The 345 hp super hatch might ring in at $1035 more than a base Subaru WRX STI, before destination fees.
A sharp-eyed Jalopnik commenter sniffed out what appears to be a new version of the Ford website undergoing QA testing, and it reveals the base MSRP of the 2016 Ford Focus RS: $35,730. The page also reveals some of the options and their pricing, although the site functionality at that level is a little wonky and it's hard to navigate. You can check out the site right here, although it's unlikely to remain live for long.
Ford hasn't officially released pricing yet, so take this with a grain of salt. On the other hand, this alleged MSRP is well-aligned with our ballpark estimates. And a slight premium over the Subaru WRX STI is perhaps warranted given that the Focus RS will make 40 more horsepower and 35 more lb-ft of torque than the Subie—and that doesn't even touch the overboost figures. That also bests the $36,595Volkswagen Golf R, still an excellent car.
The real understanding of the Focus RS's value will come with an official price from Ford, and then (inevitably) some dueling between the RS and its rivals. I can't wait. And I'll say it again, at the risk of sounding like a broken record: with these cars on the loose in America, it's a good time to be an AWD hatchback lover.
Source: Road and Track
