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Really good video and very interesting. Liked what Jos said about the four wheel drive option being slower and all the 'petrol heads' in the team opting for the front wheel drive layout.

Seems as if this car is going to be very special - I even like the colour! Looks good in the video.

" Liked what Jos said about the four wheel drive option being slower and all the 'petrol heads' in the team opting for the front wheel drive layout."

 Highly untrue. Only if the 4WD system they were going to use was sh%t. Which of course there was no need for it be, as Saab now use a fabulous Haldex system that would fit perfectly that car. Jos is telling half-truths here, carrying the company line.
 

boys boys, lets wait and see how the production version turns out.

judging by Steve's thinly veiled column about  a certain £25k hot hatch doing the ring in less than 8:20, it certainly seems that 4WD is not missed in performance terms.

is the Saab system excellent?  i don't see it being raved about in any performance mags.

jl4069:

Highly untrue. Only if the 4WD system they were going to use was sh%t. Which of course there was no need for it be, as Saab now use a fabulous Haldex system that would fit perfectly that car. Jos is telling half-truths here, carrying the company line.

I don't think any of us are in a position to really comment on whether someone is telling the truth, unless of course you work with Jos and know the product inside out. In this day and age of bigger and bigger engines with heavier and heavier cars, isn't it good that they feel they can build a great car using front wheel drive? After all it will save on weight and fuel - particularly good in today's market.

I have owned both an Escort Cosworth and a Focus RS and whilst I would say I preferred the Cosworth overall I was hugely impressed with the RS - the grip levels were insane and were actually better than the 4WD Cosworth. This new 'revo-knuckle' product sounds very intriguing and may be the solution to the providing great grip and power?

I want one!!

My head tells me it should be 4wd and a part of me thinks Ford have tried to develop this car on the cheap, BUT, Ford wouldn't risk developing a melon with too much power and not enough control. Let the Autocar boys get hold of it and tell us what its like, then we'll know.

Anyone got any views on expected price and produciton run?

I want one, want one, want one.

Well nearly every article I've read suggests it will be less than £25K and Ford are expecting to sell around 9,000 units, I think the RS model will be available to buy until the next generation focus which is going to be unveiled in 2010/11.

I really like it! Just as I like 280 bhp and 400 torques! Really sweet. I like the the performance, adore the looks and LOVE what you get for the money. The package so to say.
 I hope they don't *** it up though, it looks like a rally car and I hope it will therefore drive like one.

Just one problem, it is FWD and it's therefore gonna be faster, for a shorter time since the front tires are going to be ripped to shreds in a minute. 

lol true and those are 19" rims as well, so the tyres aren't going to be cheap, plus ST was thirsty enough... God only knows what milage you will get out of this!
 

 Yes great idea people, I will start a campain to have Subaru and Mitsubishi improve there

Evo and Sti by removing the 4WD!  And maybe we can have Jos design the chassis for them.

THE NEW RS AT LAST!!!

 Having loved my Focus RS more than my family (nothing wrong with my family), I finally gave in and got an Evo IX FQ340. It is amazing and I love it, even if it costs the world to run. But I will never forgive Mitsubishi for toning down the looks of the Evo X. Someone ought to tell them they will never tempt old men away from Porsche and BMW by making the spoiler smaller.

There is something special about hot hatches and even more so when it is a Fast Ford. That carisma is one thing the Evos and Subarus lack.

So the new RS. How long I have waited! I still keep every magazine that mentions the RS. I was slightly dissapointed to find out its not quite 300bhp and its not 4WD. But I do trust Jost Capito. They had to make sure it makes a profit, this time! But it would have been nice to see flared wheelarches (Renault managed it for the Clio 197). It would also have been nicer to see more interior changes, but hey, we cannot be picky. In these times, we are lucky we got the RS at all.

So now we have to wait to hear what its like to drive. Sure, it will probably not be as evil as an Evo, but if it comes even close, I  WANT ONE!!

But have I gone mad?? Could I really go from an Evo to an RS?? Please help!