Sneak preview of the new Ford Focus

Ford shows their new rally car bit by bit.
I'll try to keep you updated in this thread.

http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/330359200303191639_WRC03sneak1.jpg

OMG...thats driving me nuts...
Brian

New picture up... and two more days until the entire car is revealed.

http://www.fordrallyesport.com/upload/imagelibrary/320/200303211556_WRC03sneak7.jpg

And here is todays picture...

http://www.fordrallyesport.com/upload/imagelibrary/320/200303211554_WRC03sneak9.jpg

It looks like it could be interesting...
Does anyone think it could look anything like this one seen in testing?
http://www.pl11racing.com/rallies/2003/especial/testford/fotos/1.jpg

That wing looks like it could be similar, although the front looks like it may be completely different....

Wondering.....

The wing seems to be having fins like on WRC3 pugs and 03 Scoobies.

Originally posted by ales
The wing seems to be having fins like on WRC3 pugs and 03 Scoobies.

Hence the 'similar' comment ;)

Did you notice the car photographed in testing and the one in the 'release' photos bear the same registration on the front.....coincidence?

Originally posted by freakray



Did you notice the car photographed in testing and the one in the 'release' photos bear the same registration on the front.....coincidence?

Didn't notice until you wrote it, then I guess we sort of already know what the new Focus will look like...

In Ray's photo it looks like the front bumper is covered in tape or something. Perhaps covering up the aerodynamic bits seen in the first "bit" shot.

If so, that means we're not really in for many surprises come launch day. We've already seen part of the new bumper, the new bonnet and rear wing. That looks like the limit of the visual differnences.

Originally posted by RallyRaider
In Ray's photo.....

Actually, I got that photo from the link Alex posted in his thread here:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t81558.html

Posted a while ago now, but I recognised some of the features from the 'sneak peeks':D

Originally posted by freakray


Hence the 'similar' comment ;)


Yes indeed, but I also don't see the fins on the test car ;) That's what I kind of meant.

Originally posted by freakray



Did you notice the car photographed in testing and the one in the 'release' photos bear the same registration on the front.....coincidence?

Of course I noticed! ;)

And here comes next picture.

http://www.fordrallyesport.com/upload/imagelibrary/320/200303211555_WRC03sneak8.jpg

And here it is, the final picture. And I have to say, that the new car isn't a beauty...

http://www.fordrallyesport.com/upload/imagelibrary/320/200303251629_FordFocusRSWRC03b.jpg

What were they thinking :confused:

I'm a Focus fan through and through, but that doesn't stop me recognising the fact that this new car is just ugleeee :apuke: Ford claim greater aerodynamic efficiency, but that front spoiler looks about as aerodynamically efficient as a brick wall.

As long as it produces good results it doesn't matter what it looks like.

We've been giving you exclusive sneak previews since last week, but today, the stunning new Ford Focus RS WRC 03, the most technically advanced and revolutionary rally car ever, has been unveiled.


Well, we'll see that in the rally of New Zealand.
What good is a car when your drivers are not able to get the maximum out of it.

Originally posted by Marco_Wrc


What good is a car when your drivers are not able to get the maximum out of it.

:cwn27: :hehehe: :lol2: :thumbup:


That is one of the best statements I have seen....Well said!!

Originally posted by Marco_Wrc


Well, we'll see that in the rally of New Zealand.
What good is a car when your drivers are not able to get the maximum out of it.

I would not underestimate the abilities of Belgian young gun Duval ...

But when succesfull rally cars need to look aggressive - I guess they must have thought that at Ford - then the new Focus will be good. It looks very wild and aggressive to me

Don't get me wrong, I certainly do not underestimate the drivers running for Ford at current.
In fact, I hope Markko Märtin is a future world champion, but.... until that time there's a lot of work to do for Duval and Märtin.

Originally posted by Marco_Wrc
Well, we'll see that in the rally of New Zealand.
What good is a car when your drivers are not able to get the maximum out of it.

I would say that Ford were planning for the future when they chose Martin and Duval over Sainz and McRae. Neither of them have the experience to take points from the top runners like Gronholm and Makkinen, but they'll certainly be snapping at their heels ready to steal points when the senior drivers make mistakes.

Give them time and they'll start to shine.

