Ford Focus RS With Hybrid Drivetrain

The next-generation of the Ford Focus RS may come be with a hybrid drive set-up similar to that of the Peugeot Hybrid 4 technology. Ford is in the early stages of developing a hybrid set up that would couple a 2.0 liter EcoBoost unit with an electric motor on the rear axle, turning the Focus RS into an all-wheel drive sport hatch.

The 2.0 liter turbo EcoBoost unit would be dialed up to around 250 bhp for an ST variant, while the RS variant would feature the same amount of power for the engine, while the addition of an electric motor would provide for a significant amount of extra horses and torque. Power would probably top out at around 300 bhp, similar to the current RS variant.

But the new set up would have far better fuel-economy than the current Volvo engine supplied 2.5 liter, 5 cylinder turbo seen in the RS now, which Ford may no longer have access to since it sold Volvo Cars to China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Co.

Hopefully, Ford will see fit to provide some more details on a possible Focus RS when it debuts the Focus ST at the Paris auto show this October.