Pushing 300hp through the front wheels of a hatchback is a crazy idea even at the best of times, especially when the rear wheels aren’t being driven at all. But 15 years ago, Ford’s engineers decided (probably in the pub) that this seemed like a good thing to do, and as a result, we got the Focus RS.
It’s amazing how well these cars have aged. It turns out well-proportioned grilles and a lack of 50-inch iPads glued to the dashboard are the secret to aging like a fine wine (cough cough BMW iX…) and it shows as prices have remained strong for nearly a decade. With wide arches, a vented bonnet and let’s not forget that spoiler, this really was Ford’s ‘chav era’, and it’s unapologetically 2000s. Maybe that’s why we like it so much…
Our car has been tastefully upgraded, keeping true to the original idea and perhaps even unlocking some of that performance. The highlights? GGR 362mm discs clamped by six-pot AP Racing calipers that could probably stop an airliner. A bigger intercooler, uprated injectors, and RS400-calibrated engine management to make sure everything’s arguing in harmony. Suspension bits from Whiteline and Powerflex keep it from falling over in corners, while a full Milltek turbo-back exhaust system makes sure nobody in the next village forgets you’re passing through.
The best bit? It’s a car you can actually use. While all new hatchbacks have become bloated versions of their former selves, the Focus occupies a nicely small footprint on the road — but despite this, it has a deceptively large boot. That’s the thing. Behind the ASBO spoiler and the Recaro buckets, it’s still a Focus. Here we have a genuine modern classic that you could use every day.
And ours is a great example. Less than 30,000 miles, with the LUX pack, and finished in that stunning Performance Blue paint. Ford isn’t going to make a car like this again. To be honest, we don’t think anyone is going to make a car like this again. And ours really is like a time capsule taking you back to an era when Burberry and BlackBerrys ruled.
Make is yours today. Torque steer sold separately. https://www.gcmotors.co.uk/vehicle/ford-focus-dv10enw-
