‘First Drive’ reviews & video’s 2016 Focus RS

Nog geen genoeg van de 2016 Focus RS reviews in welke vorm dan ook? Mooi, want we hebben er nog 3 voor je gevonden. Allereerst van de RS Owners Club, Steve Booker die een beroemd blogger schijnt te zijn en van eigen bodem Autoblog.nl

Op zoek naar ‘First Drive’ reviews van de 2016 Focus RS Persdagen, die hebben plaats gevonden in Valencia? Wij speuren ze op en plaatsen ze op deze pagina, makkelijk & overzichtelijk. Gezien het aantal reviews, posten we hier de meest bekende (of bijzondere) auto sites c.q. autobladen, ook omdat de reviews inhoudelijk erg op elkaar gaan lijken. Door deze pagina geregeld te bezoeken blijf je helemaal bij.

01-02-2016 | 2016 Ford Focus RS First Drive | RS Owners Club

01-02-2016 | 2016 Ford Focus RS First Drive | Steve Booker – Drifting Lessons with Ken Block. 

01-02-2016 | 2016 Ford Focus RS First Drive | Autoblog.nl

30-01-2016 | 2016 Ford Focus RS review & Drive | Motoring.com.au

‘Forget everything you thought you knew about hot hatches, because the Ford Focus RS does things that have never been done before. Powered by a 257kW/440Nm turbocharged engine and featuring a brilliant new AWD system, Ford’s new hero hatch makes you feel like a driving deity. Arriving in Australia mid-2016 for $50,990 (plus on-rod costs), the Focus RS sets a new benchmark in the hot hatch genre.
Yep, it’s off chops.

‘After an hour of hard driving, I’m sold. I want this car, Now.

This isn’t just a great hot hatch, it’s one of the best performance cars yet. You can read about how the AWD techno-wizardry and rear-wheel torque vectoring works in our Ford Focus RS tech piece, suffice to say it’s to hot hatches what salt is to caramel.

Driving on public roads, the Ford Focus RS is so utterly progressive in the way it motivates, and especially the way it corners, that driving it fast – blisteringly fast – comes naturally. The way the car blasts out of corners is so very, very different to any of its rivals and this is what makes it so compelling.

And get this, one Ford Performance engineer told us the car can “theoretically” shunt up to 100 per cent torque to the rear axle, not 70 per cent as previously stated. And I believe it.

Communication through the steering wheel is excellent and grip levels from the 235/35 ZR19 Michelin Pilot Super Sports is excellent yet there’s enough power – and virtually no turbo lag – from the brawny 2.3-litre engine to encourage gradual oversteer.’

Ford Focus RS Drift Mode tested
Ford Focus RS sold out
Ford Focus RS 2016 track test

Read the complete review here | Lees het complete artikel

27-01-2016 | Autovisie.nl rij-impressie 2016 Focus RS door Peter Hilhorst:

Nederlandse pers maakt kennis met de Launchcontrole & Driftmode van de 2016 Ford Focus RS, met dank aan Ford NL.

26-01-2016 AWD Fun:

26-01-2016 Ken Block shares his thoughts on the new Focus RS from the media launch in Valencia, Spain:

25-01-2016 | 2016 Ford Focus RS review & Drive | Jalopnik.com

‘The Ford Focus RS Lets You Switch Off All Of Its Electric Nannies Completely

In Europe, the 2016 Ford Focus RS produces 324 foot pounds of torque, according to the government. In reality, it
gives you the full 350 all the time and will light up its tires mid-corner have you decided to switch off the
traction control. But you can, and that’s important.

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Ford says they bisected dissected all other competing hot hatches, only to find that their systems remains active in
the background to cut back on the performance even when a light on your dash states otherwise.

That’s not the case with the RS. After all, this is a street car with a drift mode as standard. Nuts!
Put a half-cage in it, go rallying.

It’s very good!’

Jalopnik - got A Ticket In The 2016 Ford Focus RS

Jalopnik – got A Ticket In The 2016 Ford Focus RS

Jalopnik - got A Ticket In The 2016 Ford Focus RS

Jalopnik – got A Ticket In The 2016 Ford Focus RS

I Got A Ticket In The 2016 Ford Focus RS And It’s Bill Caswell’s Fault!

