COLOGNE, Germany, Dec. 11, 2014 – Ford today confirmed it will be launching an all-new Focus RS – the ultimate performance version of the world’s best-selling global nameplate.* The company announced that the all-new RS will be made available to customers in major markets around the world for the first time.
Ford also announced that the all-new Focus RS is one of more than 12 new performance vehicles coming for global enthusiasts through 2020. This is part of the company’s plan to deliver more performance vehicles, parts and accessories for customers around the world – more quickly – through a new global Ford Performance team.
“Ford remains committed to innovation through performance,” says Raj Nair, Ford’s group vice president, Global Product Development. “Through our global Ford Performance team that ties together racing, performance vehicles, and parts, we can more quickly bring to market products and accessories that meet the needs of customers around the world on-road and on the track.”
Focus RS, which builds on a pedigree of driving excellence dating back to the first Ford RS in 1968, was last introduced in 2009.
“To earn the RS badge, the vehicle has to be a no-compromise driver’s car that can deliver exceptional performance on the track when required while providing excellent every day driving,” Nair said.
In addition to pleasing enthusiasts, vehicles such as Focus RS help deliver the company’s One Ford plan for profitable growth, product excellence and innovation in every part of its business. Performance vehicle sales are growing around the world – with sales in Europe and the U.S. up by 14 percent and 70 percent respectively, since 2009.
Powering performance vehicles, such as the Fiesta ST and Focus ST, is Ford’s award-winning EcoBoost engine range. Since the introduction of the EcoBoost engine in 2009, Ford has produced more than 2 million EcoBoost engines globally.
“EcoBoost is a strong example of how we are migrating technology and engineering across our line-up, ensuring our vehicles are fun to drive – not just our Ford Performance line-up,” Nair said. “From our most nimble Fiesta to our hard-working full-size pickups and racing vehicles, our line-up benefits from the innovations we deliver at the track and at the limit.”
New global team
The new Ford Performance organisation unifies Team RS, Ford SVT, and Ford Racing globally, serving as an innovation laboratory and test-bed to create unique performance vehicles, parts, accessories and experiences for customers.
This includes developing innovations and technologies in aerodynamics, light-weighting, electronics, powertrain performance and fuel efficiency that can be applied more broadly to Ford’s product portfolio.
In addition to race tracks around the world, the team also will develop new vehicles and technologies at Ford’s engineering centres globally and at a new technical centre in Charlotte, North Carolina. This state-of-the-art facility helps the team deliver racing innovations as well as advancing tools for use in performance vehicles and daily drivers alike.
The Ford Performance organization is led by Dave Pericak, who has been appointed director, Global Ford Performance.
Heritage of Performance Innovation
Performance and racing are deeply embedded in Ford’s DNA, dating back 113 years ago when Henry Ford won the Sweepstakes Race against Alexander Winton – then America’s greatest racer.
Following a remarkable upset victory in front of Detroit’s business elite, some of whom immediately came forward to back whatever automotive venture Henry had in mind, Ford Motor Company opened 18 months later.
“Ford still races for the same reasons Henry Ford did in 1901 – to prove out our products and technologies against the very best in the world,” Nair said. “The Ford Performance team will continue to pursue performance innovation, ensuring we can deliver even more coveted performance cars, utilities and trucks to customers around the world.”
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* The Ford Focus is the best-selling vehicle nameplate in the world, based on Ford’s analysis of the latest Polk global vehicle registration data for 2013. Registrations of the Focus were up 8.1 per cent in 2013 with 1,097,618 cars sold worldwide compared to 1,014,965 in 2012, including 317,110 registrations in Europe last year * – 29 per cent of total registrations
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 189,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 50,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and approximately 69,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 24 manufacturing facilities (13 wholly owned or consolidated joint venture facilities and 11 unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.
