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RS badge coming to a crossover near you?


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The linked article might not have the specifics correct, but the premise is solid. Ford have stated publicly that they see "performance" as a growth sector and part of core business, and that they have plans in place to pursue that growth opportunity:

 

 

 

Ford still expects that its 2018 financials will rise, and be higher than the $10.4 billion it earned in 2016. It expects that rise will come thanks to increases in its core business, Shanks said.

"We think we can do more with trucks, we think we can do more with utility vehicles, we can do more with performance and we've got plans in place to do that," he said.

 

http://www.autonews.com/article/20170323/OEM01/170329921/ford-sees-lower-2017-profits-with-most-of-the-hit-in-q1

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I'm suprised we haven't seen a hi Po Escape, even a ST model.

That sort of product hasn't been on the radar until recently but thanks to the impressive

gains is sport Titanium and Vignale sales achieved in Europelastyear,I'dsay that Ford

is probably ready to pull the trigger...

 

IMO, a 2.3 Escape ST would make an excellent addition to the range.

Edited by jpd80
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I'd be all over an Escape ST with the 2.3 eco and 6 spd manual from the focus. We've been considering a Focus ST for my wife but it's just not quite big enough with the kids and and associated stuff they're always dragging with them. An Escape might just be big enough.

 

Personally we don't really care about ride height and track / cornering ability since it'd be a family car, but gobs of power and a manual trans (yes, my wife loves them too) are always welcome.

Edited by Sevensecondsuv
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Personally we don't really care about ride height and track / cornering ability since it'd be a family car, but gobs of power and a manual trans (yes, my wife loves them too) are always welcome.

 

But those things - track, handling, cornering etc are exactly what makes RS RS. If it doesn't have those things, it's not an RS IMO.

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You never heard of the Focus RS?

Nope... not a lot of focuses (foci?) in Alaska.... Now if Ford could come out with an AWD version... I think that would pretty popular. Sure crossovers are the big thing now, but the Escape is such a price jump over the Focus that I feel the Focus could still do well.

 

The Challenger believe it or not is really popular up here... and I predict the AWD version will be a big seller. I realize they're totally different segments but the addition of AWD makes both of these not just viable but actually a great choice up north

Edited by probowler
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So I imagine they're going to drop the ride height and have to overcome the tall-box CoG issues, perhaps wider tracks, but seriously? Surely a hot hatch, in most circumstances, will ride and handle better than a tall box CUV...

 

Sure, but they already have a Focus ST and RS and people in the states want CUVs. Wider tires, stiffer suspension, slightly lower ride height, a lot of hp and torque vectoring AWD with sportier sheet metal is a winning recipe.

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Some vIsual Blue Oval RS history for you

attachicon.gifFord_RS_History_800.jpg

 

Edit found a better picture

 

Those are some handsome cars... That Capri turbo reminds me of those ugly old beater porches (The Capri gets a pass because it's not a Porsche) The Sierras kind of remind me of like an older Lancer... which I suppose makes sense since these are supposed to be performance oriented. People ever rally these things?

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Nope... not a lot of focuses (foci?) in Alaska.... Now if Ford could come out with an AWD version... I think that would pretty popular. Sure crossovers are the big thing now, but the Escape is such a price jump over the Focus that I feel the Focus could still do well.

 

The Challenger believe it or not is really popular up here... and I predict the AWD version will be a big seller. I realize they're totally different segments but the addition of AWD makes both of these not just viable but actually a great choice up north

Dude, do live under a rock up there? Focus RS is AWD.
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But those things - track, handling, cornering etc are exactly what makes RS RS. If it doesn't have those things, it's not an RS IMO.

 

 

The Current Escape handles just as well as the Focus does (Well from what I remember when I drove one)

 

The 2.0L Escape FWD can spin the tires no problem. I haven't done it in my Wifes AWD Escape though. Never drove the 2.3L equipped MKC either.

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The Current Escape handles just as well as the Focus does (Well from what I remember when I drove one)

 

The 2.0L Escape FWD can spin the tires no problem. I haven't done it in my Wifes AWD Escape though. Never drove the 2.3L equipped MKC either.

 

We owned both at the same time. The Escape is a bit top heavy compared to the Focus but it does handle pretty well. A RS version would be lower with a stiffer suspension.

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Those are some handsome cars... That Capri turbo reminds me of those ugly old beater porches (The Capri gets a pass because it's not a Porsche) The Sierras kind of remind me of like an older Lancer... which I suppose makes sense since these are supposed to be performance oriented. People ever rally these things?

 

Some Ford Rallye Sport history for you to read probowler http://www.rsownersclub.co.uk/car_info/

 

Small bit from the link "Ford In Motorsport Like many of the RS models which followed, the RS1600 (and its close relation, the single-cam engined RS2000) found worldwide success in races and rallies such as the East African Safari rally of 1972, three RAC rallies, and the European Touring Car Championship of 1974. Ford Capri RS2600 and RS3100 models were not only high-powered flagship versions of Ford's best-selling coupe range but they also won scores of races including the European Touring car Championships of 1971 and 1972. In the late 1970s the uniquely-styled quad-headlamp RS2000 became the best-selling RS model of all time. Escort RS1800s won more rallies than any other British car, won the World Rally Championship for Makes in 1979, and provided power for both Bjorn Waldegard (1979) and Ari Vatanen (1981) to win the Drivers' titles"

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Nope... not a lot of focuses (foci?) in Alaska.... Now if Ford could come out with an AWD version... I think that would pretty popular. Sure crossovers are the big thing now, but the Escape is such a price jump over the Focus that I feel the Focus could still do well.

 

The Challenger believe it or not is really popular up here... and I predict the AWD version will be a big seller. I realize they're totally different segments but the addition of AWD makes both of these not just viable but actually a great choice up north

The newest RS has an AWD system. A pretty good one at that. Ford started from scratch on it.

 

(These guys are a little annoying, but it shows the power compared to the mustang GT)

 

https://youtu.be/lsjwpSYojlY

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