Source | Bron | jalopnik.com

2016 Focus RS Valencia

2016 Focus RS Valencia

25-01-2016 | 2016 Ford Focus RS review & Drive | Autoweek.nl

‘PRET VOOR TIEN

De aanlooptijd naar de nieuwe Focus RS is erg lang geweest. Het risico bestaat dan dat de verwachtingen zo hoog oplopen dat de auto alleen nog maar kan tegenvallen. Maar met 350 pk, vierwielaandrijving en een speciale Drift Mode lijkt de RS weinig reden te hebben om hoge verwachtingen te vrezen.

De vorige Focus RS ging de boeken in als een van de meest spectaculaire hot hatches waar we ooit mee reden. Hoe ga je dat overtreffen? Volgens Ford kun je dan kennelijk het beste een auto bouwen die in zo’n beetje alles anders is dan z’n voorganger. Geen vijfcilinder meer, geen voorwielaandrijving met Revoknuckle en sperdiffernetieel meer. In plaats daarvan een 350 pk sterke, 2,3-liter grote viercilinder benzinemotor met giga-turbo en vierwielaandrijving. En niet zomaar vierwielaandrijving, maar een speciaal voor de RS ontwikkeld systeem dat maximaal 70 procent van de kracht naar de achteras stuurt en het daar vrijelijk kan verdelen over de twee achterwielen. Afhankelijk van de setting die je kiest, kan het systeem je dus helpen om het vermogen zo vloeiend mogelijk op de weg te krijgen, of juist een rokende glijpartij veroorzaken. Zeker in de speciale Drift Mode, belooft Ford.’

Enkele quotes uit deze video van Martin Gorter van Autoweek:

‘Het C segment is het overtroffen. Andere auto’s komen niet eens in de buurt. Geniaal rijijzer, hij is briljant!

Adrenalinemachine

Ze hebben geen woord gelogen, want wat blijkt de RS een enorme adrenalinemachine. Zet het ESP in z’n meest liberale setting en de Drift Mode aan en je kunt met een stamp op het gaspedaal de achterkant doen uitbreken. Goed, voor ellenlange powerslides heb je wat ruimte nodig, maar de RS is als geen andere hot hatch met het gas te sturen. Maar het kan ook helemaal anders. Zet de Track Mode aan en de dempers in hun hardste stand en alle systemen gaan juist aan de slag om de auto zo snel en hard mogelijk een bocht te laten ronden. De verschillende standen hebben merkbaar effect en de vierwielaandrijving is duidelijk van een heel ander, beter kaliber dan de Haldex-systemen van de RS3 of A45. En toch, ondanks het feit dat er een regiment aan hulpsystemen voor je klaarstaat, geeft de Focus je het gevoel dat JIJ degene bent die alles in goede banen leidt. Een perfect genomen bocht of een lompe powerslide: jij was het die het in de hand had. Dat maakt de Focus RS een aantrekkelijker rijdersauto dan de meeste concurrenten.’

Meer lezen over de Ford Focus RS? In AutoWeek nummer 5, die vanaf 3 februari in de winkel ligt, lees je de volledige eerste rijtest

CarThrottle Chief Editor - Alex Kersten

CarThrottle Chief Editor – Alex Kersten

24-01-2016 | 2016 Ford Focus RS review & Drive | CarThrottle.com

Omdat deze 2 video’s meer dan genoeg zeggen over het enthousiasme voor de 2016 Focus RS van Alex Kersten ‘Chief Editor’ bij CarThrottle (zie screendump hier boven),  dit keer geen review om te lezen. Wil je toch lezen wat hij er over geschreven heeft, klik je op de link onder dit artikel.

In de 2e video stelt hij Ken Block enkele en soms maffe vragen, bekijk de hilarische beelden, ze zijn de moeite waard.

My Awkward Interview With Ken Block:

Read the complete review here | Lees het complete artikel

2016 Germany Focus RS

2016 Germany Focus RS

24-01-2016 | 2016 Ford Focus RS review & Drive | PistonHeads.com

Hungry for even more Focus RS geekery? Here’s the inside line from programme manager Tyrone Johnson

“If Ford Performance Vehicle Engineering Manager Tyrone Johnson has any concerns about rival products to the Focus RS he and his team have just created they wouldn’t appear to keep him awake at night. PR-briefed senior engineers are typically reluctant to discuss alternatives in the market but Johnson’s ‘bring

He’s confident of his product, that’s for sure!
There are some seriously talented cars facing the RS though. Surely stuff like the new Civic Type R must be a concern? “Understeers,” he says, grinning. OK. What about the all-wheel drive stuff like the A45 AMG? “We bought one. Boring.” RS3? “Boring.” Megane Renaultsport? A momentary pause. “Still understeers,” he grins.

