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Focus RS vs Escort RS

The buzz of anticipation that fills the air as the two Fords' engines fire is intense. Such excitement is usually reserved for supercars, not hatchbacks. Today's head-to-head is no or- dinary shoot-out, it's a battle for honours in the performance car hall of fame...

By Dan Strong

August 2002

The buzz of anticipation that fills the air as the two Fords' engines fire is intense. Such excitement is usually reserved for supercars, not hatchbacks. Today's head-to-head is no or- dinary shoot-out, it's a battle for honours in the performance car hall of fame...

While the new Focus RS has followed in the footsteps of the legendary Escort RS Cosworth, it's not happy living in the old-timer's shadow. Developed by a team under ex-Formula One engineer Jost Capito, our RS - the first right-hand-drive model to arrive in the UK - is one of the most complete drivers' cars Ford has ever built.

Inspired by the Focus World Rally Car, the ΂£19,995 RS's suspension settings and bodywork are virtually identical to those of the ΂£350,000 stage star. Its turbocharged engine produces 212bhp, and official figures suggest that it is capable of cracking the 0-60mph sprint in only 6.4 seconds.

While that might sound impressive, the car which stands in the way of the Focus is equally as accomplished. Built from 1992, the RS Cosworth, like the Focus RS, was born out of Ford's love of rallying. Despite Escort badging, it's based on a shortened Sierra 4x4 platform, giving 4WD traction for the 225bhp engine. With bespoke bodywork including flared wheelarches and a huge wing, it's still every inch the schoolboy's pin-up, despite its advancing years.

Choosing which to drive first is a difficult decision. But in the end it's the novelty of the Focus RS that tempts us most. At idle the engine runs smoothly, and although the steering and gearbox need a firm hand, the car has a solid feel. There's little vibration from the motor, and while the throaty exhaust can clearly be heard in the cabin, the system is far from intrusive. The five-speed gearbox is slick-shifting, its ratios neatly stacked. Straight-line performance is exhilarating, yet it's on twisting roads that the all-new RS really comes alive.

Steering gives laser-guided accuracy, and the chassis lifts the benchmark for front-wheel-drive cars to new heights. Grip is sensational, and so are the brakes, which not only offer tremendous stopping power but awesome levels of feel, too. Although the ride is firm, the suspension dismisses tricky bumps with ease. However, despite the Focus RS's supreme road manners, the driver's seat of the RS Cosworth is still calling... Priced from ΂£16,000, used examples are rare. Once behind the wheel, the link with the Focus is clear. Extra instrumentation has been fitted to measure oil pres-sure and turbo boost, and a smaller steering wheel and mirrors complete the changes. Start the engine, though, and things begin to feel very different. The four-pot Cosworth is hard-edged.

Nose out on to the road, and the Escort's huge turbo means the car is slow to respond to the throttle. When power arrives, it's delivered in a slug that forces the machine towards the horizon with Focus-beating force. Thesteering, by comparison, feels a little wooden. Although it is precise, the Cosworth cannot hope to match the inch-perfect Focus. And despite the advantage of four-wheel drive, the Es-cort is no faster out of corners. Apply the power too early, and it understeers readily. The Focus is more balanced, and while this is due in part to modern Michelin tyres, it is also thanks to the new model's competent chassis.

If you are a fan of fast Fords, getting behind the wheel of the Focus RS should be a priority. It's a worthy successor to the Escort, and technically better. That doesn't mean that the old-stager is any less appealing. Its wild bodywork and powerful engine bestow a character on the Cosworth that the Focus cannot match.

But ultimately we would not choose the Cosworth over the Focus - we think the latter is the better car here and a fast Ford to the very core!

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FIRST OPINION

    The Focus RS has got what it takes to hold its head high in exalted company, and proves quicker cross-country than even the mighty Escort Cosworth. It shows just how far technology has come in 10 years, and is the machine we would choose as the ultimate RS every time. We can't wait to see how it performs against contemporary rivals.
 

AT A GLANCE

    Focus RS on sale in October
    Expected to cost from £19,995
    Powered by 212bhp 4cyl turbo
    Unique bodywork and WRC-inspired suspension
     
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