Ford Confirms 2016 Focus RS for America, Expect a Detroit Debut [Updated]

Ford has been working to unify its SVT US go-fast division, Ford Racing and Euro-flavor Team RS for quite a while now and it seems their plan is complete. The Focus RS will land on US shores as part of a greater high-octane plan that will see Ford deliver “more than 12 new performance vehicles for global enthusiasts through 2020”.

In fact, Ford has a new global Ford Performance team, but we’ll talk more about that here.

As you’ve noticed, we didn’t exactly start the story by talking about the car itself and that’s because the Blue Oval hasn’t offered any official info yet.

Expect the 2016 Focus RS to Bow in Detroit

While the automaker hasn’t announced the launch date for the 2016 Focus RS, look for the mad hatch to show up at next month’s Detroit Auto Show.

Don’t jump to Michigan production conclusions just yet folks, as as previous reports indicated the site can’t handle the RS, which means it will probably be imported from Europe.

The car itself: FWD and north of 310 ponies

We’ve talked about the new Ford Focus RS on multiple occasions, since our spy shooters have crossed leness with prototypes on multiple occasions. In fact, we’ve attached a video below to back up the idea that the RS will maintain its current Screw-AWD! nature.

The Blue Oval has thrown this onto the market a few years ago, explaining they could upgrade the RS from FWD to AWD and install the car’s RevoKnuckle trick front suspension on the lower tier Focus RS, but the moves wouldn’t make financial sense.

The front wheels will be tasked with handling over 310 hp - the Focus RS Mk3 will borrow the Mustang EcoBoost’s 2.3-liter turbo four and the unit is expected to be taken a bit further compared to the ‘Stang, where it treats the driver with 310 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque.

Interestingly enough, the Ford Focus RS’ main enemy will be the Volkswagen Golf R. The nutty Vee Dub will be offered as a 2015 model year. Compared to the Ford, it will be down on power, offering 292 hp, but it will deliver that power to all four wheels and will come with a DSG twin-clutch auto. Also expect Subaru drivers on this dance floor.

Update:  we'll have to scrap all the FWD info above, as the AWD setup looks to have won in the end. Still, this is one of those occasions when you can't help but be happy you were wrong - Ford hasn't officially confirmed this yet, but the 2016 Focus RS  will be the all-wheel drive middle-point between the RWD Mustang and the FWD Focus ST. Golf R drivers are in really big trouble now...