“The AMG engine is good, so is the RS3’s,” he concedes, admitting he hasn’t yet tried the updated 381hp A45. Of the current rivals only the SEAT Leon Cupra gets even a flicker of acknowledgement, Johnson saying its price, pace and VAQ ‘diff’ put it on the radar. Even if the inherent limitations of being front-driven mean, yes, it understeers. So what did inspire them? “We were looking at the Subaru and Evo as our objectives when we set out but we stopped. Boring! The only one we all came back to was the Escort RS, which is unusual – typically it’s a modern car we benchmark.”

Read the complete review here | Lees het complete artikel

PistonHeads heeft meerdere 2016 Focus RS items die wellicht ook interessant voor je kunnen zijn:

PistonHeads meets Ken Block | PistonHeads Review 2016 Focus RS | PistonHeads 2016 Focus RS feiten | GKN levert AWD systeem 2016 Focus RS

Ken Block Media Drive 2016 Focus RS

Ken Block Media Drive 2016 Focus RS

22-01-2016 | 2016 Ford Focus RS review & Drive | WhatCar.co.uk – video gelijk aan Autocar!

“What’s the 2016 Ford Focus RS like to drive?

The ride is certainly firm: more so than the VW Golf R if a touch more comfortable than a Honda Civic Type-R. Even in the more focused of the two damper settings (which you can toggle between independently of the four driving modes), it’s seldom harsh, maintaining its handling composure even over mid-corner ruts and bumps, so anybody looking at this level of hot hatch is likely to be more than happy with comfort levels. The only aspect that could get tiresome over longer journeys in the RS is the way it bobs about over undulating or rippled roads, although this is less noticeable at high speeds.

The car’s handling is direct, but still quite fluent, stable and forgiving. Ford’s decision to replace the Focus ST’s variable-ratio steering rack with a simpler fixed-ratio one pays off, making the front axle feel trustworthy, as well as incisive.

Body roll is negligible even during hard cornering, and the car changes direction with a keenness that escapes all but the most hardcore of fast hatchbacks – but with dependable, hefty steering weight and feedback, too. Handling balance as you accelerate through a bend is exceptional, with the car’s clutch-based rear differential sending power exactly where it’s needed to steer the car in and drive it forwards.

The whole experience is actually a really playful one. It caters for those who like monstrous grip levels and tirelessly neutral, grippy cornering while the track-focused settings bring a more adjustable, remarkably sports car like handling character that really sets the RS apart from most of its rivals.”

Read the complete review here | Lees het complete artikel

Media Drive 2016 Focus RS

Media Drive 2016 Focus RS

21-01-2016 | 2016 Ford Focus RS review & Drive |  Sunmotors.co.uk

“IF I can give you one little piece of advice this week it is this … STAY AWAY from this car.
Why? Because it will cause you nothing but trouble.
You’ll drive it so hard you’ll be forever mopping up sick from the back seats.
You’ll fill it up so often your local Esso girl will think you’re stalking her.
And you’ll lose your licence before your next birthday. Guaranteed.”

“But I will tell you this — it goes like s**t off a shovel and sticks to mountain roads like glue.
So much so my snapper went all Chris Evans on me and recycled his breakfast after ten minutes.
I was getting just 11mpg at that point, hence your daily trips to Esso. But, trust me, you’ll never
be late ever again.”

“Ford UK boss Andy Barratt said: “It’s a sound investment. Well, that’s what I’ll tell my wife.”

Read the complete review here | Lees het complete artikel

Media Drive 2016 Focus RS

Media Drive 2016 Focus RS

20-01-2016 | 2016 Ford Focus RS review & Drive |  Autotrader.co.uk

“Should I get one?
The prospect of a £30k hatchback doesn’t instantly scream good value, but when you consider the depth of engineering excellence you get for your money, it feels like Ford is giving this thing away. You’ll also be hard-pushed to find another car that provides this much horsepower for so little cash.

