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Stoffler is a German tuning house that likes doing up fast Fords. It recently came up with a performance package for the Ford Focus RS. If you readers out there aren't too sure what the current generation of Focus RS is, it is basically a Focus with a 2.5liter 5 cylinder turbocharged engine that makes 300bhp. The intriguing thing about the RS is that Ford did not consider making the car all-wheel drive. Instead it is front wheel driven and through some wizard-like chassis tuning, it does not torque steer and wheelspin its way off the road like most front wheel drives over 200bhp. It does suffer from it slightly, but nothing so irritating until the car becomes hard to drive it. This is because suspension technology has moved on and now, Ford has made a 345bhp version called the RS500 but if this isn't enough, Stofler's RS makes 356bhp, up 10bhp from the Ford factory special. Torque is up from 440Nm to a rocking 525Nm. All through the front wheels. Aside from the power, the Stoffler RS may see the return of massive torque steer. But tuners being tuners, petty things like this does not stop them from adding more power. And the power is achieved from ECU tuning, a different intercooler, high flow fuel pump, a custom downpipe and air intake. It comes at a price of 2900Euros and if you're in Germany the upgrade comes with a German MOT certificate for the tuned parts. There are also three different exhaust systems. One comes with a bypass valve so that the driver can control the loudness when passing through built up areas and come as noisy as a boy racer wants his Ford Focus to be. The one with the bypass valve costs 2300Euro, a CSC branded system for 1280Euro and a Miltek version for 990Euro. There is also a sports catalytic converter to release some more horses and some GGR (Graham Goode Racing) sports air filter or a carbon air filter box too. What can be added here is that Stoffler is still using the same turbo but a modified intercooler. According to road tests, the standard Focus RS has one of those new generation turbocharged engines that is basically lag free, coupled with a balanced (for a front wheel drive) chassis and a very tactile interior so that driver interaction is an experience to remember. Would the larger intercooler and higher boost add some lag? Would the immense torque rip to shreds the tires and cause lots of torque steer and spoil the driving experience? We have to wait and see as sometimes, especially in front wheel drives, less is more. Maybe for a long while as Ford RS models aren't that common in this region.

Although the all new Ford Focus has been unveiled, it doesn't mean that the previous generation has become a has-been. On the contrary, a meaner version has been released in the form of Focus RS500. The 500 figure in the designation indicates a limited, 500 units production run. This fire-breathing hot hatch makes 345hp, which is 45hp more than the standard RS. The 2.5 liter Duratec RS engine is maintained but tuned up to produce the more horsepower and extra torque, rated at 460Nm between 2,500 rpm to 4,500 rpm. Upgrades over the standard RS include a larger intercooler, bigger air filter, updated ECU, improved fuel pump and an exhaust downpipe with larger diameter. According to Ford, the RS500 performs the century sprint in 5.6 seconds and top speed is rated at 263 km/h, which is the same as the RS. The RS500 is treated to a matte black body finish, courtesy of a film layer supplied by 3M. The film layer is durable and able to resist scratches. On the inside, there is an individually-numbered metal plaque with red colour scheme and buyers can also opt for bespoke Recaro front sports seats in full red leather.

http://www.focusrs500.com/