I think it can because when it comes to those performance trims, for the most part you're looking at performance, no so much the luxury that comes with those cars.
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Can the RS compete in the Luxury Sphere?
I'm thinking of cars like the A45 AMG, Audi RS3 and BMW M235i. Can the Focus RS knock boots with the teutonic trio? I personally don't see why not especially in terms of pure dynamics and emotion. But it becomes a question of what dynamic and emotion do 'luxury' shoppers buy. Does a guy who buys a CLA45 really care about his out and out experience behind the wheel or is he more interested in the 'Mercedes' experience???
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Not in terms of luxury or prestige, no way.
Some of us don't care about a prestige badge, and instead care about a great drive, and I'll bet the Focus RS will be more hard-edged than any of the luxury options.
Some of us don't care about a prestige badge, and instead care about a great drive, and I'll bet the Focus RS will be more hard-edged than any of the luxury options.
True, but it will be nice to have some luxury options such as heated seats & steering wheel, rain sending wipers etc.
Especially for the sake of weather conditions of where I am from they are almost needed.
Especially for the sake of weather conditions of where I am from they are almost needed.
True, but it will be nice to have some luxury options such as heated seats & steering wheel, rain sending wipers etc.
Especially for the sake of weather conditions of where I am from they are almost needed.
Where will you be driving your RS?
Those convenience features are nice to have, certainly. Now that I've had a car with rain-sensing wipers, it's a must-have option for me on future cars.
In some ways it can, but in other ways it can't. Performance, yes. Luxury, no. Depends on what the buyers values most.
how do you quantify prestige? Because the Corvette certainly isn't a Ferrari but it certainly has the prestige and the respect that if you're not careful it will castrate your 500,000 compensation.Not in terms of luxury or prestige, no way.
Some of us don't care about a prestige badge, and instead care about a great drive, and I'll bet the Focus RS will be more hard-edged than any of the luxury options.
Canada, where winter is about 6 months long.Where will you be driving your RS?
Those convenience features are nice to have, certainly. Now that I've had a car with rain-sensing wipers, it's a must-have option for me on future cars.
And it rains quite a bit during summer months too.
I think that rain sensing wipers are a pretty superfluous car feature. I don't find it that hard to turn on the wipers when it starts to rain. The feature would be nice, but by no means would I ever say that it is a "must-have" option for me.
I like it.I think that rain sensing wipers are a pretty superfluous car feature. I don't find it that hard to turn on the wipers when it starts to rain. The feature would be nice, but by no means would I ever say that it is a "must-have" option for me.
When driving up to the set road speed, you need wipers to move faster, but not nearly as fast when you're stopped. Rather have it for that ease of adjustability.
No and it wouldn't have to either. The RS isn't marketed as a luxury car in any market. It's a halo car for the Focus, a mid tier hatchback. As much as we love the RS it can't/doesn't compete with the Germans for luxury. I'm glad, a lot of the "luxury" in those three is pretentious and not based in reality. Will it compare in power and driving pleasure yep and in a cheaper less luxurious (read cheaper) package.I'm thinking of cars like the A45 AMG, Audi RS3 and BMW M235i. Can the Focus RS knock boots with the teutonic trio? I personally don't see why not especially in terms of pure dynamics and emotion. But it becomes a question of what dynamic and emotion do 'luxury' shoppers buy. Does a guy who buys a CLA45 really care about his out and out experience behind the wheel or is he more interested in the 'Mercedes' experience???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlEbJCAxa64
Auto wipers and heated seats are not luxury features of car. Ford has done well bringing "luxury" tech and features to lower tier products. It was pretty advanced to have self parking systems, adaptive cruise control in a hatch in 2012.
What will be interesting to see however is if the RS' performance chops are enough to lure people from cars like the A45 AMG. I mean people were drawn to the A45 because it made bonkers power from a 4 cylinder and put it down through all 4 wheels. Logically those same people SHOULD love the RS.No and it wouldn't have to either. The RS isn't marketed as a luxury car in any market. It's a halo car for the Focus, a mid tier hatchback. As much as we love the RS it can't/doesn't compete with the Germans for luxury. I'm glad, a lot of the "luxury" in those three is pretentious and not based in reality. Will it compare in power and driving pleasure yep and in a cheaper less luxurious (read cheaper) package.
Auto wipers and heated seats are not luxury features of car. Ford has done well bringing "luxury" tech and features to lower tier products. It was pretty advanced to have self parking systems, adaptive cruise control in a hatch in 2012.
If it did, RS would be a true bargain compare to an A45.
Then again, A45 was never offered in NA and rumours are RS3 will only come in sedan format. So would RS have any true competition in this market?
Then again, A45 was never offered in NA and rumours are RS3 will only come in sedan format. So would RS have any true competition in this market?
Anyone who's a true performance hatch lover will easily make that transition, but the RS won't be for those attached to the MB badge, however when we're talking performance within a segment like this... performance is most of what I look at.What will be interesting to see however is if the RS' performance chops are enough to lure people from cars like the A45 AMG. I mean people were drawn to the A45 because it made bonkers power from a 4 cylinder and put it down through all 4 wheels. Logically those same people SHOULD love the RS.
The Ford Focus RS is about performance, and also a great base to start customizing from. It's just not about luxury in the same way that a Mercedes Benz is. Besides, luxury is just a lot of bells and whistles and pretty packaging now. Quality, performance and great features can be had without paying for a badge.
