Ford Focus RS Making Its Way to the US

Although we all know that launching high-performance hatchback models in the United States is an absolutely waste of money and time, but it may seem like the economic downturn changed a bit the way automakers think about cars. According to recent reports, Ford may bring the Focus RS, a sporty version of the popular Focus that was only sold in Europe, in the United States. The reason? Americans may like such a car after all, as Ford’s director of advanced product creation and global performance, Hermann Salenbauch, told Autonews.

Nevertheless, in case Americans will indeed receive the Focus RS, they won't do it until 2012 or even later, Salenbauch explained, as the US version of the car will be based on the next-generation Focus due in 2011. Moreover, this particular model would be only built locally, a plan that needs time, money and a bunch of other resources, he added.

Until then, Ford is seeking for feedback from both customers and media, Salenbauch stated, as they are only to give a final verdict on whether the Focus RS should be launched in the United States. "How much do they like it? Is it really what they want? We are pretty confident that it is," he said.

What's interesting is that a report that came out in early March claimed that the 2009 Ford Focus RS may be the last of its kind as the economic turmoil changed the market demand and pushed people towards more fuel-efficient models delivering less performance. However, taking into account today's news, it may seem like the the Focus RS may actually manage to get through the crisis.