| Year
(of specifications) |
2002
- 2003 |
| Engine(s) |
2.0
litre, 4-cylinder, turbocharged |
| Transmission |
5
speed manual FWD |
| Max
speed |
144
mph |
| 0-60 |
6.4
seconds |
| Horsepower |
212
hp @ 5,500 rpm |
| weight |
1278
kgs |
Background
The Ford Focus RS Mk1 appeared in 2002 - two years after it
had been teased as a concept
car. Before its introduction most people were expecting,
and hoping for, an AWD
beast to step into the giant shoes left over since the departure
of the Ford Escort Cosworth. However Ford decided that a FWD
platform with a 'torque biasing' differential would be good
enough. The system was designed to compensate somewhat for the
'torque steer'
phenomenon which occurs in powerful front-wheel-drive cars.
It did work, but not perfectly - there was still noticeable
torque steer under heavy acceleration. Later cars had less aggressive
torque steering thanks to a variety of small upgrades and tweaks
to the model over the single year it was produced. These upgrades
included a revised ECU map which improved engine smoothness
at idle and reduced fuel consumption, more durable seat cushions,
and two small rubber rings on the throttle cable to reduce vibration
- look for pink ones, they're the newer parts. Quaife, the manufacturer
of the Focus RS Mk1's differential also made some beneficial
changes to the unit for the last 1000 cars. In total just over
4,500 examples were produced.
Drivetrain
Powering the Ford Focus RS Mk1 was a turbocharged, 2.0 litre,
4-cylinder engine which featured forged pistons,
con-rods and
crankshaft, hardened
valve seats, and a stainless steel exhaust system.
Overall it's a tough little engine but there are a few areas
which need to be maintained and regularly checked. First of
all the cambelt should be replaced at 60,000 miles - not 100,000
like Ford recommend. If it isn't the idler pulley can split,
resulting in a shredded belt - possibly leading to disastrous
consequences. When changing the cambelt its advisable to also
replace the auxiliary belt and its idler system.
However the weakest link in the Focus RS Mk1's engine is the
chargecooler pump. In order to allow for a shorter and more
compact intake duct than would be possible with an air-to-air
intercooler, the
engine features a water-cooled chargecooler. Failure of this
system can allow the chargecooler coolant to reach boiling point
- as you can imagine this isn't good. The inbound air can be
so hot it can damage the engine's internals, including melting
the sparkplugs
- or even the pistons!
Performance-wise the engine of the first generation Focus RS
is adequate. By current standards 212 horsepower for a top-level
hot hatch is pretty low. But in 2002 it was enough to make the
car a performance bargain - and it keeps that accolade to this
day. The strength of the Mk1 Ford Focus RS's performance came
from its impressive peak torque
output figure of 229 lb-ft @ 3,500 rpm. The power was sent to
the front wheels through a tough and durable manual gearbox
and Quaife limited-slip
differential. If the engine is highly modified, the standard
transmission has been known to comfortably handle up to 400hp
in its standard form.
Thanks to its tough and potent drivetrain the Focus RS Mk1's
0-60 mph time is just 6.4 seconds. The top speed of 144 mph
should satisfy most drivers daily needs!
Suspension, Brakes and Wheels
The suspension setup of the 2002-2003 Ford Focus RS is a relatively
custom affair, and it only shares a few components with the
standard Ford Focus. First up the RS has a wider track
and stiffer spring and damper rates than the base car. Larger
wheel bearings and sturdier lower a-arms
are also unique to the Mk1 Focus RS.
Braking comes courtesy of four-piston Brembo calipers.
The brakes, in general, are up to most of the abuse they'll
receive during their lifetime. However some owners have reported
that a vigorous track day can result in warped brake
discs. A popular cure for this is to replace the standard
discs with upgraded AP Racing units.
Nice looking and simply styled 5-spoke, 18" OZ Racing wheels
fit the car beautifully. They were specifically designed for
the Focus RS.
Bodywork
The Ford Focus RS MK1 has relatively subtle, but also noticeable,
upgraded bodywork which identifies it from its slower brethren.
The doors, tailgate and bonnet are the only body panels shared
with other Focus models. Sadly that means some of the panels
can be difficult to source after an accident. From the front,
the Focus RS Mk1 looks the business. Smattered across the front
bumper are a multitude of vents, intakes and driving lights
which give the car a purposeful look when coupled with the slightly
extended wheel arches. Viewed from the back the first-gen Focus
RS is a little less distinctive. There's a nice looking bumper
with some sort of half-attempted faux-diffuser
integrated into the lower section, a small roof-mounted spoiler,
and that all-important 'RS' badge. The first generation Focus
RS was only sold in one color, thankfully it was a good one,
metallic 'Imperial Blue'.
Interior
The interior of the Mk1 Ford Focus RS is set apart with a range
of blue-accented trim elements designed to match the paintwork.
Unfortunately it looks a bit tacky and aftermarket. The seats
are supportive Sparco units, but early cars suffered from sagging
seat cushions - this was fixed under warranty and later cars
didn't have the same problem. Later cars also got a small 'engine
start' label next to the ignition button to help those owners
who suffered from 'small brain' syndrome.
Similar and related vehicles:
Ford Focus RS Mk2
Ford Focus RS500 Mk2 (2010)
Ford Racing Puma
Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
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