Great for customizing but not something to rush into IMO.The Ford Focus RS is about performance, and also a great base to start customizing from. It's just not about luxury in the same way that a Mercedes Benz is. Besides, luxury is just a lot of bells and whistles and pretty packaging now. Quality, performance and great features can be had without paying for a badge.
With a vehicle like the RS it will be best to really get a feel for what it's like, then kicking it up a notch.
This might be a long post, so apologies in advance, and I'll be typing as I think, so it might be a bit foggy.
Ford has long positioned themselves as more of a people's car brand. They have worked hard for this, in terms of advertising strategy, so it would be unrealistic and contradictory to expect a couple of new models to change the perception that people have of Ford, and of the Focus in particular which is sold as a reasonably priced family hatch, 99% of which are basic diesel and petrol models. The RS will not transform the Focus as a model into a luxury purchase. To badge connoisseurs, the RS will always inspire respect, but to badge followers, the RS badge will never be enough to make them forget it is a Focus, a cheap family hatch. Many people of the kind that wouldn't be seen dead in last week's fashion, go out to be seen to be in the latest trendy spots, and make all their purchases based on how they will be judged by others would rather die than be seen in a Focus. To people who always go for "the best", which usually means the most expensive, whatever it is, whatever the price, the GT would be the target. So even in the Ford catalog, the Focus will be eclipsed. The Mustang will have an easier time seeing as it was a born a sports coupe and not evolved in a lab from a family car. The RS will have 5 doors, a generous boot and a fixed roof. To some, even RS owners, that's already a problem, so imagine how reluctant the badge following crowd could be.
What the RS can do is shine a new light on the model, by showing just how how far the car can go when given an injection of goodness. I actually think the Mk3 could have a lasting impact on many people's perception of the Focus, and I'm almost certain it will attract a lot of new customers that come from outside the typical RS and car enthusiast circles. Would someone who considers going for Merc or BMW also consider the RS? I think this is where deeply engrained cliches come into play. "German cars are more reliable", "Mercs cost a lot but last forever", "Fords depreciate badly",etc. Badge followers would probably not even consider the RS. But I believe the mk3 could be a turning point in terms of raising the profile of the RS brand. It will take time, and a lot will depend on reliability and other factors, but the potential is there.
Ford has long positioned themselves as more of a people's car brand. They have worked hard for this, in terms of advertising strategy, so it would be unrealistic and contradictory to expect a couple of new models to change the perception that people have of Ford, and of the Focus in particular which is sold as a reasonably priced family hatch, 99% of which are basic diesel and petrol models. The RS will not transform the Focus as a model into a luxury purchase. To badge connoisseurs, the RS will always inspire respect, but to badge followers, the RS badge will never be enough to make them forget it is a Focus, a cheap family hatch. Many people of the kind that wouldn't be seen dead in last week's fashion, go out to be seen to be in the latest trendy spots, and make all their purchases based on how they will be judged by others would rather die than be seen in a Focus. To people who always go for "the best", which usually means the most expensive, whatever it is, whatever the price, the GT would be the target. So even in the Ford catalog, the Focus will be eclipsed. The Mustang will have an easier time seeing as it was a born a sports coupe and not evolved in a lab from a family car. The RS will have 5 doors, a generous boot and a fixed roof. To some, even RS owners, that's already a problem, so imagine how reluctant the badge following crowd could be.
What the RS can do is shine a new light on the model, by showing just how how far the car can go when given an injection of goodness. I actually think the Mk3 could have a lasting impact on many people's perception of the Focus, and I'm almost certain it will attract a lot of new customers that come from outside the typical RS and car enthusiast circles. Would someone who considers going for Merc or BMW also consider the RS? I think this is where deeply engrained cliches come into play. "German cars are more reliable", "Mercs cost a lot but last forever", "Fords depreciate badly",etc. Badge followers would probably not even consider the RS. But I believe the mk3 could be a turning point in terms of raising the profile of the RS brand. It will take time, and a lot will depend on reliability and other factors, but the potential is there.
SO far the current Focus models seem to be doing well which says something about the RS to a slight level, at the very least it gives hope into a performance model that does well in all the key areas, but of course only time will tell.
But being an different beast, I don't know...SO far the current Focus models seem to be doing well which says something about the RS to a slight level, at the very least it gives hope into a performance model that does well in all the key areas, but of course only time will tell.
I'm still willing to bet that the performance of the RS alone is enough to entice those who are interested in driving out of their lux boxes. Those who chase the pretentious features will not bat an eye you're correct, for them its a bonfire of vanity. But for those who shop A45 because its the fastest proddy hatch on the market.. well they might be open to a conversation...No and it wouldn't have to either. The RS isn't marketed as a luxury car in any market. It's a halo car for the Focus, a mid tier hatchback. As much as we love the RS it can't/doesn't compete with the Germans for luxury. I'm glad, a lot of the "luxury" in those three is pretentious and not based in reality. Will it compare in power and driving pleasure yep and in a cheaper less luxurious (read cheaper) package.
Auto wipers and heated seats are not luxury features of car. Ford has done well bringing "luxury" tech and features to lower tier products. It was pretty advanced to have self parking systems, adaptive cruise control in a hatch in 2012.
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