Rumours about the Ford Fiesta RS have been circulating for a while now, and these spy photos may be the first proof that such a car is under development.
Our spy photographers spotted a convoy of partially disguised Focus RS prototypes along with this Fiesta mule, which features revised front and rear bumpers, and plenty of diagnostic equipment on board.
There are also what seem to be wider front wheel arches, as well as what may be additional cooling gear behind the front grille. Neither the tyre and wheel combo, nor the exhaust system, screams RS though.
According to our spy team, early Focus RS prototypes featured similar modifications.
Speculation has it that if a Fiesta RS were to eventuate, it would be powered by a version of the company’s 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine tuned to develop around 185kW of power.
That would be quite a significant improvement over the 1.6-litre turbo in the Fiesta ST, which develops 134kW/240Nm in regular driving and 147kW/290Nm on overboost.
Tyrone Johnson, a senior vehicle engineer in the Ford Performance Division, told the British motoring press earlier this year that the Fiesta ST would be refreshed in the remaining two-and-a-half-year life of the current-generation Fiesta and “after that there could be something else”.
The Ford Performance Division has committed to releasing 12 new products between now and 2020. According to Johnson, these models fall into three categorisations: “Enhanced technology models, like the Fiesta ST and Focus ST. High performance — things like the F-150 Raptor, Mustang GT350R and Focus RS. And then ultra high-performance, which is the new GT.”
Click to see more photos of this Ford Fiesta prototype.
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