http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul...news/a31133/ford-performance-focus-rs-tuning/
Ford Performance Will Offer a 50-State Legal, Warranty-Backed Tuning Kit for the Focus RS
Oct 12, 2016
View attachment 64
More power for one of our favorite hot hatches? Sign us up.
We're excited by the new Ford Performance calibration kit for the EcoBoost Mustang, but it got us thinking of the Focus RS. See, the Focus RS and the Mustang EcoBoost both use the same 2.3-liter four-cylinder, though the Focus runs a more aggressive tune from the factory. Put two and two together though, and well, you see where this is going.
The tuned Mustang EcoBoost still lags the RS by 15 horsepower, but bests it in torque by 40 lb-ft. Soon enough, though, the Focus RS will reclaim the torque crown, courtesy of an upcoming tuning kit from Ford Performance. Ford Performance's parts product manager Jesse Kershaw confirmed to Road & Track that a calibration kit for the RS is in the works.
"From an engine and powertrain standpoint, we feel very comfortable with doing something on the RS," said Kershaw. "I hesitate to give any dates, or any more information than that, but I can tell you we're working on it, and we fully expect to have a Focus RS calibration in the future."
Since the calibration kit for the RS is still in the works, numbers aren't yet finalized, but Kershaw expects to see similar torque gains as the EcoBoost Mustang.
As we reported earlier this year, the limiting factor for tuning the Focus RS is the car's complex all-wheel-drive drive system, which is optimized for 350 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. Ford Performance is rigorous in its development though, so expect the RS calibration kit to work well with the driveline and offer a warranty.
The Focus RS is already one of our favorite cars in stock form, so we can't wait to see what it's like with some extra grunt. That it doesn't void the factory warranty is icing on the cake.
Ford Performance Will Offer a 50-State Legal, Warranty-Backed Tuning Kit for the Focus RS
Oct 12, 2016
View attachment 64
More power for one of our favorite hot hatches? Sign us up.
We're excited by the new Ford Performance calibration kit for the EcoBoost Mustang, but it got us thinking of the Focus RS. See, the Focus RS and the Mustang EcoBoost both use the same 2.3-liter four-cylinder, though the Focus runs a more aggressive tune from the factory. Put two and two together though, and well, you see where this is going.
The tuned Mustang EcoBoost still lags the RS by 15 horsepower, but bests it in torque by 40 lb-ft. Soon enough, though, the Focus RS will reclaim the torque crown, courtesy of an upcoming tuning kit from Ford Performance. Ford Performance's parts product manager Jesse Kershaw confirmed to Road & Track that a calibration kit for the RS is in the works.
"From an engine and powertrain standpoint, we feel very comfortable with doing something on the RS," said Kershaw. "I hesitate to give any dates, or any more information than that, but I can tell you we're working on it, and we fully expect to have a Focus RS calibration in the future."
Since the calibration kit for the RS is still in the works, numbers aren't yet finalized, but Kershaw expects to see similar torque gains as the EcoBoost Mustang.
As we reported earlier this year, the limiting factor for tuning the Focus RS is the car's complex all-wheel-drive drive system, which is optimized for 350 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. Ford Performance is rigorous in its development though, so expect the RS calibration kit to work well with the driveline and offer a warranty.
The Focus RS is already one of our favorite cars in stock form, so we can't wait to see what it's like with some extra grunt. That it doesn't void the factory warranty is icing on the cake.
