McChip Ford Focus RS

Ooo, it looks like a rally car for the street. What a lovely idea. If you really don't care much for stuff like peace and quite and being comfortable (and I really don't all that much) having some sort of de-tuned rally car for the road makes a lot of sense. Then again, I've always wanted to hang a license plate off of a Formula Ford, but that's another story.

What we have here is a modded Ford Focus RS by McChip. The Ford Focus RS, as it sits on the showroom floor, ain't exactly a slouch. With its wide wheel arches and 300 HP turbocharged five cylinder plant straight from the factory, it's hard to argue with. But argue is just what McChip would like to do, since they feel that they can make the flagship Focus even better.

Luckily, German firm McChip DKR (which, sources say is a computer specialists company) has not messed with the body on the Focus RS much. Just as well, since it looks sharp enough already, and aftermarket firms have a bad tendency to go way, way over the top with body "enhancements".

McChip DKR currently offers two different levels of increased performance for the Ford Focus RS. The first level is a tried and true, simple ECU re-flash that will increase air pressure from the turbo and then tells the injectors the right amount of fuel to put out so everything runs smoothly.

By doing this McChip DKR raises the engine’s output up to 345 HP and 384 lb-ft of torque. That also helps with the top speed of the Focus RS, which now goes all the way up to 168 MPH.

The next level of tuning is a little bit more enterprising. The Stage 2 kit from McChip comes with a similarly modified ECU, but on top of that you get a new intercooler as well as a more free flowing exhaust system. Engine figures are now said to be 401 HP and 451 lb-ft of torque. Not bad, huh? Top speed? That's even better, v-maxing out at 172 MPH, which is about what a Ferrari was capable of doing 25 years ago.

Source: Top Speed