First look: Ford Focus RS faces barrier

CRASH testing could literally prove a solid barrier to local sale of the high-performance Ford Focus RS.

Because the RS would be imported in such small numbers if Ford Australia decided to go ahead with an import program, the cost of crash-testing one could make the car financially unviable .

The turbocharged hot hatch, which was finally launched in the UK this month and goes on sale in October after an extended development period, is high on Ford Australia president Geoff Polites' sales wishlist.

The impetus to get the 160kW 2.0-litre has been strengthened by the local launch of the Focus range, which goes on sale replacing the Laser on October 1.

"We'll bring one in for the fun of it and make an assessment then as to whether we can do a low volume program," Mr Polites said. "It would be a great hero car for the range." But Ford Australia small car planning manager Peter Fry said the low volume specialist and enthusiast vehicle scheme, while theoretically making it easier to sell RS, could also end its chances of making it here.

"That scheme doesn't seem to offer any meaningful concession, at least to the manufacturers," Mr Fry said.

"They effectively have this interpretation that you can claim an exemption from the Australian crash requirement, but you still have to demonstrate that you comply with it.

"You could perhaps do it by some highly technical argument but it would have to be backed up by a lot of data that you would find very difficult to generate without doing a crash.

"So it's a catch 22." Australian Design Rule 69 requires that cars are full-frontal, off-set and side-impact crash-tested. However, RS could be accepted for Australian sales without being re-tested here if it has gained off-set crash testing compliance in Europe and has standard dual airbags (which it has).

But the Federal Office of Road Safety still has the right to audit a manufacturer later and have models crash-tested.

The possibility of RS using standard Focus crash data is debatable because a turbocharger is added under the hood. The issue of left-hand drive crash test results being valid for a right-hand drive car could also be an issue for RS.

Mr Fry said the significant cost of crash testing RS would have to be taken into account when assembling a business case.

"Very simply, can you get enough revenue to cover the cost of doing these unique tests for a car that you know you are not going to sell very many of," he said.

As few as 25 cars has been mooted by Mr Polites as a possible import number.

Of course, before even that hurdle is climbed, Ford Australia would have to establish it can even get supply of the car. Only 4500 RSs will be built over the next two years until the new generation Focus arrives.

"If Europe's got names against all those 4500 cars they may find it not opportune to give us any," Mr Polites said.

"We're in the sort of state with RS now in Europe that we were a year ago or two years ago with plain-body, they don't want to talk about it." Powered by the 2.0-litre Duratec RS four-cylinder engine, the RS (Rallye Sport) generates around 160kW at 5500rpm and 310Nm at 3500rpm.

The grunt is transferred to the front wheels via a Quaife torque biasing differential and is good for the 0-60mph dash in 6.4 seconds, 0-100mph in 15.5 seconds and a top speed of 144mph.

All that is backed up by a rally-inspired bodykit, sports suspension, low profile Michelin tyres wrapped around OZ 18-inch alloy wheels and an appropriately sporty interior.

"You'd look at it and lust, wouldn't you?" Mr Polites said.