All-New Mazda3 – Great Value for Cost-Conciuous Businesses

The all-new Mazda3, now on sale at Lifestyle Mazda, is proving to be the value-for-money choice for Crawley and Horsham businesses. Predicted class-topping depreciation rates put the Mazda3 in front of mainstream competition into premium badge territory.

Britain’s leading contract hire and leasing companies give the Mazda3 range a residual value (RV) of 35 per cent at three years/60,000 miles for the entry-level 1.6D TS 5dr (£15,760 on-the-road) and at 2.2D 150ps Sport 5dr (£18,440), with the range’s anticipated best-seller, the 1.6D TS2 (£16,960, at 34 per cent.

These impressive depreciation rates put the Mazda3 range ahead of numerous key competitors, including the Ford Focus, Renault Mégane, Toyota Auris and Vauxhall Astra and close to or on a par with the premium‑badged Audi A3, BMW-1 Series and Volkswagen Golf.

“Mazda3 represents a fantastic cost‑effective alternative to the perceived mainstream models in the family car sector,” comments Mark Spowage, dealer principal at Lifestyle Mazda in Crawley and Horsham. “With fresh styling, great vehicle dynamics, low CO2 emissions, excellent fuel economy and now first-class residual values from the UK’s top leasing companies, we expect the all-new Mazda3 to secure its own niche on the fleet map alongside the ever popular Mazda6.”

The RV performance of Mazda3 petrol models is predicted to be equally as impressive. For example, the average three‑year/60,000-mile residual value for the entry-level 1.6 S 5dr (£13,500) is 31.9 per cent, with the 1.6 TS2 5dr (£15,500) at 31.8 per cent, the 2.0 TS2 auto 5dr (£17,460) at 31 per cent and the forthcoming 2.0 i-stop 150ps Sport 5dr (£18,025) at 30.6 per cent.

Jeff Knight, forecast manager at residual value experts CAP Monitor, explains: “The Mazda3, with its improved diesel offering and increased petrol efficiency, brings Mazda firmly onto the fleet radar. The stronger European element to its design cues should increase its appeal to British buyers. The overall improvements to internal refinement will also be warmly welcomed by UK customers.”

With CO2 emission levels below the critical capital allowance benchmark of 160g/km for all models with the exception of the 2.0-litre automatic, the new Mazda3 range also makes tax sense for businesses as well as company car drivers.

Available in four-door and five-door guise, the new 20-strong Mazda3 range will be joined at the end of the month by the fuel-stretching i-stop (Smart Idling Stop System) on the 2.0 Sport, which can deliver fuel consumption savings of up to 16 per cent on the combined cycle.

To find out more about the Mazda range or to arrange a test drive, please call Lifestyle Mazda on Crawley 01293 845000 or Horsham 01403 254331 or visit one of our showrooms at Manor Royal, Crawley or Bishopric, Horsham.

World’s Favourite Roadster Celebrates 20th Birthday at Lifestyle Mazda

Lifestyle Mazda is inviting motorists to test-drive the multi-award-winning two-seater Mazda MX-5 roadster in celebration of the sportscar’s 20th anniversary. Drivers are encouraged to visit the dealerships in Crawley and Horsham showroom and experience the thrill of the iconic roadster for themselves.

“This year, the world’s most popular sportscar – the Mazda MX-5 – celebrates its 20th birthday,” explains Mark Spowage, dealer principal at Lifestyle Mazda. “The Mazda MX-5 was an instant hit with motorists in 1989 and two decades later remains unrivalled both as an exciting driver’s car and an open-top roadster that can be used for everyday motoring all year round.”

First shown at the Chicago Motor Show in February 1989, the original Mazda MX-5 triggered a rebirth of the two-seat roadster. Delivering the very essence of sportscar fun, the perfectly proportioned roadster was an instant sales success and has since earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s best-selling sportscar, with more than 850,000 models sold to date.

Earlier this year, the 2009 Mazda MX-5 arrived at Lifestyle Mazda, boasting a fresh design and an enhanced chassis to improve the model’s legendary agility and controllability even further. The eight-strong range of upgraded Mazda MX-5 sportscars have all been fine-tuned to use less fuel and reduce CO2 emissions.

