The Ford Focus RS 2016 has been the most extensively track tested yet, with class leading performance stats to its name that has seen it one of the most pre-ordered hatches to date. However the story of the Focus RS extends far beyond the test track, and has seen engineers visit the blistering climates of Arizona, as well as the harsh, inhospitable lands within the Artic; documenting this journey, and providing you with a first-hand experience of the Focus RS’s development, this video series will move you from crash lab to design studio and let you in on the all-action, behind-the scenes story of how the hottest hatch of 2016 came to be.
Welcome to the Focus RS development video series: Welcome to the Rebirth of an Icon
Episode 1: Project kick-off
The Focus RS development video series begins with a debate between professional rally driver Ken Block and Executive Vice President and Chief Technical Officer of Ford Raj Nair as to what the Focus RS should bring to the market. Here they’ll open the doors for you and let you into one of the earliest Focus RS 2016’s prototypes.
Episode 2: Design and development
In the second in the Focus RS development video series you’ll be taken into the extreme world of crash testing, where the Focus RS undergoes the toughest of tests, and where invaluable feedback goes into developing the model further. Along the way you’ll hear about the reasons behind each of the main design elements and technical choices.
Episode 3: Hitting the road – A 1,600-kilometre, 1000 mile drive
In the third instalment you’ll take to some of the most imposing of terrains as the prototypes take to the dizzying heights of the Arizonian Mountains over the course of 1000 miles.
Episode 4: Test-track trials
Now we’re half way through the series this episode documents the test-track trials that helped so define this model’s technology and design. Here you’ll get exclusive access to Ford’s top secret test facility where serious track driving takes place.
Episode 5: Arctic extremes
The evolution of the RS 2016 was not a smooth journey, and in this episode we see more of the continual pressures placed upon the engineers and development team at Ford to improve performance. This instalment will show the team travelling to Sweden for some testing within the harshest of winter conditions.
Episode 6: Power struggle
This episode focuses in on the performance of the Focus RS as the clock counts down and as the manufacturing plant, in Saarlouis, Germany, shifts up a gear ready for production. Most specifically the team will be taking a look at the model’s launch control and acceleration performance.
Episode 7: Close scrutiny
As the sign off drive looms this video follows the closing process, and all is not as ‘almost finished’ at this stage as you would imagine as Raj feeds back to the team, amongst his issues is a spongy steering issue, that he says also feels off centre.
Episode 8: Final chapter
Finally we reach the last episode, and this video brings the series to a close with the all-important (and sincerely nerve wracking) management review.