Car
Magazine says the redesigned 2021 Ford Focus RS will receive a significant performance
boost as it will adopt a hybridized powertrain and a trick all-wheel drive
system.
Starting
under the hood, the publication says we can expect a familiar 2.3-liter
EcoBoost four-cylinder engine. There’s no word on its output at this point, but
the previous model had 345 hp. This enabled the hot hatch to
rocket from 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 266 km/h.
While
the engine is slated to carryover, the Focus RS will reportedly be equipped
with a mild hybrid system that features a 48-volt starter-generator. It will
reportedly provide an electric boost which could enable the car to have a
combined output of around 400 hp.
Speaking
of electricity, the model is rumored to adopt a rear eTwinster motor from GKN.
Little is known about it, but the motor will give the Focus RS all-wheel drive
and dynamic handling thanks to torque vectoring.
On
the styling front, we can expect the Focus RS to be even more extreme than the
Focus ST. While we haven’t seen prototypes yet, we can expect a more aggressive
front bumper and a revised grille. The model could also be equipped with a
prominent diffuser, a sporty dual exhaust system and lightweight alloy wheels. The upgrades should continue in the cabin
and we wouldn’t be surprised to find Recaro sports seats and a flat-bottomed
steering wheel. We can also expect special trim and plenty of RS badging.