Prices for the 2009 Mazda MX-5 soft-top range start from £16,345 on-the-road, while the Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe range starts at £18,345 on-the-road and boasts the world’s fastest powered retractable hard top – up or top-down in just 12 seconds.

Mark Spowage added: “The Mazda MX-5 is a joy to drive and own. Motorists in Crawley and Horsham looking for an engaging sportscar should visit our showroom to experience how the iconic roadster turns every journey into a special event.”

To find out more about the Mazda range or to arrange a test drive, please call Lifestyle Mazda on Crawley 01293 845000 or Horsham 01403 254331 or visit one of our showrooms at Manor Royal, Crawley or Bishopric, Horsham.

Award Winning Partnership

In a major sponsorship deal, the Sussex based car dealer group, Lifestyle Europe, has teamed up with East Grinstead Hockey Club, the reigning Slazenger England Hockey League Premiership champions.

Having won the league title for the first time in the tournament’s twenty year history, the club has reached new heights, including being awarded the title of England Hockey Club of the Year and, with a crop of England first team regulars amongst its ranks, including the England captain Glen Kirkham, the club has reached an all time high.

Following the Premiership triumph, which came off the back of two indoor championship wins earlier in the season, the club has set its sights on moving up a gear and conquering the European Hockey League and additional support is all the more important, as club captain, Philip Coote, explains:

“This has been a historic year and we’re all now hungry to take our game to the next level and make our mark in Europe. With the challenges next season will bring, it’s vital that we work with a solid team of partners and to secure the backing of Lifestyle, one of the UK’s best performing motor retail businesses, will give us another boost in helping to raise our profile.”

The sponsorship package sees a considerable investment from Lifestyle, including the presentation on Saturday of a brand new Ford Kuga to the men’s first team player/coach, Mark Pearn.

Peter Isted, managing director at Lifestyle, was looking forward to another successful year for both parties:

“At Lifestyle, we’ve received a few awards ourselves this year, including Sussex Business of the Year, but it’s important to look past the bottom line in a business and realise that these wins came about through strong teamwork. That’s what we admire about East Grinstead Hockey Club, which is a tremendous asset to the area, running teams for people from 6 years old and upwards. We wanted to support the club in the best way possible and develop an award winning partnership to take our brands forward into the forthcoming season and the London Olympics in 2012.”

As well as its trio of championship wins, East Grinstead reached the quarter finals of the 2009 European League in its first year of entry. To follow the team’s progress next season, visit www.egsc.org.uk/hockeyclub.html.

Lifestyle Europe, which operates Ford, Mazda, Renault, Subaru and Isuzu dealerships across Sussex Surrey and Kent, this year picked up the coveted motor industry title of Best Retail Group for the second year running. Information and special deals can be found at www.lifestyleeurope.co.uk.

Ford Fiesta Mountune

Tuning specialist has introduced raft of upgrades to Zetec-S supermini to create a sizzling range-topper

Few manufacturers can rival Ford’s reputation for producing great-handling cars – so fans will be salivating at the prospect of the latest Fiesta. Tuning specialist Mountune Performance has developed a package of extras to boost the firm’s 1.6-litre petrol engine by 20bhp.

The kit comes as a dealer-fit accessory and costs £1,299, although this figure doesn’t include fitting. It’s available from selected Ford outlets for Zetec-S and Titanium versions of the 1.6-litre supermini. Do the changes go far enough to keep pace with its established hot hatch rivals?

The aftermarket upgrade gives buyers plenty of choice when it comes to styling. While the basic kit only provides discreet Mountune badging to set it apart from lesser models, our Zetec-S test car was also equipped with Ford’s exterior styling kit, which comes highly recommended.

Its unique front bumper, lower side sills and rear spoiler fit perfectly with its go-faster performance, while our model’s smart alloys add an extra £100. If those changes aren’t enough, Mountune’s £149 Exterior Pack adds garish dayglo body graphics, and the firm also offers a set of lightweight black alloy wheels for £529.

