Ford_News
07-23-2010, 12:13 PM
Filed under: Hybrid (http://www.autoblog.com/category/hybrids/), Performance (http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/), Hatchback (http://www.autoblog.com/category/hatchbacks/), Ford (http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/), Rumormill (http://www.autoblog.com/category/rumormill/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/ford-focus-2071010125604901600x1060.jpg (http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?AR=251496)Despite driving only the front wheels, reviewers have heaped praise on the current Ford Focus RS's (http://www.autoblog.com/model/focus) handling and its ability to put 300 horsepower to the road thanks to some nifty suspension and driveline tricks. However, when the next-generation RS rolls into town (assuming that it becomes a reality) it may well have all-wheel-drive courtesy of an electric motor driving the rear axle.
According to Autocar, the proposed car would use a higher output version of the Blue Oval's 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder driving the front wheels and an electric motor at the rear. This would allow for both on-demand all-wheel-drive and electric-only drive at low speeds. If this plan proceeds, it would be Ford's (http://www.autoblog.com/make/ford/) first through-the-road hybrid, although French automaker Peugeot has firm plans to introduce at least two vehicles with a similar configuration in 2011.
Other alternatives reportedly being studied by Ford are an even higher output gasoline engine (sans motor assistance), or use of the next-generation power-split hybrid that debuts in 2012. However, both of these options would involve sticking with front-wheel-drive and could be problematic if Ford wants to surpass the output of the current RS.
[Source: AutoCar (http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?AR=251496)]Rumormill: Next Focus RS to get all-wheel drive with electric motors (http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/23/rumormill-next-focus-rs-to-get-all-wheel-drive-with-electric-mo/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com) on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).
Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/23/rumormill-next-focus-rs-to-get-all-wheel-drive-with-electric-mo/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19565584/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/23/rumormill-next-focus-rs-to-get-all-wheel-drive-with-electric-mo/#comments)
More... (http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/23/rumormill-next-focus-rs-to-get-all-wheel-drive-with-electric-mo/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/ford-focus-2071010125604901600x1060.jpg (http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?AR=251496)Despite driving only the front wheels, reviewers have heaped praise on the current Ford Focus RS's (http://www.autoblog.com/model/focus) handling and its ability to put 300 horsepower to the road thanks to some nifty suspension and driveline tricks. However, when the next-generation RS rolls into town (assuming that it becomes a reality) it may well have all-wheel-drive courtesy of an electric motor driving the rear axle.
According to Autocar, the proposed car would use a higher output version of the Blue Oval's 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder driving the front wheels and an electric motor at the rear. This would allow for both on-demand all-wheel-drive and electric-only drive at low speeds. If this plan proceeds, it would be Ford's (http://www.autoblog.com/make/ford/) first through-the-road hybrid, although French automaker Peugeot has firm plans to introduce at least two vehicles with a similar configuration in 2011.
Other alternatives reportedly being studied by Ford are an even higher output gasoline engine (sans motor assistance), or use of the next-generation power-split hybrid that debuts in 2012. However, both of these options would involve sticking with front-wheel-drive and could be problematic if Ford wants to surpass the output of the current RS.
[Source: AutoCar (http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?AR=251496)]Rumormill: Next Focus RS to get all-wheel drive with electric motors (http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/23/rumormill-next-focus-rs-to-get-all-wheel-drive-with-electric-mo/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com) on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).
Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/23/rumormill-next-focus-rs-to-get-all-wheel-drive-with-electric-mo/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19565584/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/23/rumormill-next-focus-rs-to-get-all-wheel-drive-with-electric-mo/#comments)
More... (http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/23/rumormill-next-focus-rs-to-get-all-wheel-drive-with-electric-mo/)