MOTOR RIVALS

The all-new Ford Focus RS pioneers the innovative Ford Performance All-Wheel-Drive system, and delivers class-leading cornering speed, thrilling performance and unbridled driving enjoyment. The Focus RS also introduces advanced performance technologies, and is the first Ford RS equipped with selectable Drive Modes - including an industry-first Drift Mode - and Launch Control. With a 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine delivering in excess of 320 PS, the high-performance road car offers the most powerful Ford RS braking system ever. Through the years, RS models have consistently pioneered innovative performance technologies, from powerful naturally-aspirated and turbocharged powertrains and sophisticated aerodynamic aids to advanced front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive drivelines.

Power

• 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine shares its fundamental structure with the all-aluminum four-cylinder engine in the all-new Mustang.
• Delivers in excess of 320 PS
• Low-inertia twin-scroll turbocharger with larger compressor
• Bigger intercooler to maximize charge density
• Less restrictive intake design
• Large-bore high performance exhaust system with an electronically controlled valve in the tailpipe
• Significantly larger radiator pack - the biggest ever fitted to a Focus
• Maximum rev limit of 6,800 rpm
• Six-speed manual transmission - shorter gear lever and revised mechanism to deliver faster and more accurate shifts. Both the transmission and the clutch have been upgraded with stronger components to cope with the engine's increased torque output.
• AWD system is based on twin electronically-controlled clutch packs on each side of the rear drive unit - manages the car's front/rear torque split, and also can control the side-to-side torque distribution on the rear axle - delivering the "torque vectoring" capability
• A maximum of 70 per cent of the drive torque can be diverted to the rear axle. Up to 100 per cent of the available torque at the rear axle can be sent to each rear wheel.
• AWD system has been tuned to deliver exceptional grip - with lateral acceleration exceeding 1 g

Chassis

• Sports suspension with stiffer spring rates and more efficient bushes and anti-roll-bars than those found in the Focus ST,
• Two-mode switchable dampers - offer a firmer setting for track driving
• Electric power-assisted steering system
• Optimized front suspension knuckle design and shorter steering link arms
• Michelin high-performance 235/35 R19 tires
• Standard Pilot Super Sport tire
• Optional Pilot Sport Cup 2 tire
• Drag coefficient of 0.35
• Four different Drive Modes - Normal, Sport or Track settings - or a special Drift Mode.
• The Drift Mode features a specially developed calibration for the AWD system which modifies the torque distribution to help the driver achieve controlled oversteer drifts under circuit conditions.
• Launch Control - configures the vehicle's chassis and powertrain systems to deliver the fastest possible acceleration
• Performance Shift Light - alerts the driver when approaching the optimum upshift point of 5,900 rpm, and flashes if the engine hits the limit of 6,800 rpm.
• 350 mm ventilated front discs (up from 336 mm on the previous Focus RS) and lightweight aluminum Brembo four-piston monoblock calipers
• Brake cooling has been maximized through dedicated cooling ducts fed from the front fascia, twin "jet tunnels" in the underbody, and airflow guides on the lower suspension arms. The front discs feature aerodynamically optimized ventilation fins for enhanced cooling.

Technology

• Standard Bi-Xenon HID headlamps offer Adaptive Front Lighting - adjusts the intensity and angle of the headlamp beams according to vehicle speed, steering angle and distance to objects
• Optional Active City Stop automatic braking technology - operates at speeds of up to 50 km/h (31 mph)
• SYNC connectivity provides access to audio, navigation, climate control and mobile phones via voice control
• 8-inch color touchscreen
• Simple voice commands such as "Find a race track" enable RS owners to get instant directions to the nearest public circuit.
• Optional Rear View Camera with park distance control
• Sony premium sound system with 10-speakers including a subwoofer