That front bumper sure is uuuggg-leee. Rest of the car still looks okay. Since the bumper seems to stick out a fair bit chances are the drivers will rip it off early in the stage and run a bit lighter in the front. One way to improve the nose heavy weight distribution :silly2:

Judging by the press release blurb M-Sport have really done a lot of work on the car curing a lot of it's old problems. Will they also affect it's strenghts, like rough rally reliability?

Also read the new homologation is actually based on the longer US version of the Focus. Perhaps that explains the asthetically challenged appearance <good natured jibe at American cars>

Originally posted by RallyRaider

Also read the new homologation is actually based on the longer US version of the Focus.


:confused:

For you Phil ;)

USA Focus:
http://www.fordvehicles.com/images/2003/EN/photo/cars/fcs_pgextpop9.jpg

UK Focus:
http://www.ford.co.uk/spg/images/intro_3_28_0_153.jpg

Dimensions: USA Focus
Wheelbase : 2616(103")
Overall Length : 4269(168.1")
Overall Width : 1701(67")
Overall Height : 1430(56.3")

Dimensions: European Focus
Wheelbase : 2615
Overall Length : 4174
Overall Width : 1702
Overall Height : 1430

And since I own a Focus, I can definitely say the USA version looks a lot like the European one, to me, with the exception of a few cosmetic features.

So whichever one the Rally car is based on, they are pretty much the same....

It looks very agressive! I like it. Hope it goes fast too.

http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/685554side.jpg

the wing

http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/273527wingdetail.jpg

Interior

http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/792018interior.jpg

Muzzle :D

http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/686898front.jpg

Good god, look at the size of that wing :eek:

If it goes as fast as it looks it'll rip the Peugeots apart :greenchai

I knew you guys would have already seen it, but here's a bit more... :)

http://www.iol.co.za/data/picdb//newspic3e831a1e997e4

from www.itechnology.co.za: Ford's radical rally Focus ready for NZ (http://www.itechnology.co.za/index.php?click_id=132&art_id=iol1048778845403F226&set_id=4)

March 27 2003 at 05:27PM

BRENTWOOD, England – A radical new look hints at the most technically advanced and revolutionary Ford Focus World Rally car just unveiled before its competition debut in the Rally New Zealand on April 11.

The Ford Focus RS WRC 03 is significantly different in both looks and mechanics to the 2002 car. It is more than 80% new and is the first design from Ford Rallye Sport technical director Christian Loriaux.

Highlights include radical changes to styling and the aerodynamic package, a new rear suspension system, improved weight distribution and a new, lighter two-litre, turbocharged Duratec engine developed and built by Cosworth Racing.

Ford Rallye Sport and Ford’s mainstream engineering teams worked side by side on the project, including the assessment of aerodynamic and cooling systems in Ford’s wind tunnel in Cologne.

"I’m genuinely excited by what the team has developed here and I think the car looks sensational," said Martin Whitaker, Ford's European director of motorsport.

"Ford is at the forefront of rally technology with this car and I believe it takes the sport to a new, higher level."

Team director Malcolm Wilson insisted that the revolutionary approach to the new car would not affect the Ford Focus’ record-breaking reliability.

"We have enjoyed incredible reliability with the Focus, which has scored World championship points on each of the last 17 rallies, a feat unprecedented in the modern era of the sport," he said.

"The next step is to raise the performance level and we’re confident that that will not be at the expense of overall reliability.

"We've made tremendous weight savings everywhere, with significant help from Cosworth Racing and Pi Research, allowing us to ensure minimum weight. We could have gone lighter so that has enabled us to add weight by strengthening parts in key areas to achieve a weight distribution which best benefits the balance and handling of the car."

Such strengthening included increasing the weight of the roll cage to improve crew safety.

"The Focus has a reputation for being a strong and safe car but we took the decision that if we could raise safety levels further then that’s something we should do," explained Wilson.

The Ford Focus RS WRC 03 will undergo a parts inspection by the FIA this week and is due to be officially homologated as a World Rally Car on April 1.

Markko Märtin and co-driver Michael Park and Belgian team mates François Duval and Stéphane Prévot will drive the new cars.

The team’s third pairing of Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen will continue to drive a 2002-specification Focus WRC for the rest of the season.

