Another motor show, another version of the Ford Focus. The
Los Angeles Auto Show will host the debut of the Focus Race Car Concept, a nose-pierced fire-breather with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and full roll cage.
With hints of the Focus ST unveiled in
Paris (there's an ST badge on the massive grille), the Race Car Concept will form the basis of a global Ford racing car, competing in both US and European competition.
There's no power output specified yet, but expect well over 250bhp from the turbocharged EcoBoost petrol engine - a tuned version of that in the ST.
It sits on 18-inch light alloys, shod in Hoosier racing rubber, and features adjustable AST coil-over dampers. The chunky anti-roll bars are from Ford Racing.
Inside there's an FIA-certified roll cage, a pair of Recaro buckets and six-point harnesses.
The finished race car makes its debut at the British Touring Car Championship in 2011 and will later have its stamina tested at the Nürburgring 24-hour race.
Mark Nichol - 17 Nov 2010