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The upcoming 2023 Ford Focus RS is still a mystery. Not only the upgrades it will receive but also its release date. If you didn’t know, Focus RS is questionable in Europe and it could face discontinuation. The reason is the CO2 emission regulations in the EU. More rigorous laws could force Ford to either discontinue its Focus RS model or install a hybrid or electric powertrain.
To this moment, we saw spy photos of the base Focus model. It will receive a couple of upgrades but the exterior redesign is not on the cards yet. The sales will reportedly begin later in 2022 and here’s what we know about this model so far.
Ford Focus RS Exterior Details
The spy photos of the new Ford Focus are here. The prototype of this five-door hatchback clearly wears some upgrades under the heavy camouflage. However, it seems that the redesign will not happen after all. This means the 2023 Ford Focus RS will probably receive more or less the same updates. Still, we’ll have to wait for official details. The regular prototype comes with improved headlights, a revised hood, and a grille.
Moreover, the rear part seems to be wearing a new taillight graphic. As you can see, those visual upgrades are far from dramatic. As for the Focus RS, this sporty hatchback will continue to offer standard LED headlights and taillights. Moreover, this model will ride on the same 19-inch alloy wheels. The next-gen Focus RS is still not official, but if it happens in the next two or three years, Blue Oval will certainly provide significant changes.
Interior
The forthcoming 2023 Ford Focus RS will have a few interior upgrades. As the range-topping trim level, the RS variant comes with more standard features. That includes options such as Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, B&O sound system, and more premium upholstery. In addition, Focus RS comes with a steering wheel made of leather, a sensor key with a push-button start, and additional safety features.
Focus RS Hybrid Rumors
As we said, the 2023 Ford Focus RS is quite a mystery at the moment. Many reports are suggesting that the 2023MY won’t arrive at all. The reason for this is the CO2 emission standards in the EU. Some other reports predicted a high-performance RS version with a hybrid powertrain. Although this is a possibility, Ford will not develop a completely new hybrid setup. Instead, it could borrow a hybrid powertrain from Ford Kuga/Escape crossover.
It is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine working in a combination with a hybrid setup and a 14.4-kWh battery pack. This output provides 220 horsepower and over 30 miles of all-electric driving range. As for the current Focus RS model, it comes with a 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine producing 280 hp. However, this engine will not meet the CO2 regulations in the future, so we are waiting to see what Ford plans to do in this case.
2023 Ford Focus RS Release Date, Price
Blue Oval carmaker has a plan to introduce 40 electrified vehicles in the next two years. Because of that, the 2023 Ford Focus RS with hybrid power is still a good possibility. On the other hand, we’ll have to wait for Ford and official information.
The next Focus RS model will reportedly arrive in the second half of 2022. However, the arrival of this hot hatchback is not under a question mark. If it arrives, this model will cost around $50,000 in Europe. The Focus RS model is not available in the United States, as Ford is slowly but surely killing the production of regular cars.
