Article from Autocar:

Ford is rumoured to be considering a 350bhp, four-wheel-drive, six-cylinder turbocharged proposal for the next-generation Focus RS. Right now the Blue Oval’s executives at the company’s headquarters in Cologne, Germany are considering a plan to fit Ford’s new flagship hot hatch, due out in 2007, with a new turbocharged in-line six-cylinder engine.

The advanced powerplant has been developed by Volvo as a replacement for the Swedish car maker’s current six-cylinder engine, and is planned to make its debut in the new S80 due out next June.

Conceived for both transverse and longitudinal applications, the four-valve-per-cylinder unit is based around a die-cast aluminium cylinder block for an all-up weight of 180kg. It is also claimed to be 1mm shorter than Volvo’s five-cylinder engine – a feature that makes it suitable for a whole range of different models, including the new Focus RS.

Three different versions of the engine are planned: a base naturally aspirated 3.2-litre and a pair of performance-oriented turbocharged 3.0-litre units. The former receives variable cam timing (VCT) on the inlet valves, with the latter two adopting a system operating both the inlet and exhaust valves as well as a variable-vane Garrett turbocharger.

In 3.2-litre guise, the new six-cylinder produces 235bhp at 6000rpm along with 236lb ft of torque at 3500rpm – an increase of 38bhp and 26lb ft over Volvo’s current 2.9-litre engine. The turbocharged units deliver 285bhp and 295lb ft in light-pressure guise, with the high-pressure unit pumping out a BMW M3-beating 350bhp and 332lb ft.

It’s this latter specification that Ford’s Motorsport boss, Jost Capito, may use to thrust the Blue Oval back to the very top of the European hot-hatch ranks. If Ford’s plans come to fruition, the new RS will boast a whopping 133bhp and 96lb ft more than the upcoming Focus ST, whose turbocharged 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine generates 217bhp along with 236lb ft of torque.

Unlike the front-wheel-drive Focus ST, the new RS is being developed around new four-wheel-drive underpinnings. This promises to endow it with spectacular levels of grip and traction. One problem, however, is the lack of a suitable six-speed manual transmission for the new car. The gearbox in the Mondeo ST TDCi is rated to 295lb ft, although insiders say measures are being taken to upgrade it for use in performance-oriented Volvos.

Pics of the test mule from 4Car:

 

uh... is it wrong that i want one?

 

I saw the new Focus along with the Fiesta and the Mondeo when I was in Italy 2 weeks ago. I dont think it's wrong to want one at all. All of them look really good I just wish we could get those models over here......

 

No. It's not wrong.

But I also would wait for two years or so after the first car comes out so that all the possible tranny problem could be fixed before evening bothering with it. Ford not having any 6 spd tranny for a ~200+ HP car is one thing to consider. If they take one from volvo or some other car, it takes some time to actually fit it perfectly on this particular car (in terms of gearing for max power/torque/mileage, etc etc).

 

Ford is the biggest buch of dorks....... all their European models are hot, and they could easily be transported to the States, but nooooooo.

They want to figure out how to gain back lost market share? Start bringing these cars to the States.

 

I don't think the fact that there's not a suitable six-speed manual transmission in some Ford parts bin somewhere just yet, means that the car will have a 5-speed. Volvo uses 6-speed manual transmissions on pretty much all of their turbocharged cars. It would stand to reason that if the engine is being developed for use in Volvo vehicles, not just the Focus RS, then Volvo would probably have a 6-speed manual transmission in the works.

 

I don't suggest that they would use a 5spd. But it takes a year or two, for a suitable tranny to be actually transported over to another car, fixed all the gearing, etc, for it to run smoothly.

Concur to what others say, if ford wonders why their sales are dropping while imports are making a killing, they have their answers. Don't give us some puny ford focus when we could have a 4wd turbo focus. Come on.

 

Sounds kinda like the R32 golf.

 

Actually, there's an easy way for Ford here in the USA to get a really sporty version of the US-market Focus: use Mazdaspeed performance parts on the 2.3-liter I-4 engine. That will bump up horsepower into the 175-180 bhp (SAE) range and make the US-market Focus a really fun car to drive again.

 

Yeah, but the quality of their EU vehicles is far superior to their North American counterparts..... the U.S. spec Focus has been riddled with recalls and quality issues.