That’s the outside taken care of then, so what’s it like inside? The cabin will be familiar to existing Fiesta owners, as there’s nothing to set it apart from the Zetec-S donor car. Even so, it compares well with its Renault and Vauxhall rivals. Not only is there plenty of space, but it’s attractively styled and features air-conditioning and a smart leather steering wheel as standard.

The Mountune extras are all about what’s under the bonnet, though. A high-performance sports exhaust, updated ECU and new air intake help take the 1.6-litre engine’s power output up from 118bhp to 138bhp, while torque rises from 152Nm to 170Nm. But despite this extra punch, the Ford still trails its rivals in the power stakes.

This was telling at the test track, where the Mountune Fiesta sprinted from 0-60mph in eight seconds flat – half-a-second slower than the Vauxhall and a full second behind the Renault. It also trailed in our in-gear tests, taking 11.9 seconds to drag from 50-70mph in fifth – that’s 5.5 seconds adrift of its livelier Renaultsport rival.

However, what the bare figures don’t relate is how much fun the Ford is to drive. Its pin-sharp throttle response, perfectly weighted steering and agile chassis all compensate for its lack of outright pace.

The new exhaust provides a racy soundtrack that will have you blipping the throttle on every downchange, and the smooth power delivery means it’s fun to extract every ounce of performance from the engine. The supple suspension is another plus point, as the Fiesta’s set-up was the most forgiving here. It’s the easiest to live with day-to-day, yet its excellent ride doesn’t come at the expense of handling or grip.

The sports exhaust does have one unwelcome side effect, because at high cruising speeds its burble becomes a drone. To make matters worse, the Fiesta is the only car here with a five-speed gearbox. As a result, it’s the noisiest on the motorway.

A standard Zetec-S with the Mountune upgrade is £15,194, and even when you add the bill for installation, it should still be the cheapest car in our line-up. As the kit is effectively retro-fitted, it doesn’t affect the official CO2 output or VED band, either, so road tax for the Ford is comfortably cheaper than for its rivals.

Economy of 30.5mpg was also the pick of the bunch. The question is, will the low running costs and entertaining handling be enough to compensate for the Fiesta’s lack of straight-line speed?

To find out more about the Ford range please visit Lifestyle Ford

Source Auto Express

Renaultsport Clio 200 Cup

Facelift and power hike make hot hatch champ better than ever

Tinkering with a winning formula is a recipe for disaster, so has Renaultsport managed to improve on the excellent Clio 197 Cup?

To broaden its appeal, the new-look line-up has been revised. The Renaultsport Clio 200 features softer suspension than before and comes loaded with kit as standard. At £16,750, it’s designed for hot hatch fans who like a bit of comfort.

Thrill seekers should concentrate on the 200 Cup tested here. With its stripped-out cabin and firmer suspension, it is the most focused Clio yet. Its chassis settings come as a £400 option on the flagship, but the raw 200 Cup costs £15,750 – so it’s the most affordable way to join the hot Clio club. That all makes sense, but we’re not convinced by the supermini’s new nose.

While the gloss black trim and flattened profile provide a more distinctive look, it’s far from pretty. It stands out from lesser models, though, with wider front wings, a fresh rear diffuser and red brake calipers.

Climb inside and there are predictably few toys to play with. Air-con is a £550 extra – so electric windows come as a relief in hot weather – and the steering wheel adjusts for height only. Sporty details include a set of perfectly positioned drilled alloy pedals and a leather steering wheel and gearknob.

Our car also featured a pair of optional £850 Recaro seats. These are incredibly supportive and surprisingly comfortable on longer drives. Up front, power has risen from 194bhp to 197bhp. Tweaks to the 2.0-litre engine include the introduction of a new cylinder head, changes to the variable valve timing and fresh electronics – all of which gives 20 per cent more torque at lower revs.

You would expect the 200 Cup to be quick off the mark then – and so it proves. At the test track, the high-revving Renault sprinted from 0-60mph in seven seconds exactly – that’s half-a-second faster than its nearest competitor.

