"SINISTER" RS500 FOCUS: NOT FOR US CONSUMPTION

[Get the latest "Truth With Speedzzter" here]

Autoweek.com has an interesting article on the 345-horsepower Europe-only Focus RS500.

While the RS500 is hardly a Shelby GT500 or a Ford GT, it would be an interesting alternative to the WRC-bred Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Evo. But protectionist EPA and NHTSA regulations kill any "business case" for bringing the hottest production Focus to America.

Ford's push for EcoBoost technology may result in America receiving a less potent Focus RS, equipped with a 1.6 liter EcoBoost turbo mill. Whether it will be enough to get Ford back into the youth-oriented "pocket rocket tuner" game remains to be seen.

What's really sad is that Ford hasn't put together a small-than-Mustang, lightweight, simple, easy to work on (e.g. no transverse engine) and cheap RWD/AWD car for the youth market. While Truth With Speedzzter absolutely does not favor (but fears) another Mustang II, current conditions suggest that the addition of a sub-Mustang could be a "game changer" that expands Ford's share of the youth market.

The Kugel V8 Focus conversion kit suggests an easy, practical way to build a cost-effective RWD tuner car out of a production platform. Obviously a RWD Focus would likely have to use a smaller engine with more "power density" and would need to be a bit more refined that the Kugel conversion. But a simple, cheap RWD tuner-friendly subcompact would have instant appeal to many sports car lovers, drifters and import tuners. While Ford's FWDs are some of the best handling on the market, there simply is no substitute for RWD in a sporting car.