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New Focus RS Delayed, Next-Gen Mondeo to Arrive Later This Year

Although Ford initially promised it would launch the new Focus RS in 2015, the brand's European president Stephen Odell recently told Autocar: "There's nothing to talk about. It’s great that we have a proud past with RS, and it’s clear it has acted as a halo product and a way of linking to our racing programmes, but for now there is nothing to say."
Ford Focus RS500 1 photo
Photo: Ford
It's a case of Ford higher-ups being fearful that the new Focus hot hatch would steal customers from the all-new Mustang, which will set foot on English soil at the beginning of 2015. The UK version of the 'Stang will come with right-hand drive and an engine range consisting of a new 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-pot with twin-scroll turbo, the mid-range V6 and the 5.0-liter Coyote V8 mill.

When Ford will eventually launch it, the all-new Focus RS will benefit from the same 2.3-liter turbo on the entry-level Mustang, expected to put out 330 horsepower. In the near future, Ford Europe will launch a 182 horsepower diesel variant of the less hot Focus ST, which will do the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) run in eight seconds flat.

Stephen Odell also confirmed that the next-gen Mondeo saloon will finally be launched in Europe at the end of 2014, after three long years of delay. This new Mondeo will be offered in top-of-the-range Vignale trim from 2015. Based on last year's Mondeo Vignale Concept, the premium model will offer greater comfort features than the Titanium trim level, targeting more tech-savvy customers.
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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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