Ford’s long-awaited Focus RS to debut in New York [NY Preview]

2016 Ford Focus RS front
Ford’s potent new Focus RS will make its North American debut at the New York auto show

American auto enthusiasts will no longer need to pine for the Ford Focus RS, as the car will make its North American debut at the New York International Auto Show.

Beneath the electric blue exterior is a hopped-up version of the 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder found in the latest Mustang. In the Focus, it gets a new, twin-scroll turbocharger, a bigger intercooler, and a revamped intake and exhaust, boosting power to more than 315 horsepower.

All that power is fed to all four wheels through a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring at the rear axle. Up to 70 percent of the engine’s power can be sent to the back wheels, and the torque at the rear is sent to the outside wheel during cornering to help grip and eliminate understeer.

Fans of oversteer get their own drive mode in the new Focus RS. Along with normal, sport and track modes, the Focus has a drift mode that allows for tire-smoking oversteer not commonly found in front- or all-wheel-drive vehicles. It also has a launch control setting that allows for turbo overboost for maximum acceleration.

2016 Ford Focus RS rear
The 2016 Focus RS was designed with aerodynamics in mind, as evidenced by the rear wing and lower diffuser.

When styling the Focus RS, Ford engineers made sure the design was functional, not just aesthetic. Special attention was paid to the cooling needs of the engine and brakes, with large openings in the front and side wings that funnel air to the 13.78-inch ventilated front disc brakes. At the back, a diffuser helps airflow under the car.

2016 Ford Focus RS interior
The interior of the Focus RS gets extra gauges and sport touches like Recaro seats and alloy pedals.

Inside, the Focus RS gets Recaro seats, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, and alloy pedals. Extra gauges at the top of the dash show boost pressure, oil pressure and oil temperature.

Although Ford hasn’t released pricing information, the new German-built Focus RS should be in showrooms in Spring of 2016.

TFLcar will be covering the New York show live, so stay tuned for updates.

Check out this 0-60 video review of the RS’s little brother, the Focus ST: