2014 Ford Focus RS to Boast 350 HP

Slowly, but surely, details on the next-generation Ford Focus RS are starting to be revealed. This time around, reports are that the Focus RS is destined to make an appearance in 2014 sporting a 2.3-liter, four-cylinder with 350 hp.

The 2.3-liter features Ford’s EcoBoost power and may even make an appearance in the 2015 Mustang. If it does indeed make 350 hp, it would be a huge increase from the current Ford Focus ST’s power plant, which makes 247 hp from a 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine. According to Ford’s European division, Team RS, the new 2.3-liter won’t be based on the 2.0-liter found in the ST. Increasing the power from the ST’s engine means a larger turbo, and the team is reluctant to do so.

That’s understandable, since a larger turbo means more turbo lag which results in less bottom-end torque. And since the hot hatch RS is made for all-around performance, a slightly larger engine with a more efficient turbo makes sense in order to achieve more performance.

And as we mentioned before, the next-generation RS may also see a new active limited slip differential that Team RS’ powertrain engineering manager, Len Urwin, is calling an E-diff.

Also under consideration is a dual-clutch automatic to be available as an option along with the standard manual transmission.

[Source: AutoExpress]