Ford-Focus-WRC-Edition-Carscoop

Ford Focus RS WRC Edition

Ooo baby, why do the Swiss get to have all the fun? It turns out that Ford of Switzerland will release a special version of the European market Focus RS. Dubbed the “WRC Edition,” it will be produced in a limited run of only 50 units (sadly). The “WRC Edition” special series was announced last year as part of Ford’s festivities for the 40th anniversary of their RS division.

Paying tribute to the legendary Escort RS1600 that was launched in 1970, the Focus RS WRC Edition was designed with Swiss fans who participated in a special design competition organized by FoMoCo. The fifty WRC specials are notable on the outside by the “Frozen White” paint finish and contrasting black and green stickers and stripes. You also get the 19-inch OZ Superturismo GT multispoke alloys in black.

Inside the cockpit, there is a special plaque that bears the signatures of Ford Rally drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen, a nice touch – don’t you just love Finnish names?

Performance mods, sadly, are not present at all. But luckily, the standard Ford Focus RS is plenty interesting in those respects as is. So the WRC Edition gets from 0-100km/h (62mph) in less than 6 seconds and tops out at a speed of 263km/h (163mph) using the same 305HP 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five found in the ‘normal’ RS.

Price? That will be 55,900 francs or about US$53,050 / €37,950 at today’s exchange rates for the Focus RS WRC Edition, but remember they are only making 50, so get in line now. That would be my suggestion. That is, if you live in Switzerland.

Of course, since what we have here is just a trim option, it would seem to me that Ford would be stupid to let this go as a one-off (50-off?) only seen in the Swiss market. Given the popularity of the World Rally Championship across the globe, you’d think that Ford could hold design contests in Francs and Germany and England, and anywhere else they sell the Focus.

I could even see the whole idea going over rather well here in the states too.