<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hybrids/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hatchbacks/" rel="tag">Hatchback</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/rumormill/" rel="tag">Rumormill</a></p><a href="http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?AR=251496"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/ford-focus-2071010125604901600x1060.jpg" /></a>Despite driving only the front wheels, reviewers have heaped praise on the current <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/focus">Ford Focus RS's</a> handling and its ability to put 300 horsepower to the road thanks to some nifty suspension and driveline tricks. However, when the next-generation RS rolls into town (assuming that it becomes a reality) it may well have all-wheel-drive courtesy of an electric motor driving the rear axle. <br />
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According to <em>Autocar</em>, the proposed car would use a higher output version of the Blue Oval's 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder driving the front wheels and an electric motor at the rear. This would allow for both on-demand all-wheel-drive and electric-only drive at low speeds. If this plan proceeds, it would be <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/ford/">Ford's</a> first through-the-road hybrid, although French automaker Peugeot has firm plans to introduce at least two vehicles with a similar configuration in 2011. <br />
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Other alternatives reportedly being studied by Ford are an even higher output gasoline engine (sans motor assistance), or use of the next-generation power-split hybrid that debuts in 2012. However, both of these options would involve sticking with front-wheel-drive and could be problematic if Ford wants to surpass the output of the current RS. <br />
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[Source: <a href="http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?AR=251496">AutoCar</a>]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/23/rumormill-next-focus-rs-to-get-all-wheel-drive-with-electric-mo/">Rumormill: Next Focus RS to get all-wheel drive with electric motors</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/23/rumormill-next-focus-rs-to-get-all-wheel-drive-with-electric-mo/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19565584/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/23/rumormill-next-focus-rs-to-get-all-wheel-drive-with-electric-mo/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
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<br />
According to <em>Autocar</em>, the proposed car would use a higher output version of the Blue Oval's 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder driving the front wheels and an electric motor at the rear. This would allow for both on-demand all-wheel-drive and electric-only drive at low speeds. If this plan proceeds, it would be <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/ford/">Ford's</a> first through-the-road hybrid, although French automaker Peugeot has firm plans to introduce at least two vehicles with a similar configuration in 2011. <br />
<br />
Other alternatives reportedly being studied by Ford are an even higher output gasoline engine (sans motor assistance), or use of the next-generation power-split hybrid that debuts in 2012. However, both of these options would involve sticking with front-wheel-drive and could be problematic if Ford wants to surpass the output of the current RS. <br />
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[Source: <a href="http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?AR=251496">AutoCar</a>]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/23/rumormill-next-focus-rs-to-get-all-wheel-drive-with-electric-mo/">Rumormill: Next Focus RS to get all-wheel drive with electric motors</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/23/rumormill-next-focus-rs-to-get-all-wheel-drive-with-electric-mo/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19565584/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/23/rumormill-next-focus-rs-to-get-all-wheel-drive-with-electric-mo/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
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