On the road, the Renault feels quicker than its rivals. Working its frenetic engine hard is an utterly absorbing experience as the power builds until its peak output is delivered at 7,100rpm. And the slick six-speed gearbox is the perfect match. The ride is as firm as you expect – the Cup chassis sits 7mm lower than the standard set-up and has stiffer springs and dampers.

You certainly feel bumps and ruts, but the suspension only crashes over the worst potholes and the trade-off is superb body control and agility. With its sharp responses and rev-hungry engine, the Clio comes alive on twisty back roads.

It’s not perfect, as the steering lacks the feel you get in the Fiesta, the body squirms under heavy braking and 23.4mpg economy is poor. Yet the 200 Cup is easily the most involving version of the third-generation Clio – and it will take some beating here.

To find out more about the Renault range please visit Lifestyle Renault

Source Auto Express

Renault Clio Renaultsport 200 | Video

Absolutely Stunning! Renault have certainly nailed it with the new GT! To book a test drive visit: http://tinyurl.com/rentd

Ford reveals Transit Econetic details

Ford is launching a new Econetic version of its Transit van which is priced from £18,095, emits 189g/km of carbon dioxide and will do 39.2mpg.

The new model is aimed at companies that want to maximise fuel efficiency and is based on a 2.2-litre 115PS Duratorq TDCi Transit 280 panel van with short wheelbase.

Transit Econetic – what's different?

* Low friction oil
* Green gear shift indicator light
* Modified engine calibration
* Standard 70mph speed limiter
* Improvements over the standard 113bhp 280S of 24g/km CO2
* New low-drag wheel covers

The £750 option of a closed-loop, coated Diesel Particulate Filter (cDPF) enables the Transit Econetic to meet the Euro Stage V emissions standards.

In addition to the new Transit Econetic, an Econetic version of its compact workmate, the Fiesta Van, will also go on sale later this year.

Orders for the Transit Econetic are open now.

To find out more about the Ford Commercial range please visit Lifestyle Commercials

Source AM Online

Renault Mégane Saloon

Renault puts the boot into the Megane with a new saloon version.

Here's the final edition to the Mégane family! Our spies have caught a saloon version of Renault's new Megane out testing. Set to go on sale in South American and Eastern European markets first, it’ll reach UK showrooms in early 2010.

As you can see from these images, it'll pack a huge boot – just like its predecessor. Under the bonnet, it'll feature the same range of engines as its hatchback brother, with a wide line-up of economical diesels and even a turbocharged petrol.

Prices can be expected to start at around £16,000, though we’ll find out more at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

To find out more about the Renault Range please visit Lifestyle Renault

Source [Auto Express]

Kuga Coupé on the prowl

Ford raises the stakes and expands the Kuga range, including a sporty two-door 4x4 that’s going to be in a class of its own.

Take a look at the new 4x4 that’s going to turn heads on and off-road! This striking machine is a coupé version of Ford’s popular Kuga, and it’s set to take style to the top of the agenda in the SUV sector.

Now that the Kuga is firmly established in the off-road market, Ford has decided it’s time to expand the range. With plans to grow the five-door version, there’s room for a sporty little brother that puts the brand in a class of its own.

As BMW demonstrated with the X6, there is a demand for cars that combine the raised seating position SUV buyers love with coupé looks and a sporty driving experience. And as you can see in our exclusive images, the new Ford certainly has style on its side. Pivotal to the remarkable shape is the dramatically sloping roofline, while the distinctive C-pillar takes some of its inspiration from the three-door Fiesta.

The muscular yet athletic proportions are reminiscent of the original Iosis X, which previewed the Kuga. A neatly curved rear window, classy roof spoiler and sleek tail-lights complete the look. At the front is an evolution of the new design language seen on the Iosis MAX concept. Huge alloys fill chunky arches, the ride height has been raised, and off-road cues include front and rear skid plates.

The Kuga Coupé won’t command an X6-style price tag or cost a lot to run, though. While the current five-door model is a 4x4, most versions of the three-door are likely to be sold with two-wheel drive for better fuel economy and emissions figures.

