Ford Focus RS exceeds 38mpg

Ford’s fastest-ever European production car, the 163mph Focus RS, added a surprising new figure to its remarkable performance statistics – an average fuel consumption of 38.5mpg.

This impressive result, one of the best in its class, was officially recorded during the UK’s seventh annual MPG Marathon, which finished this week.

This frugal driving challenge is judged by the improvement in economy over official, manufacturer-supplied figures. The 2.5-litre, 305PS Ford Focus RS used just nine gallons of fuel to cover the competition's 360 miles, bettering the car’s quoted 30.1mpg combined fuel consumption figure by 28 per cent.

At the wheel for the duration of the two-day event was automotive writer Jeremy Walton, who covered the varied route at regular road speeds, guided by co-driver Alyson Marlow. Jeremy said: “This is the fastest RS road car yet, but also the most efficient. This shows that, with a bit of restraint, you can use an efficient, high-performance car in daily driving, without enormous fuel bills.”

Ford Team RS powertrain manager, Len Urwin, led the team that developed the Focus RS engine. He said: “Focus RS was designed throughout to appeal to the heart and the head. This result shows how successful we’ve been, both in making Focus RS a practical day-to-day car – as well as continuing the 40-year RS tradition of exciting, high performance.”

More than half of the UK’s Ford Focus RS allocation has already been sold, with each priced at £26,395 on-the-road.