Earlier this year, the internet was awash with reports that Ford was working on a limited edition super hatch that would slot in above the all-wheel drive Focus RS, and take the fight to the likes of the Mercedes-AMG A45 and Audi RS3 Sportback.
Widely expected to be called the Focus RS500, the vehicle was all but confirmed by numerous spy shots of prototypes undergoing serious testing.
But now, according to Autocar, the entire project is on the verge of being scrapped.
Why? Well, the British publication reports that the business case for an RS500 is, well, weak. In fact, sources told Autocar that there is just a 30% chance of the super hatch making it to production.
One major question, according to the report, is where exactly the RS500 would fit into the automaker’s global performance line-up, with Ford officials apparently fearing that the super hatch could “tread on other cars’ toes”.
Indeed, the sort of power figures being bandied about would see the RS500 – which would likely use a modified version of the 2,3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder engine – come within touching distance of the Mustang 5,0 V8 GT’s output, an overlap that is reportedly worrying for Ford, particularly in its US market.
