I went from an RS6 V10 Avant to a Brand New Focus RS Mk2 back in 2010 & it was Mega!!
It was that good to Drive, I kept it for just over 3 years & even the day I Traded it in for an RS4 B8, I was abit sad to see it go!!
My only Critiscism of it was the poor Sound System & there was no Option to Upgrade by Ford! When your use to Bose or B&O in Audi's, everything just does'nt quite hit the mark!
No doubt that the New Focus RS Mk3 will be a good Car & Fast, but I really do feel that Ford have made a huge Mistake on the Engine front, exactly like Volkswagon did when they switched from the 3.2 V6 R32 to the 2.0T R. The old V6 in the R32 may not have been the Fastest thing around(but still pretty Quick) but the Feel & Noise of it instantly gave you a Buzz when Driving it! The New Golf R maybe technically more Advanced & Quicker with the smaller 4Cylinder Engine, but the Fun/Buzz Element has now been lost...........something you can NEVER get back with the sound of any 4Cylinder unit, no matter what Trickery they do with the Exhaust System!!
These Modern Powerful 4Cylinder Engines are good in their own right & perfectly exceptable in the Semi-Sporty Market.i.e Focus ST, Golf GTI, Audi S3 etc, but when your talking the Top Model like the Focus RS & Golf R, they should have Bigger more Wacky Engines that give you a huge Buzz when you hear it...........the New Audi RS3 is a perfect Example of that!! It'll also make you feel like your getting your moneys worth, instead of a Tweaked version of the same engine in the Model below!
The Chassis was obviously great on the Mk2 Focus RS, but it was the 2.5 5Cylinder Engine that really made the Car & turned it into something Amazing! You could just listen to the Burble, Popping & Banging allday from it!
I also cant understand why there only going to Offer it in a 5Door, when its the Pinacle Model & should be the most Sporty, therefore should be a 3Door!............its the only real thing where I've been Critical about the New RS3 as well!
The Shape of these Styles are just looking more & more like Shoes on wheels!!
On a Positive note, Ford have made the right move on going down the route of 4WD, as many Fast Hatches are that way now & should give less Tyre Wear than the previous Front wheel drive Revoknuckle Mk2!