The 2009 Ford Focus Coupe gains a more distinct identity from the sedan with its own front and rear bumper fascias, a dark chrome grille, and fog lights.
It can even read text messages to occupants through the stereo system. This system recognizes your cell phone's address book.
#2009 FORD FOCUS SERIES#
Developed with Microsoft, Sync provides a hands-free link to cell phones and MP3 players through a series of voice commands. The 2009 Focus comes in four-door sedan and two-door coupe body styles (hatchback and wagon models are not available).įord's Sync entertainment and communications system is available on the Focus. The design shares a family look with Ford's other cars, distinguished by a two-bar version of the company's characteristic razor-blade grille. And all models benefit from the availability of electronic stability control for 2009.įord reworked the Focus for 2008, giving it new styling inside and out, while maintaining the same platform and basic size. This comes on the heels of a reworking of the Ford Focus lineup for 2008. We hope it bodes well for this car’s American aspirations that the boss of Team RS, Jost Capito, now has worldwide responsibility for Ford’s performance vehicles.The 2009 Ford Focus lineup features a sporty new coupe version. It is the fastest Ford this side of the GT supercar. But the way this car goes about its business certainly is. The RS’s lurid colors and shiny black add-on spoilers, scoops, and grilles are not universally admired. The result is great traction along with precise, predictable handling, excellent body control, and a ride that is firm but entirely reasonable for a car of this potential. This dictated a 1.6-inch-wider track (and wider bodywork to suit).
#2009 FORD FOCUS PATCH#
The Focus’s standard MacPherson-strut arrangement has been augmented by a two-piece lower link that Ford calls “Revo-Knuckle.” This configuration moves the steering axis outward to reduce its distance from the center of the contact patch (called kingpin offset or scrub radius), which helps to minimize the torque-steer effect. The secret of good behavior for the new RS is its front suspension. (Clearly, that was not the differential’s fault, as the new RS has only the slightest hint of torque steer, a tiny tug at the wheel to remind you just how much power it is delivering to the front wheels.) The Quaife torque-biasing helical differential is actually very similar to that used in the first-generation Focus RS, which was an unruly car on anything other than a smooth racetrack.
#2009 FORD FOCUS MANUAL#
Compared with the 223-hp Focus ST, also powered by the 2.5-liter five, the RS has an aluminum cylinder block with metal-sprayed bores instead of cast-in liners different pistons, rods, and cams and a larger BorgWarner K16 turbo.Ī strengthened six-speed manual is the only transmission. The engine, a turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder that started life at Volvo, has a splendid spread of torque-325 lb-ft from 2300 to 4500 rpm. But the figures do not prepare you for the smooth, comfortable way it copes with slow running as well as winding roads. Flat-out on the autobahn, the Focus RS will do a claimed 163 mph, and based on power to weight, we think it will run high-13s in the quarter-mile. The RS would likely cost about $28,000 if sold in the U.S.
That price sounds steep but includes a 17.5-percent value-added tax. In the U.K., the RS was priced at £24,995 (about $34,500) when it went on sale in March. And it costs less than other cars with comparable performance. A mechanical limited-slip differential from race-car-transmission specialists Quaife aids in its remarkable cornering ability. Its front suspension has been comprehensively revised to all but eliminate torque steer. It has 300 horsepower-more than any other front-wheel-drive car available. There are many reasons why the Focus RS succeeds in Europe. Focus rides on the first-generation platform versus the third-gen version currently sold in Europe-there is a desire at Ford to include an RS version in the lineup. gets back in sync with Europe on the next-generation Focus in 2011-the current U.S. This car, developed in Germany by Ford Team RS (for Rallye Sport), is yet another example of the driving excellence of Ford’s European products, several of which will find their way into the American market in two or three years. A sweeping statement, to be sure, but if you look at Car and Driver’s favorites among these sporty but practical small cars-the Mazdaspeed 3 and the Volkswagen GTI-the latest and greatest Focus beats them in all respects. The Ford Focus RS is the world’s best hot hatchback.
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