.

Thanks to a special launch control feature that allows the driver to just mash the gas and dump the clutch, the Focus RS is quite the sprinter. It can hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 4.7 seconds, which translates to 60 mph in around 4.5 seconds. The RS doesn’t hit terminal velocity until it reaches a mighty 165 mph.

In terms of pricing, the Focus RS will start at $36,605, putting it $955 higher than its key competitor, the Golf R. Fortunately, its power and sprint time both easily trump the peppy VW. Ford can really bury the Golf R if it decides to add a dual-clutch transmission to the RS’ option list.

According to Ford, the Focus RS will arrive in the spring of 2016, officially making it a 2017 model year. This gives us all plenty of time to save up a healthy down payment for one.