Under the bonnet, the newcomer will benefit from the same range of EcoBoost direct-injection turbocharged petrol engines as the upcoming third-generation Focus. These are set to include a new 1.6-litre turbo, available with 148bhp or 178bhp outputs, which will combine storming pace with excellent consumption. Diesel options for the Kuga Coupé are going to include a new 128bhp 1.6 TDCi and a flagship 2.0-litre, available with 168bhp or 197bhp options.

As for transmissions, a Powershift twin-clutch auto is to be available for the first time on the Kuga. It will an optional alternativve to the standard six-speed manual gearbox. Expect the new model to get stop-start from the factory, too. Sitting on a modified platform from the next-generation Focus, the Kuga Coupé is to have class-leading driving dynamics with sharp steering, well controlled body roll and plenty of cornering grip.

It will be the sportiest car in its class and while most sales are likely to be front-wheel drive, an all-wheel-drive variant will also be offered. Options such as a panoramic glass roof, the latest hi-tech integrated sat-nav and Bluetooth compatibility, along with a reversing camera, are going to help make the Ford feel every inch the mini X6.

Production is still some way off, though, because Ford’s immediate priority is the launch of the new Focus and C-MAX next year. Those are set to be followed by a Vauxhall Meriva-rivalling, Fiesta-based MPV. So we will see the new model, along with its five-door brother, at a major motor show in 2011.

To find out more about the Ford range please visit Lifestyle Ford

Source [Auto Express] Written by Sam Hardy / Photos by Miroslav

Ford Sales 'Full Recovery'

Ford small car sales have recovered to the level they were at a year ago, lifting gloom at car dealers.

The blue oval also continued its 1-2 stranglehold on the UK car market.

This month, it was the Fiesta that led the Focus.

Indeed, the Fiesta leads for 2009 year-to-date. And the Focus? That’s in second place…

Nevertheless, unlike some other car brands, it was still an overall decline for Ford. Declining demand for the big cars saw, overall, the brand’s UK sales decline by 16 percent.

This is evident by the Ka, Fiesta and Fusion accounting for two in every three scrappage car sales. The Focus takes the majority of the remainder.

Even so, Ford outperformed the market and was able to boost its market share by 1 percent, to 17.3 percent.

Nigel Sharp, Ford Britain MD, said: ‘We hope this scrappage scheme will boost sales of new vehicles and, in doing so, help secure jobs at Ford and our dealer partners.

‘It is early days yet, but increased web traffic and showroom visits are now turning into vehicle registrations, so we remain optimistic as we head into the summer selling months.’

To find out more about the Ford range please visit Lifestyle Ford

Source Car Dealer Magazine

Ford Focus RS | A Legend Returns

The legendary Ford RS performance car brand is returning in the shape of the exciting new Ford Focus RS, which will be previewed on July 22 at the 2008 London International Motor Show.

The new Focus RS will go on sale in early 2009 and is being created by a small team of dedicated engineers, under the direction of Jost Capito, Ford of Europe’s Vehicle Line Director for Performance Vehicles.

For performance road car enthusiasts, the new model will mark a welcome return for the Ford RS badge. This will be the second Focus model to carry the RS mantle and promises another exciting chapter in an exciting 40-year story that began in Germany in the late 1960s and gained momentum across Europe with the launch of the 1970 Escort RS1600.

Capito said: “We want the new Focus RS to be a serious high performance car – as much a car for driving enthusiasts as the one before it and classic Ford RS models of the past. We’re staying true to the core RS principles of an exciting, yet affordable performance road car you can live with every day.”

Authentic RS presence and style


Before it even turns a wheel, the new Focus RS exudes the presence, sporty style and lowered, ‘meaner’ appearance expected of a genuine Ford RS. Overt performance styling details mix with subtle revisions to create a planted, powerful stance and the promise of an exciting drive.

The London show car previews the design intent for a final production vehicle, though as development work continues, some final details may change before volume production begins.

The vehicle is finished in a special bright green paint with inlaid metallic flake, a striking, modern interpretation of the 1970s Le Mans Green of the Escort RS1600 era.