Granted, you’ll gobble through unleaded at a fairly alarming rate, and getting insurance cover will be an insurmountable barrier for a lot of younger drivers. However, the four-wheel drive means the RS will be a little easier on tyres than its front-drive predecessor was, and maintenance costs will be low compared with other cars that offer this much performance. What’s more, the resale values are likely to be rock-solid – previous-generation examples of the Focus RS are still commanding very strong money now – so you can even feel safe in the knowledge that this less-than-sensible car is, ironically, actually quite a sensible financial investment.

Is it the best hyper-hatch on sale? Well, it’s impossible to say conclusively until we’ve had a chance to drive the RS alongside its key rivals. Rest assured, though, we’re very much looking forward to finding out.”

Read the complete review here | Lees het complete artikel

Media Drive 2016 Focus RS

Media Drive 2016 Focus RS

19-01-2016 | 2016 Ford Focus RS review | Autogids.be

“Ford Focus RS 2016, schot in de roos

De Focus RS ‘3’ verandert van filosofie en schakelt over op vierwielaandrijving, maar in een vorm die hem even speels maakt als een achterwielaandrijver. Zelden gezien. We konden hem al ervaren als passagier, maar deze keer mochten we zelf achter het stuur kruipen. En we werden zeker niet teleurgesteld. Maak kennis met de nieuwe Ford Focus RS.

ONS VERDICT

De Focus RS is een echte revelatie. Zijn nieuwe vierwielaandrijving geeft hem een rijplezier dat nog ongezien was tot op vandaag, met een ongelooflijk gebruiksgemak. Kortom, de Focus RS werpt zich weer op als referentie in zijn categorie, vooral wat de verhouding tussen de prijs en het plezier betreft.”

Read the complete review here | Lees het complete artikel

Media Drive 2016 RS - Special guest Ken Block

Media Drive 2016 Ford Focus RS – Special guest Ken Block

18-01-2016 | 2016 Ford Focus RS review | Autocar.co.uk

“Fast, usable, temptingly priced and huge fun to drive, the new Focus RS isn’t just the affordable driver’s car of the moment, it’s also probably the best.

Should I buy one?:
Yes, absolutely – even if you’ve only got a casual, occasional history of hot hatchback ownership and you have to
raid the piggy bank and wait a year to do it. Plenty won’t have to stretch the purse strings too far for this car,
of course, and the pent-up demand for it should keep residual values high – which is partly why it’s such a
commendable buy.”

Read the complete review here | Lees het complete artikel

Media Drive 2016 Focus RS

Media Drive 2016 Ford Focus RS

18-01-2016 |  2016 Ford Focus RS review | AutoExpress.co.uk

“A launch control function holds revs at exactly the right point for the fastest getaways, while the slick and precise six-speed manual gearbox allows you to extract every last ounce of performance. Better still, the engine emits a sporty growl that increases in volume and intensity as the revs rise, while lifting off the throttle when in Sport mode results in a barrage of pops and bangs from the exhaust.

When you’re not playing the hooligan, the RS is capable of covering ground as fast, if not faster, than many supercars. The combination of compact dimensions, scorching acceleration and balanced, grippy handling allows the car to fly along twisting back roads. Body control is excellent – although Sport mode, which stiffens the dampers by 40 per cent, feels unrelentingly firm even on a smooth track.”

Read the complete review here | Lees het complete artikel

Media Drive 2016 Focus RS

Media Drive 2016 Ford Focus RS

18-01-2016 | 2016 Ford Focus RS review | Automobilemag.com

“In this environment the all-wheel-drive system’s ability to give you options is the star of the show, but the engine does find its voice in Sport and Track modes, crackling and thudding on the overrun and with a hard-edged bark as it spins towards the limiter. I can’t help thinking it should feel more extreme, though. It’s a quick car but doesn’t feel bursting with performance like an A45 AMG, for example. The four-piston monoblock Brembo brake setup doesn’t feel quite as impressive as I’d expected either, the pedal lacking that solid pedal feel of the best setups and with a slightly long travel. It should be said these were pre-production cars, so perhaps that will improve by the time cars hit U.S. soil.

And Drift mode? Essentially it sends as much power as possible to the outside rear wheel to create oversteer and then equalizes the torque between the rear wheels to maintain the slide. On the skidpad it’s great fun, quickly settling into big, smoky slides but still retaining an all-wheel-drive feel. It hardly requires any steering correction at all. On the road or a normal racetrack? I suspect it’ll feel a bit artificial and gimmicky.

