Video Find: Tanner Foust Takes the Ring On in Ford Focus RS500

It is quite disappointing that the Ford Focus RS500 isn’t available in the States, but if it ever does make here (when pigs fly) then we will know what to expect. Tanner Foust takes a ride at the Nurburgring and sounds off on what he thinks about the matte black monster.

Foust puts the RS500 to the test on the Nordschleife (north loop), following closely behind a motorcyclist through corners, as he hits up to 150 mph in two of them.  The hot hatch, powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder, is rated at 350 hp and 339 lb-ft., but Foust says it has been slightly boosted up.

Compared with the regular Focus RS, the RS500's engine gets a larger intercooler, larger airbox, larger exhaust downpipe, uprated fuel pump, and a re-flash. Since the rally driver is used to driving much higher-powered cars, it’s interesting to hear what he has to say about the front-wheel drive, street-legal (in Europe) RS500. He seems to enjoy his experience driving on this world-famous road course.

Although the video is a bit short, this is probably the closest we will ever get to being inside the RS500, even if it is just shotgun.

 

 

 

Source: Motor Trend