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In factory guise, the Focus RS comes with a 2.5-liter forced-fed inline-five that churns out 300-horsepower and a peak torque of 295 ft/lbs (400Nm). The tuning firm's £595 Phase 1 package kicks output to 342HP at 6,150rpm and 369 ft/lbs at 3,350rpm through an ECU remap.
So what's the Focus RS500 all about? If you're the kind of type that likes getting to the point, all you need to know is that the RS500 is a limited edition of the Focus RS with a beefed up 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five churning out 350HP, a matte black 'foil' wrap and special interior trim that will be produced in a strictly-limited production run of 500 individually-numbered vehicles.
For more detailed information and a comprehensive, high-resolution photo gallery of Ford's Focus RS500, follow the jump.
In standard form, the RS's five-pot produces 305 ponies with power transferred to the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.
Not much else is known about the Focus RS500, but we expect to see the special edition model featuring other mechanical as well as styling changes over the 305HP version. You can get a taste of the Euro market RS500 in the teaser video after the break.
The students will enter the race-prepped Focus RS under the name "Team FH Köln Motorsport". It will be driven by a team of four drivers, which will be announced closer to the event.
"We want to reassure enthusiasts of Focus performance models that we have a plan for them as well," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president of Product development.
For the time being, the new generation of the Focus Station Wagon is European-only matter as there are no current plans to offer the vehicle in North America.
However, Ford Europe CEO John Fleming noted that the company may sell the Estate model in other markets around the world, "provided the business case and customer demand exist."
According to our sources, the more practical and roomy Focus SW (also known as the Estate in some countries) will initially be launched in Europe. However, if there's enough interest by buyers in other international markets, Ford will add the station wagon variant to its global range of Focus models in the very near future.
Ford didn't clarify in its press release if the new Kuga and Mondeo also benefit from any cosmetic changes of the same subtle nature as those on the S-MAX and Galaxy (the Mondeo pictured above is an '09MY), but here's what the company had to say about the upgrades under the hood.
Starting with the Mondeo, the firm's European competitor in the mid-size saloon and estate segment gains the all-new 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost SCTi gasoline engine with an output of 203HP and a new version of the 2.0-liter TDCi diesel with 163HP, while the 115HP and 140HP variants of the same diesel have been improved.
Furthermore, Ford's Powershift six-speed twin-clutch automatic transmission is fitted as standard with the 2.0-litre EcoBoost gasoline engine and optionally available for the 140HP and 163HP Duratorq TDCi diesel engines.
Together with this transmission, the new Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 163HP delivers a combined fuel economy of 5.6 lt/100km, equal to 42 mpg US and 50.4 mpg UK.
The same 163HP 2.0-liter turbo diesel as well as the six-speed dual clutch transmission also make their way into the Kuga crossover.
With the 163HP diesel engine, the Kuga accelerates from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in 9.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 195 km/h or 121mph while achieving a CO2 output of 159g/km in the All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) models with manual transmission.
The Focus RS WRC Edition, which pays tribute to the legendary Escort RS1600 that was launched in 1970, was designed with the help of Swiss fans that participated in a special design competition organized by Ford. You can check out some of the proposals that were submitted by fans after the jump.
The fifty WRC specials are distinguished on the outside by the "Frozen White" paint finish that's contrasted by black and green stickers and stripes as well as the 19-inch OZ Superturismo GT multispoke alloys in black.
In the cockpit there's a special plaque that bears the signatures of Ford Rally drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen.
There are no changes under the bonnet with the WRC Edition being propelled from 0-100km/h (62mph) in under 6 seconds and on to a top speed of 263km/h (163mph) by the same 305HP 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five found in the 'standard' RS.
Pricing for the Focus RS WRC Edition has been set at 55,900 francs or about US$53,050 / €37,950 at today's exchange rates.
Ford Focus RS WRC Edition
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Design Proposals
UPDATE: Ford just came out with official photos of the five-seater version of the 2010 C-MAX minivan confirming that it will indeed be offered with the firm's new 1.6-liter EcoBoost direct injection four-cylinder petrol engine. Full details will be released during the Frankfurt Show press days. According to Carscoop sources, Ford has followed in the footsteps of Renault and Citroen with their respective Scenic / Grande Scenic and C4 Picasso models by developing two different body styles for the C-MAX, one for the five seater version and another one for the larger and more practical, seven seater model.
While we're patiently waiting for Ford to green light the release of the first official images, we've added a full set of spy shots of the seven-seater model. Unlike the base C-MAX with five seats and conventional rear-doors, the seven-seater version features a pair of sliding rear doors that promise to improve access to the rear seats.
It is believed that Ford will premiere its newly developed 1.6-liter Ecoboost turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine on the new C-MAX that will also be available with numerous other normally aspirated petrol and turbo diesel units.
The new Ecooboost engine will eventually make its way on other Ford models in Europe such as the Mondeo and the next-generation Focus range.
Sales of the new C-MAX models are expected to start in Europe in mid-2010.
As for North America, even though Ford has confirmed that the U.S. will get the all-new, next-gen Focus model in 2010, there's no word if the range will also include the C-MAX.
Official Photos of 5-Seater 2010 Ford C-MAX
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Spy Shots of 7-Seater 2010 Ford C-MAX
