2026 Ford Focus RS Redesign

2026 Ford Focus RS Interior, Engine, Redesign  –  If the convertible isn’t yet on the list of endangered automotive species, it’s awfully close. In fairness, it’s been that way for a while now, the segment’s threatened status a result of collective car-buying tastes changing all at once. Looking at the mainstream market, there are just four to choose from, including the ever-charming Mazda MX-5 and the quirky-but-cool Mini Cooper.

The 2026 Ford Focus RS might have a different sort of appeal than that pint-sized pair, but the essentials are the same. More importantly, it’s brimming with just as much character as either of them. 2026 Ford Focus RS Interior

2026 Ford Focus RS Redesign and Update Plan

Exterior and Interior

Only time will tell just how, well, timeless this Mustang remains, but after about eight years on the market it’s still a tastefully aggressive tribute to its earliest ancestors. This convertible perhaps isn’t quite as swoopy and stylish as its coupe counterpart, but its sleek shape cuts a striking profile – particularly with the top down.2026 Ford Focus RS Interior

With this tester’s black-on-black motif, the interior is a little boring. That’s in spite of the plastic trim on a dash that features a finish akin to machined aluminum, which provides the only eye-catching design element inside. The rest is about function as much as form, like the toggles next to the red-ringed ignition button, or the dash-mounted boost and oil pressure gauges that come with the performance pack. 2026 Ford Focus RS Interior

2026 Ford Focus RS Specs

The base convertible is fairly stripped down, with manually-adjustable cloth seats that aren’t heated, manual climate control – even the infotainment system goes without Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This Premium trim adds heated and ventilated front seats, satellite radio, those smartphone connections, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Stuff like a heated steering wheel, built-in navigation, and adaptive cruise control is part of an upgrade package that adds $2,800 to the price tag, while the $6,500 performance package comes with all kinds of goodies, plus it bumps output from 310 hp to 330.  2026 Ford Focus RS Interior2026 Ford Focus RS Redesign

Engine and Performance

With the performance pack – and expensive 93-octane in the tank – the 2.3L spins up 350 lb-ft of torque to go with 330 hp. While those numbers aren’t exactly eye-popping next to the Mustang GT that generates 450 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque, the fact they’re coming from a four-cylinder makes them rather impressive. While clutch-dumping, tire-smoking shenanigans weren’t part of this testing regimen, goosing the gas was enough to send this convertible scurrying ahead with a sense of purpose.2026 Ford Focus RS Engine

A hearty soundtrack was along for the ride, too, courtesy of the active exhaust that features a handful of settings to pick from. No, it doesn’t sound like a V8, which takes some getting used to, but it’s enjoyable in its own right. Graciously – at least for the neighbours – there’s a quiet-start mode that closes baffles inside the system so it fires up with a lot less rowdiness. 2026 Ford Focus RS Interior

2026 Ford Focus RS Fuel Economy

Officially, the four-cylinder Focus RS is good for anywhere from 10.1 to 10.9 L/100 km, depending on how it’s equipped. In the case of this tester and its manual transmission and optional performance package, it falls at the top end of that range, with ratings of 12.3 L/100 km in the city and 9.2 on the highway. 2026 Ford Focus RS Interior

Those numbers are far better than the V8 version, which is good for estimates of 15.8 in the city, 10.4 around town, and 13.4 combined. Premium-grade gas recommended, with a performance penalty when using cheaper stuff. It’s also noteworthy that the peak numbers the engine generates are measured on 93-octane fuel.

2026 Ford Focus RS Safety Features

Also included as standard is a comprehensively improved safety suite. It has automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping assistance. Along with the automatic rain-sensing wipers, this tester also included rear parking sensors and a backup camera, which are standard on all new cars sold in Canada. 2026 Ford Focus RS Interior

2026 Ford Focus RS Price and Release Date

While it may lack amenities, the base version offers reasonable value. Its starting price of $39,390 before tax – but including a non-negotiable $2,095 freight charge – is almost identical to that of the drop-top Chevrolet Camaro. (The 10-speed automatic transmission adds $1,750 here and $1,650 to the Chevy, for those crunching the numbers.) As different as it may be, it’s interesting at the very least that the Mini Cooper Convertible rings in at $39,635 before tax regardless of transmission. 2026 Ford Focus RS Interior

The Premium version tested here starts at $46,020, while the options added to it – performance pack, upgraded amenities, 12-speaker stereo, and more – put it a shade over $58,000, which still seems perfectly reasonable given its unique position in the marketplace. It’s also a bit cheaper than the starting price of the V8 convertible.

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