Originally posted by jay@af
I knew you guys would have already seen it, but here's a bit more... :)


;) (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?postid=856857#post856857) (click)

Ray,

Looking at your figures the US version is about 10 cm longer than the european car. See the big rear bumper on the US version, that is where the extra lengh is. So that enables M-Sport to hang the rear wing out 10cm further than the european Focus would let them. Look at the side on picture the rear wing goes back the same distance as the bumper. Provides more effective downforce.

Rear wing looks like a 50-50 blend of Peugeot and Subaru.

Originally posted by ales
;) (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?postid=856857#post856857) (click) Is you pic a doctored version of mine, or vice versa? Or are they different pics?

:finger:

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ales
[B]It looks very agressive! I like it. Hope it goes fast too.

[
Interior

http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/792018interior.jpg


Is it me or did Martin leave his Cell in the Car?!?!:D
Brian

Originally posted by jay@af
Is you pic a doctored version of mine, or vice versa? Or are they different pics?

:finger:

You can see interior in mine! :finger:

Originally posted by k_dog

Is it me or did Martin leave his Cell in the Car?!?!:D
Brian

All the WRC cars seem to have mobile phones these days. I put one in my latest 206 model (links in the sig) Just wish Marcus Gronholm would use his a bit more often i.e. at Argentina last year!

Isn't the cell phnoe part of the GPS/tracking system?

Anyway, note the cordless drill in the co-driver's footwell. Unless my eyes are deceiving me. :)

Originally posted by ales
Isn't the cell phnoe part of the GPS/tracking system?

Anyway, note the cordless drill in the co-driver's footwell. Unless my eyes are deceiving me. :)

Didn't know that, I'd have assumed the GPS used satelites like hand held GPS. And the tracking system used transponders in FIA aircraft.

The drill used to be in the boot area, don't know why they'd have moved that. Now the Subaru I could understand.

I thought the cellulars where for emergencies... :confused: I don't think it's for GPS nor tracking. Therefor they have this rectangular box on the roof, or is that a camera? Now I'm totally confused, I'll have to look it up in one of my RallyXS magazines. Watch this space.

Originally posted by huudo
I thought the cellulars where for emergencies... :confused: I don't think it's for GPS nor tracking. Therefor they have this rectangular box on the roof, or is that a camera? Now I'm totally confused, I'll have to look it up in one of my RallyXS magazines. Watch this space.

I read in RallyXS that the GPS tracking antenna was the silver box on the roof, and the GPS tracking unit is inside the car.
The cell phone, from my understanding, was for emergencies to contact the team in the event the radio system was knocked out of operation in a wreck.....I could be wrong....

Originally posted by k_dog

Is it me or did Martin leave his Cell in the Car?!?!:D
Brian

For somebody that CLAIMS to be a huge rally fan, you certainly come up with some ridiculous statements.

First picures of the new Focus on stage in the RS livery. Not bad at all!

http://rally.racing-live.com/photos/2003/newzealand/diapo_020.jpg

http://rally.racing-live.com/photos/2003/newzealand/diapoa_019.jpg

Not bad indeed. Very agressive! Can't wait to see it on tarmac ride height and on 15-spokes. Should be quite sexy! ;)

First it was butt UUUUUUUUGLY, now I see a change in thought. Stickers do work. :grinno: :grinno: :grinno:
At least its not as bad as the Evo joke. :lol:

Why the hell did you revive an 8 month old thread?

These cars aren't about looks, they are about function. When you understand the design principle, you will appreciate the design.

First off Ray, let me appologize for breaking a now apparent cardnal sin. It was 2am when this came up in a search, and didn't realize the date of the last post. Funny, 8 mo. and its still open.
As for your summary on form vs. function, you are part correct. Looks ARE everything, and you apparently missed the point. This started out based on looks pure and simple. Nobody cared about design principle, aerodynamic engineering or anything of the sort. In fact nobody cared for the design of it, until the stickers went on and they saw it in action(again, based on look's). Then the whole subject changed to a more positive outlook, as well as wether or not the cell phone was used for GPS, PLEASE! Sure, they were really interested in design principle of function.
Anyway, I will pay more attention to the post dates in the threads. I sure don't want to piss you off again, since there is so much new activity in this forum.



Form follows function-that has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union. - Frank Lloyd Wright

looks like a bastard child of and evo 6 and a 206 (peugot). Bet it is hella fast though.

I think it looks purty