Loder1899 Ford Focus RS: With 345 HP It's Easy Being Green

The new Ford Focus RS is turning into the FWD version of the GTR, as far as P.R. goes. It's all over the internet, in magazines and on the airwaves. Everyone is touting its handling and speed. You'd think folks in the U.S. wouldn't care, since we can't get it. Wrong. People are practically drooling through over their keyboards. We'll get a mop. German tuning-haus Loder1899 has taken the new Focus and begun to unlock its potential, with good success. Great, now we'll want it even more.

The parts list is short, but it's sweet. The engine is a 2.5 L inline-5 turbo, highly underrated in my opinion. After adding a drop-in air filter, new engine management software, a new stainless Y-pipe, and Loder1899's own cat-back exhaust, a gain of 45 horsepower resulted. This takes the Ford Focus RS up to 345hp. No new torque figures are available, but I'm sure it's more than the stock 325 ft-lb. And just like that you have more power than a 335i, STI, or EVO. Uh oh. Another highlight is the sound, which is fantastic. It's like a boxter engine, but tighter. Think R32-meets-WRX.