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Focus RS to make New York show debut

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<b>BIG REVEAL: </b> The new Focus RS is to be revealed in its signature colour at the New York auto show.   <em>Image: Newspress </em>
<b>BIG REVEAL: </b> The new Focus RS is to be revealed in its signature colour at the New York auto show. <em>Image: Newspress </em>

    • Ford reveals all-new Focus RS
    • European customer deliveries 2016
    • Focus RS is among 12 new vehicles

COLOGNE, Germany - Ford’s all-new high-performance hatchback, the Focus RS, will make its first appearance in America next week (April 1), revealing exclusive new signature colour, Nitrous Blue, at the New York international auto show.

This is the first ever Ford RS vehicle to be sold in the US and will be offered in markets all over the world. Ford confirmed deliveries to customers in Europe will start early 2016.

Ford's global product development vice-president, Raj Nair, said: "“Customers have begged for years for the Focus RS to come to the United States.

SPECIALLY ENGINEERED ENGINE

“Now we can say that they are getting one of the most innovative, powerful and best-looking RS cars ever. That is special.

“The RS line has a proud history of technical breakthroughs.  It’s a great example of our passion for innovation through performance and creating vehicles that make people’s hearts pound.”

One of 12 new performance vehicles Ford will bring to customers globally by 2020 in a new era of Ford performance, the all-new Focus RS features the innovative Ford performance all-wheel-drive system and a specially engineered 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine.

Ford Performance all-wheel-drive with dynamic torque vectoring delivers a new level of handling capability and driver enjoyment, combining outstanding traction and grip with unmatched agility and cornering speed, the company says. The high-performance hatchback’s EcoBoost engine shares its fundamental structure with the all-aluminium four-cylinder engine in the all-new Mustang.

This engine has, however, been significantly upgraded through a comprehensive package of design changes to deliver a projected output well in excess of 235kW.  The all-new Focus RS also introduces advanced performance technologies, and is the first Ford RS equipped with selectable drive modes – including an industry-first drift mode that allows controlled oversteer drifts – and launch control.

WATCH THE VIDEO: The new Focus RS

Ford Europe's director of design, Joel Iaskowski, said: "This is the ultimate Focus – stunning to look at and entirely fit for purpose.

“RS models have always been striking, high-performance cars where function is paramount. This new Focus RS is true to that heritage.”

Developed by a small team of Ford performance engineers in Europe and the US, the new Focus RS is the third generation of Focus RS cars, following models launched in 2002 and 2009.

The 30th car to wear the legendary RS badge, the Focus RS will be built in Saarlouis, Germany, later in 2015.

More from the 2015 New York Motor Show

FRESH  BREEZE: Ford’s new hatchback is the first Ford RS vehicle to be sold in the US. Image: Newspress

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