Dearborn, Michigan – Ford’s 2.3L EcoBoost engine in the new Focus RS will produce 350hp – far exceeding original estimates of 315hp – along with 350 lb-ft torque.
The manual-only hatch will be especially forgiving in the event a driver stalls the engine, as Focus RS will debut with a trick feature called stall recovery. In other words, there will be no need for drivers to manually restart the engine or move the gear selector to neutral as the technology simply pushes the clutch back in.
“We knew we wanted to put start-stop technology on the RS,” explains Tyrone Johnson, engineering and vehicle manager, Ford Performance Europe. “So we said, ‘What if we went one step further, and controlled for engine stall at launch using the same technology?’ Well, that’s exactly what we did and it’s just as fast as our start-stop technology.”
The monster output the Focus RS engine achieves is due to its all-new low-inertia twin-scroll turbocharger with a larger compressor wheel that delivers more airflow and power throughout the rev range. Peak turbocharger boost is 23.2psi.
Backing up this increased output is a large intercooler to maximize charge density. Air itself is delivered through a low-restriction intake manifold on the front end with a high-performance exhaust. The system includes an electronically controlled valve that optimizes back pressure and exhaust volume level.
Stout, high-tensile cast-iron cylinder liners are used to enhance the robustness of the engine, while a high-performance head gasket brings improved thermal capability.
Additional space created in the front of the car allowed engineers to deploy a larger radiator than what’s used on other Focus models for enhanced cooling.
Despite the engine’s output of 152hp per liter, RS engineers tuned this EcoBoost to deliver right off idle all the way on up to a free-spinning 6,800rpm, with an especially chunky midrange power delivery.
Ford Performance plans to bring more than 12 high-performance vehicles to market worldwide through 2020.
Production of Focus RS with 2.3L EcoBoost begins later this year.
Source: Ford Motor Co.