The vibrant exterior colour is contrasted with a number of performance styling details highlighted in gloss ‘piano black’, including the strip at the leading edge of the bonnet, the deep housings for the integrated front fog lamps and door mirrors with integrated side indicators.

Front and rear quarter panels have been revised to incorporate wider wheel arches and a wider track, complemented by revised, deeper side rocker mouldings. In another visual reminder of the car’s performance potential, triangular, RS-badged vents sit behind the front wheel arches. Two classic-style bonnet louvres are both a styling hint at the power beneath and a practical requirement, maintaining correct system temperatures.

The completely new front bumper design for Focus RS incorporates a deep front airdam with a large, mesh lower grille in an extended trapezoid. Stylish and practical, this prominent feature represents the latest Ford ‘kinetic design’ face and also is finished in piano black. Above, chromed xenon headlamps stand out like cat’s eyes and are framed by matt-black housings with unique additional vents running underneath.

At the rear, a deep new rear bumper incorporates a large venturi tunnel to its lower edge with small vents at each corner of the bumper, emphasizing the car’s width. Two impressive chromed exhaust tailpipes sit each side of the black venturi, creating a purposeful rear view for the car.

Above, a unique, twin-element, black RS rear spoiler sits at the Focus RS’ roofline, echoing both RS models of the past and the World Rally-winning Focus WRC that has been its inspiration.

“We believe it’s vitally important that a Focus RS looks like both a Focus and an RS – it needs to be individual, distinctive and overt in its performance styling, but it also needs to show a clear progression from and relationship to Focus ST”, said Stefan Lamm, Chief Exterior Designer, Ford of Europe.

High performance interior

Inside, this theme continues with a unique and appropriately performance-oriented interior, dominated by bespoke, sculpted Recaro high-performance sports seats, specially designed and trimmed for excellent support, even when driving enthusiastically. Each is colour-matched to the exterior, with ebony leather accents and ‘RS’ and ‘Recaro’ logos stitched into each backrest.

Elsewhere, colour brings new excitement to the Focus interior, building on the sporty interior theme of Focus ST with more use of accents matched to the exterior colour, brushed aluminium highlights and overt performance styling. Even the rear seats feature higher side bolsters and a microfibre finish to echo those up front.

The centre console is finished in a stylish gloss, carbon-look trim and metallic highlights abound, from air vents, door grab handles, switchgear and gearshift surround, to unique RS-branded scuff plates on the door sills. These highlights contrast with a black-trimmed roof lining, emphasising the sporty, cockpit feel.

The driver is reminded this is a special Focus at every touch, with a gear lever finished with a six speed gear shift graphic in RS blue, a sporty, three-spoke steering wheel, finished with ‘Ford’ and ‘RS’ logos and even aluminium foot pedals. The performance driving environment is completed by three additional gauges from the Focus ST, including turbo pressure, sitting atop the centre console and angled toward the driver’s eyeline.

Powerful RS heart

At the heart of the all-new Focus RS is a specially developed, turbocharged version of the Duratec 2.5-litre 5-cylinder engine. Significantly revised for high performance, this powerplant is targeting an impressive power output of 300PS and over 410Nm of torque, contributing to an excellent power-to-weight ratio.

Such significant increases are not simply the result of altering engine management or boost pressure: starting with the Duratec 2.5-litre block, Ford RS engineers developed unique camshafts, a revised cylinder head and gasket and revised intake and exhaust manifold system for the car.

Although the car is still in development, prior to its launch in early 2009, early performance testing indicates a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) time of under six seconds.

A traction ‘Revo’-lution
Throughout Focus RS’ development, Capito and his team have been keeping a sharp focus on creating a car that delivers excellent performance and traction.

Various innovations, developed as a result of customer feedback from previous performance Fords, have allowed engineers to keep the new Focus RS as front-wheel drive, with a limited-slip differential, while still achieving demanding targets for traction, handling and steering.

