The Ford Focus RS has a powertrain that is similar to the Focus ST, but with numerous changes that separate it. Len Urwin, powertrain manager, knew from the start that merely tuning the engine management system was not enough to create a true RS. He said, "We evaluated several approaches using the ST engine and none gave us the combination of power delivery, character and durability that we wanted, so we opted to create an RS Duratec, using the ST unit as our base."
The goal was to increase power and torque while maintaining durability, so multiple details were changed in the powertrain, including a new cylinder head gasket, metal sprayed cylinder bores, revised pistons, a custom-made camshaft profile and connecting rods, and larger small end bearings.
Moreover, a larger Borg Warner K16 turbo was added to the car. It allows for a maximum steady state boost pressure of 1.4 bar, which is double the 0.7 bar of the Focus ST, which results in a 35% increase in power. Attention was paid to the responsiveness of the engine by integrating the turbo with the exhaust manifold, choosing the appropriate-sized turbo, and minimizing induction system and exhaust losses.
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