The Volkswagen Golf R is an icon of four-wheel drive compact sports cars. The turbocharged engine produces 221 kW / 300 PS of power and transfers up to 380 Nm torque to the permanent 4MOTION four-wheel drive system via its standard 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DSG). The Golf R can be distinguished from the front by a new bumper design with exceptionally large air inlets, modified radiator grille (with "R" logo) and newly developed daytime running lights that are integrated into the housings of the bi-xenon headlights. From the side, the Golf R is characterized by newly designed 18-inch "Cadiz" alloy wheels with size 225/40 tires, black brake calipers with "R" logo, side sill panels in "R" style painted in body color, "R" badges on the front wings and "Matt chrome" door mirror caps. Rear details that define the look of the new Volkswagen Golf R include smoked LED rear lights with a distinctive light-colored stripe in the middle, diffuser in "R" design, four chrome tailpipes and an "R" logo on the boot lid. With a storage capacity of 605 liters, this Volkswagen offers an impressively large luggage area - even with five people on board.

Power

• Advanced four-cylinder engine of the EA888 series
• Power output of 221 kW / 300 PS (from 5,500 to 6,200 rpm)
• Maximum torque of 380 Newton meters from 1,800 to 5,500 rpm
• Turbocharged petrol direct injection engine
• Water-cooled exhaust gas routing through the cylinder head to the turbocharger
• Dual injection system with both direct injection and port injection
• Fully-electronic coolant control system - offers very efficient thermal management with a shorter warm-up phase, which also leads to reduced friction losses and lower fuel consumption.
• Variable valve timing with dual camshaft adjustment
• Valve lift on the exhaust side can be switched over two stages - enables optimal control of the charge exchange process for better performance, fuel economy and lower emissions.
• Permanent 4MOTION four-wheel drive - equipped with a Haldex 5 coupling, is activated even before any wheel starts to slip, eliminating, almost entirely, any loss of traction. Under low engine load conditions, or when coasting, the front axle is driven while the rear axle is decoupled. However, the rear axle of the Golf R can be variably engaged in fractions of a second whenever necessary. This is done by means of a Haldex coupling, which is activated by an electro-hydraulic oil pump. If necessary, nearly 100 per cent of the drive torque can be directed to the rear axle.
• Standard with a 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DSG) - permits manual shifting as an alternative
• Four electronic differential locks (EDL) integrated in the electronic stability control (ESC) act as transverse locks.
• 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) - 5.1 seconds (previous model: 5.7 s) with a manual gearbox
• 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) – 4.9 seconds (previous model: 5.7 s) with automatic dual clutch gearbox (DSG)
• Top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h

Chassis

• Equipped with XDS+ at the front and rear axles - brakes the wheels on the inside of a bend during fast cornering. In technical terms, XDS+ is a functional extension of the electronic differential locks.
• ESC Sport function as standard - activated by a two-stage switch on the center console.
• Sport suspension setup
• Ride height was lowered by 20 mm
• MacPherson-type front suspension (spring struts)
• Newly developed low wishbone and track-stabilizing scrub radius
• Multi-link rear suspension
• Newly developed progressive steering system as standard - drivers do not need to turn the steering wheel as much to turn a desired radius
• 2.1 turns of the wheel (380°) to reach the end stop
• Second generation of DCC dynamic chassis control as an option - offers the three driving modes 'Comfort', 'Normal' and 'Sport'. Adaptively controls the damper valves via a further developed and refined control algorithm for setting the damper characteristics.
• Driving Profile Selector is a standard feature of DCC - four programs are available, and five driving programs in conjunction with DCC: "Eco", "Normal", "Individual" and the special "Race".
• In front, the brake pistons have a diameter of 60 mm, while 42 mm pistons are used at the rear. The 30 mm thick brake discs of the front wheels have a diameter of 340 mm; the rear discs are 22 mm thick and 310 mm in diameter.

Technology

• Redesigned radio and radio/navigation systems
• All systems have a touchscreen as standard
• Three different display sizes: 5 inches, 5.8 inches and 8 inches
• Displays have proximity sensors (5.8-inch display and above) - as soon as the driver or front passenger moves a finger near to the touchscreen, the system automatically switches from display mode to input mode.
• Car-Net is offered for the VW Golf R in conjunction with the Discover Pro radio-navigation system and the "Premium" mobile phone interface - consists of a set of new mobile online services.
• Car-Net - integrates up-to-date traffic information into dynamic route guidance. Also integrates the 360-degree panoramic street perspective images of Google Street View.