In the 2016 Focus RS was introduced to the U.S. Market. It was something completely new from Ford for the U.S. Market.
This hot hatchback was All wheel Drive, it was powered by a 350 Horsepower 2.3 liter turbo that put down 350 Pound feet of torque and it was capable of mid 13 second quarter mile times.
Focus RS was only available in the U.S. Market for three short years but many consider it to be the best bang for buck cars Fords has ever built. Today we will look at the Focus RS and at the end of the video we will decide if this car is truly a special Ford.
For more Ford related content subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/c/TonysFordsa…
The TTAC Creators Series tells stories and amplifies creators from all corners of the car world, including culture, dealerships, collections, modified builds and more.
A transcript, created by AI and edited by a staffer, is below.
[Image: Tony’s Fords and Mustangs/YouTube]
Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.
In 2016, the Ford Focus RS was introduced to the U.S. market — a completely new type of car for Ford Motor Company. This hot hatchback was all-wheel drive, produced 350 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, and could run a mid-13-second quarter mile. It was only available in the U.S. for three short years, but many enthusiasts still consider it one of the best performance bargains Ford ever built.
The 2016 Focus RS was built at Ford’s Saarlouis plant in Germany and imported to the U.S. Its power came from a 2.3-liter turbocharged and intercooled EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, similar to the one found in the Mustang but with a unique cylinder head, larger turbocharger, upgraded intercooler, and stronger internals. Peak torque arrived at 3,200 RPM.
Power was sent to all four wheels through Ford’s torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system with a rear drive unit designed by GKN. Using sensors at all four wheels, the car’s computer could distribute up to 70 percent of available power to a single rear wheel. Under normal driving conditions, however, the Focus RS behaved like a front-wheel-drive car. It was only available with a six-speed manual transmission.
Car and Driver tested the Focus RS and recorded a 0–60 mph time of 4.6 seconds and a quarter mile of 13.4 seconds at 105 mph. The suspension used stiffer struts and sway bars, with front springs 33 percent stiffer and rears 38 percent stiffer than those on the Focus ST. Braking was handled by 13.8-inch vented front discs with Brembo four-piston calipers and 11.9-inch rears. All calipers used high-performance, low-metallic compound brake pads.
The Focus RS offered four drive modes: Normal, Sport, Track, and, for the first time in any car, Drift Mode. Ford reportedly toned down Drift Mode due to legal concerns, but it still allowed drivers to send more power to the rear wheels for controlled slides. Sport and Track modes also stiffened the shocks, sharpened steering and throttle response, and adjusted the all-wheel-drive and stability control systems.
Visually, the Focus RS was only offered as a five-door hatchback with distinct front and rear bumpers, larger grille openings, brake cooling ducts, and a functional front splitter. The rear featured a diffuser, dual exhaust outlets, and a large roof spoiler. Aerodynamic underbody panels helped reduce lift at higher speeds. RS badges appeared on the front bumper, rear hatch, and spoiler. Standard wheels were black 19×8-inch alloys with Michelin Pilot Super Sport summer tires.
Inside, the Focus RS featured Recaro leather-trimmed seats with RS logos, aluminum pedals, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and other RS-branded trim. Options included forged aluminum wheels, a winter tire package with smaller 18-inch wheels and Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 tires, a power moonroof, and the RS2 package — adding heated, power-adjustable Recaro seats, a heated steering wheel, heated mirrors, keyless entry, and Ford’s Sync 3 navigation system. Paint colors included Nitrous Blue, Stealth Gray, Shadow Black, and Frozen White.
Most reviewers found the Focus RS engaging and capable, both on the road and on the track, calling it a great value for the price. Some, however, criticized its overly stiff suspension and narrow Recaro seats.
Ford delivered 4,111 units in 2016, followed by 7,351 in 2017. For 2018, the final production year in North America, Ford limited output to 1,500 units — 1,000 for the U.S. and 500 for Canada. The final cars included the RS2 package as standard, a gloss black roof spoiler and mirror caps, and a front limited-slip differential. Only two colors were available: Race Red and Nitrous Blue.
In the U.K., Ford offered a Heritage Edition finished in Deep Orange with a 375-horsepower tune, limited to 50 cars and priced about $7,000 above standard models.
Over its three-year production run, Ford built approximately 21,500 Focus RS models worldwide — far fewer than the company initially planned. While mechanical issues like blown head gaskets and stiff ride quality were noted, the car’s performance was undeniable. It could pull 1g on a skid pad, and the torque-vectoring system helped eliminate understeer with power delivery through corners.
Ultimately, Ford may have overestimated demand for a $40,000 performance hatchback in the U.S. market, where competitors like the Subaru WRX and Honda Civic Type R already occupied the niche. Still, the Focus RS delivered remarkable performance for its price — a genuine “bang for the buck” machine.
If there’s a car you think offered more performance for less money, let us know in the comments below.
