FPV Focus....

[vztrt]

No Not the RS.......

http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...0303-ph19.html

FPV set to chase GTI

TOBY HAGON
March 3, 2010



Ford hints that Ford Performance Vehicles will offer a turbocharged hot-hatch to compete with VW's icon.

Ford's FPV performance division could soon have its first true pocket rocket for Australia as the world downsizes and looks to more efficient vehicles.

Ford product development boss Derrick Kuzak told Drive at the 2010 Geneva motor show that a new hot-hatch based on the next-generation Ford Focus would generate a performance model that could wear an FPV badge.

"We will produce a global performance model of the next-generation Focus," said Kuzak, who confirmed it would use Ford's newly-branded EcoBoost range of turbocharged engines designed for maximum efficiency.

Ford told Drive at January's Detroit motor show that the Focus hot-hatch would use a version of the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost engine that will power the Falcon from 2011.

"We haven't talked about the nomenclature yet," he said when questioned about what the new Focus hot hatch could be called.
[FPV] is a very strong brand in Australia and our performance vehicles will be global."

A natural rival to the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Subaru Impreza WRX, the hot-shot Focus has been sold in Australia as a Focus XR5, complete with a Volvo-sourced turbocharged five-cylinder engine.

Ford also has an even more expensive and better performing Focus model called the RS, but it has not yet been spoken about for use in Australia.

As part of the push to design single vehicles for the world under the brand's "One Ford" policy, Australia could benefit from a raft of new arrivals to complement the Focus and Fiesta.

Options include the Kuga city-friendly four-wheel-drive and a compact people mover.

HSV has previously dabbled with four-cylinder hot-hatches, with the Astra VXR.