The new Ford Focus RS is equipped with an innovative front suspension system known as a ‘RevoKnuckle’, which is designed to reduce unwanted steering disturbance and torque steer, the impact of torque on steering in front-wheel driven vehicles. Torque steer occurs during hard acceleration, cornering or driving on uneven surfaces, when torque on the driven wheels exceeds grips levels. It is characterised by sudden turning force on the steering wheel and can be exacerbated by vehicles with wide tyres and limited-slip differentials.

In Focus RS, the RevoKnuckle works in conjunction with a Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing limited-slip differential. Ford Team RS engineers have worked closely with Ford’s Advanced Research Centre in Aachen, Germany to develop the RevoKnuckle technology specifically for the high performance Focus RS. It allows the simplicity of a traditional McPherson strut arrangement, but with geometry settings that minimize steering disturbances and torque steer, principally a reduction in steering offset.

“The Ford Focus is an excellent base for a high performance car – agile, responsive and stable,” explained Capito. “We studied at length how best to enhance these qualities for a high performance model. Our work has shown clearly that our approach in combining a tuned RevoKnuckle with the Quaife differential is an ideal solution for a high performance front-wheel-drive road car like Focus RS.

“As you would expect, we gave all-wheel-drive careful consideration, but by combining and tuning these elements and learning from Ford’s expertise in industry-leading handling, we have managed to eliminate the weight of AWD from the car and still have been able to target a class-leading balance of traction, handling and performance.

“The result is a lightweight set-up, that will deliver the right blend of traction and razor sharp controllability – in a way no one would have expected from front-wheel-drive, and we believe we have made the right choice,” Capito concluded.

Dynamic, agile and responsive

A genuine Focus RS must maintain and enhance the reputation for responsive, precise handling for which Focus is acclaimed and considerable engineering effort has ensured that the new Focus RS will do just that.

Driving quality developments for Focus RS include a 40mm wider track, stronger, longer driveshafts, revised springs and dampers and a thicker, longer rear anti-roll bar. At the same time, the steering system has been retuned to provide an even sharper steering response and very precise feedback.

Brakes also have been uprated, with 336mm ventilated front discs and 300mm rear discs generating vice-like stopping power on road or track. Large calipers peek out from behind unique 19-inch wheels, wrapped in 235/35 low profile Continental tyres.

A special version of Ford’s ESP system has also been developed for Focus RS, designed to allow a very sporty driving style before activating. Intensive work to refine the natural handling abilities of the car has allowed the ESP system to carry a full de-activation option for enthusiast drivers and especially for track use.

“We are refining all the handling characteristics of Focus RS without ESP, to hone its natural responses, rather than use ESP to help its handling. In Focus RS, ESP is a pure safety device”, explained Capito.

Reliable and durable

In creating the new Focus RS, Ford’s Team RS engineers have had to meet the same stringent targets for durability and reliability as those set for the rest of the Focus range.

Despite its many bespoke engineering and styling elements, Focus RS will be built entirely on the main Focus production line in Saarlouis, Germany and offered with a standard Ford of Europe warranty.

A great heritage
The new Focus RS represents a significant moment in the heritage of both the Focus and Ford RS brands.

It is 10 years since the Ford Focus was first revealed to the world at the Geneva Motor Show in 1998, paving the way for a range of Ford vehicles whose exciting design was matched by class-leading driving quality. Since this time, more than 5.3 million Ford Focus models have been built in Europe, including Russia, with the car also built and sold in North America and Asia.

At the same time, the new Focus RS marks the return of the famous but rare Ford RS badge, last seen on the first-generation Focus RS in 2002 and with a distinguished heritage stretching back 38 years including Fiesta, Escort and Sierra models.

“RS is uniquely important to us in terms of our performance heritage and World Rally Championship success, while the Focus has played a major part in establishing Ford’s excellent reputation for driving dynamics,” said John Fleming, Ford of Europe President and CEO. “The all-new Focus RS will embrace and celebrate both of these – it will be a genuine RS and a genuine Focus and I’m confident it won’t disappoint in either area.”

To find out more about the Ford Focus RS please visit Lifestyle Ford

Your preferred Ford Dealer for New Car Sales, Used Car Sales, Van Sales, Servicing and Motability in Kent, Sussex and Surrey