New Ford Focus RS 2023 officially axed! Plug pulled on hybrid hot hatch - for now

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The third-generation Focus RS was powered by a Mustang-sourced 2.3-litre EcoBoost turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine.
Justin Hilliard
Head of Editorial
21 Apr 2020
2 min read

Ford has officially abandoned plans for a fourth-generation Focus RS, with the hot hatch left on the drawing board due to external factors.

Last week, Caradisiac claimed via an unnamed and unquoted Ford source that the new Focus RS program had been cancelled due to the European Union’s fleet-wide average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions target of 95 grams per kilometre, which is due to kick in next year.

Since then, Autocar has contacted a Ford of Europe spokesperson who said: “As a result of pan-European emissions standards, increased CO2 taxation and the high cost of developing an RS with some form of electrification for a relatively low volume of vehicles, we are not planning another RS version of the Focus.”

And just like that, the hopes of a next Focus RS have gone up in smoke, with Ford unable to overcome its developmental challenges, which revolved around its mooted hybrid powertrain.

As reported, Autocar claimed in April 2018 that the new Focus RS would retain its predecessor’s Mustang-sourced 2.3-litre EcoBoost turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine but add an emissions-reducing 48V mild-hybrid system.

But two months ago, Autocar published another report, citing a senior Ford of Europe executive who claimed “the mild hybrid is not enough”, with a high-performance version of the Escape mid-size SUV’s plug-in hybrid powertrain instead set for the next Focus RS.

Now we know for sure neither added up and there won’t be a new Focus RS to challenge the Mercedes-AMG A45 S for bragging rights.

That said, there is of course a chance the Focus RS will return in the long term, as part of the Focus small car’s fifth generation, which could include non-performance hybrid variants, setting the table for the next flagship hot hatch.

But that all hinges on the development of a fifth-generation Focus, which may not eventuate in an SUV-focused world. And even if it does, don’t expect the next Focus RS until the very end of this decade at the earliest.

Justin Hilliard
Head of Editorial
Justin’s dad chose to miss his birth because he wanted to watch Peter Brock hopefully win Bathurst, so it figures Justin grew up to have a car obsession, too – and don’t worry, his dad did turn up in time after some stern words from his mum. That said, despite loving cars and writing, Justin chose to pursue career paths that didn’t lend themselves to automotive journalism, before eventually ending up working as a computer technician. But that car itch just couldn’t be scratched by his chipped Volkswagen Golf R (Mk7), so he finally decided to give into the inevitable and study a Master of Journalism at the same time. And even with the long odds, Justin was lucky enough to land a full-time job as a motoring journalist soon after graduating and the rest, as they say, is history. These days, Justin happily finds himself working at CarsGuide during the biggest period of change yet for the automotive industry, which is perhaps the most exciting part of all. In case you’re wondering, Justin begrudgingly sold the Golf R (sans chip) and still has plans to buy his dream car, an E46 BMW M3 coupe (manual, of course), but he is in desperate need of a second car space – or maybe a third.
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