What Is It?
Ford Focus RS8 Concept
What's Special About It?
Built to showcase Ford's newest aftermarket crate motor, the Focus RS8 combines the petite dimensions of Ford's smallest car with the awesome horsepower potential of its new all-alloy 5.0-liter crate engine. The result is a serious street sleeper that no Honda Civic dare come up on. Ford engineers modified the front and rear suspensions to fit the big V8 in addition to installing a heavy-duty five-speed transmission and racing clutch. They also converted it to rear-wheel drive, lowered it and slapped on a set of 18-inch wheels and tires to assure that it would be capable of coping with the 420 horsepower delivered by the lightweight V8. "With rear-wheel drive and over 400 horsepower, the Focus RS8 will make itself known at the drag strip and any road course," said Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology. "We're even going to take it drifting!" We don't expect that they'll have much trouble getting it sideways.
Why Should You Care?
With a price tag of around $15,000, Ford's new 5.0-liter V8 will be limited to only the most well-heeled enthusiasts' rides, but Ford claims that the idea behind the project wasn't to sell engines but to reshape the way sport compact cars are viewed in the performance world. The fact that Ford plans to offer a rear-wheel-drive conversion kit in its Ford Racing Performance Parts catalog proves that the RS8 is more than just a Detroit pipe dream — it's a recipe Focus enthusiasts should write down and study hard. — Ed Hellwig
Ford Focus RS8 Concept
What's Special About It?
Built to showcase Ford's newest aftermarket crate motor, the Focus RS8 combines the petite dimensions of Ford's smallest car with the awesome horsepower potential of its new all-alloy 5.0-liter crate engine. The result is a serious street sleeper that no Honda Civic dare come up on. Ford engineers modified the front and rear suspensions to fit the big V8 in addition to installing a heavy-duty five-speed transmission and racing clutch. They also converted it to rear-wheel drive, lowered it and slapped on a set of 18-inch wheels and tires to assure that it would be capable of coping with the 420 horsepower delivered by the lightweight V8. "With rear-wheel drive and over 400 horsepower, the Focus RS8 will make itself known at the drag strip and any road course," said Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology. "We're even going to take it drifting!" We don't expect that they'll have much trouble getting it sideways.
Why Should You Care?
With a price tag of around $15,000, Ford's new 5.0-liter V8 will be limited to only the most well-heeled enthusiasts' rides, but Ford claims that the idea behind the project wasn't to sell engines but to reshape the way sport compact cars are viewed in the performance world. The fact that Ford plans to offer a rear-wheel-drive conversion kit in its Ford Racing Performance Parts catalog proves that the RS8 is more than just a Detroit pipe dream — it's a recipe Focus enthusiasts should write down and study hard. — Ed Hellwig
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