Ford Focus RS fitted with Drift Mode
Production of the new Ford Focus RS hot hatch has begun in Germany, but Ford New Zealand has already sold the cars allocated to this market.
The Focus RS is one of 12 new performance vehicles Ford introduce during the next four years.
Developed by a team of Ford Performance engineers in Europe and the U.S., the model is powered by a specially engineered version of Ford’s new 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine delivering maximum power of 350 PS, and will sprint from 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds, making the high-performance hatchback the fastest accelerating Ford RS model ever.
The Focus RS is the first model to be fitted with Ford Performance All Wheel Drive with Dynamic Torque Vectoring, which the company says takes handling,grip and cornering to a new level.
The RS features selectable Drive modes, including Drift Mode that allows controlled oversteer drifts. Launch Control also features on the RS Focus for the first time.
A Ford spokesman said that since order books opened in September, customers had already placed more than 3,100 orders worldwide.
He said the RS was scheduled to arrive in New Zealand around the middle of this year.
"That said,we've sold out already for the year."