But hey, it’s the only gimmick on this car and the team behind it has really done a remarkable job otherwise. A uniquely tuned all-wheel-drive system, strengthened shell and chassis, new electronic power-assisted steering with a faster, linear-geared rack, better aerodynamics, cooling and shot through with a dynamic quality so far beyond the ST, it unquestionably lives up to the RS billing. The 2016 Ford Focus RS has been a long time coming to the U.S., but we welcome it with open arms.”

Read the complete review here | Lees het complete artikel

Media Drive 2016 Ford Focus RS

Media Drive 2016 Ford Focus RS

18-01-2016 | 2016 Ford Focus RS review | Carmagazine.co.uk

“What’s the new Focus RS like on the road?

Enormously impressive. It’s tricky to get anywhere near the car’s limits (assuming you haven’t prodded the ‘Drift’ button, at any rate), but you can certainly feel the rear axle at work; it doesn’t feel like a front-wheel-drive car at all – which is a triumph, and immediately makes the RS stand out in a sector already populated with so much exciting machinery.

As you’d expect of a fast Ford, the control weights are beautifully judged, too. Including the super accurate steering, which leads a front end that’s as pointy as the Fiesta ST and benefits from a specially develop fixed-ratio rack. The downside, also in-keeping with fast Ford tradition, is that the turning circle is rubbish. Unless you’re doing a donut. Obviously.

Ride quality is on the firm side of acceptable, even with the two-stage dampers set to their most compliant ‘Normal’ setting – no wonder the firmer setting is only activated by default in Track mode (you can access it at any time via a button on the end of the indicator stalk). But while it’s noticeably less comfortable than the Golf R, the RS manages to avoid feeling unsettled or unpredictable on bumpier roads, another trick it carries over from the Fiesta ST. Simply put, it’s stonking…”

Read the complete review here | Lees het complete artikel

Media Drive 2016 Ford Focus RS

Media Drive 2016 Ford Focus RS

18-01-2016 | 2016 Ford Focus RS review | TopGear.com

“So even I can drift like Mr Block?

Yep, given the space and sufficient commitment from your right foot. It all starts with a revolutionary four-wheel drive system, developed by a company called GKN. It uses a pair of electronically-controlled clutch packs either side of a rear drive unit to manage the front/rear torque split – sending up to 70 per cent to the back – and channeling up to 100 per cent of that rear torque to the left or right wheel. By comparison, the Golf R’s Haldex system can only send 50 per cent of the torque to the rear and distributes it by braking the inside discs.

In drift mode it forces maximum grunt to the rear, but softens off the dampers to allow more movement, unlocking enormously-satisfying and controllable power oversteer. The system constantly monitors you, too, so if it senses you’re not applying lock quickly enough for the speed of rotation at the rear, the ESC will step in. If you are, then it lets the drift angle increase. Alternatively you can switch everything off, take a deep breath and leave the judgement up to your eyes and feet.

It’s a magical sensation, because unlike powerful rear-wheel drive cars, where the rear has a penchant for overtaking the front, the RS’ front tyres aren’t merely a static rotation point, they use that 30 per cent of torque to keep things moving forward, letting you hang the tail out, fear-free.”

Read the complete review here | Lees het complete artikel

Media Drive 2016 Ford Focus RS

Media Drive 2016 Ford Focus RS

18-01-2016 | 2016 Ford Focus RS review | Evo.co.uk

“The Brembo brakes offer very strong stopping power with a pedal that’s easy to modulate. Even as the system temperatures soared on mountain roads braking performance was sustained.

In track mode, with the dampers in their stiffer setting, the RS feels agile and well controlled on circuit, too. Naturally it’s at its best on the Cup 2 tyres, which give the car enormous turn-in and mid-corner grip. The four-wheel drive system, combined with those sticky tyres, enables the driver to get on the power incredibly early to slingshot up the next straight.

The Drift mode may seem gimmicky, but if you can find a suitably understanding set of trackday marshals it is terrific fun. The key is to the car understeering slightly on entry before standing hard on the power. The car then breaks into a big, sweeping arc of a drift, front wheels pointed straight right up until the end of the slide, at which point you do need to dial in some corrective lock.

It’s completely different to a rear-wheel drive powerslide because there’s no need to modulate the throttle, steering inputs aren’t so critical and the pivot point seems to be 20 or 30 metres in front of the car rather than at the car’s centre point.”

Read the complete review here | Lees het complete artikel

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