The new Ford Focus RS is reportedly being delayed for 2022/2023 as the company’s engineers are now tasked with developing a new high-performance full-hybrid powertrain instead of a mild-hybrid one that was believed to be the original plan.
Ford had to change its plans for the Focus RS in order for the new model to fit in with the latest EU average fleet CO2 emission rules. “We are waiting for our engineering team to come up with a solution on the powertrain and that is not easy given the new fleet CO2 regulations,” an unnamed senior Ford executive told Autocar.
“The [originally planned] mild hybrid is not enough,” said the same source, as Ford has to achieve a 95g/km of CO2 as a fleet average. A new Ford Focus RS was rumored to debut this year but apparently we won’t see one until at least 2022.
The publication argues that Ford is now looking to develop an RS version of the plug-in hybrid 2.5-liter powertrain that will debut in the new Escape/Kuga crossover. In the company’s compact SUV, the unit produces 222 HP, and offers over 31 miles (50 km) of pure electric range.
Ford Performance should upgrade the powertrain to at least 400 HP in order for the new Focus RS to successfully rival its competition, including the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S and the upcoming Audi RS3, and of course replace the Escape’s all-wheel drive system with something a bit beefier.
The biggest challenge of the new Focus RS is however to keep development costs at a reasonable level while creating a high-performance hybrid powertrain.
“The story of all the previous RSs is of the engineers working on the project in their spare time and weekends and coming up with the ideas and concept. On the new one, we’re still waiting for the right concept, especially on the powertrain,” said the unnamed Ford executive.
Even if Ford launches a new Focus RS in 2 or 3 years time however, we still don’t know if it will make it stateside. Given the company’s major electrification drive -that includes launching 40 electric and electrified models by 2022, and their decision to kill all passenger cars in North America, we can only dream that the new Focus RS will be given the green light for this side of the Atlantic.