2011 Ford Focus RS500 Overview

By Brad Anderson

Brad Anderson

Contributing Writer BIO

Brad has always had a keen eye for all things automotive, ever since his Dad regularly took him to local car events. As a young teenager, Brad... More

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806 views Jun 7, 2010

Ford Focus RS500

You know that you have created a very popular car when all 500 (hence the name) examples are sold out within 12 hours of being released. This is exactly what happened to Ford with the newly released Focus RS500. 12 hours! The 500 units of this hot hatch will only be offered in one color, that being matte black. How cool is that! There is no doubt that seeing this cruising down the street it would grab everyone’s attention. As for the performance figures this little beauty pumps out, wait for it, 345 horsepower. Yes, you heard correctly 345 horsepower and 340 pound-feet of torque from a front-wheel drive car. That is a massive 40 horsepower increase over the basic RS.

The standard RS has already been praised with many people regarding it as the best hot-hatch on the market, and this latest contribution into the hot-hatch market should be the dominant force and the driving force in this very popular segment. Hot hatches like this are all about the thrills and offering all the enjoyment without breaking the bank. Many reviewers believe that you can have just as much fun in a hot hatch as a supercar that costs five times as much. In the press release for the RS500 it states it "will provide definitive driving experience for serious performance car enthusiasts", and it probably will.

As a result of this car’s intense power it will rocket from 0-62 mph in only 5.6 seconds and it won't stop accelerating until it hits 164 mph. The 345 horsepower is available in all its glory at 6,000 rpm with the torque being delivered across a broad range from 2,500 rpm to 4,500 rpm. The RS500 is painted 'Panther Black' from the factory and then it is shipped to the 3M factory near Frankfurt where they apply the special foil film to give it that awesome matte black effect. To add to the stealthy and aggressive look of this car they have also added black 19 inch alloy wheels with sticky 235/35/R19 tires. To remind all the lucky owners that they own one of just 500 cars there is a special plate inside the cabin with the unique number.

The interior is sporty, sporty and sporty, with a little bit of sporty sprinkled on top. What can be sportier than red seats? That is what the RS500 has. Bright red seats. There is red stitching on the steering wheel, door trim, the gear lever gate and of course on the floor mats. However the bright red leather seats are an option which the customer can tick if that is what they desire. This car is simply incredible. From the performance to the exterior finish, this car is set to be a cult classic.