Apropos of Nothing Whatsoever, Ford Reminds Drivers That Focus RS is Great for Winter Driving
For those of you living under a rock or, more fortunately, in a region where the climate is warmer around this time of year, you may be unaware that an estimated 18 million Americans are under a blizzard warning as Winter Storm Stella descends upon the northeast.
As is customary when a major, buzzworthy winter storm hits, automakers are on their horses to connect inclement weather to their products. This time up, Ford is taking the opportunity of snowfall to chat up its Ford Focus RS2 Package. Also, colors and other stuff.
Granted, Ford has a somewhat legit angle with its timely press release, entitled “WEATHER REMAINS CHILLY, FORD FOCUS RS SALES STILL HOT THANKS TO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, RS2 PACKAGE”: the Focus RS’ Ford Performance All-Wheel-Drive System with Dynamic Torque Vectoring has perhaps contributed to it maintaining sales momentum through months where performance car sales might otherwise sag.
“Sales momentum for the Focus RS has been incredible in the U.S. for the first six months,” said Jessica Bishop, Focus marketing manager, Ford North America. “Uniquely for a performance vehicle, we haven’t seen any sales decline during the winter months, but rather customer interest has picked up thanks to AWD availability.”
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Ford notes that it has sold more than 3,500 units since the Focus RS was launched last summer, averaging sales of around 500 units per month. Contrary to the idea of customers preferring the Focus RS for its ability to handle winter weather, however, is the fact that its biggest market by far—California, where Ford has sold 627 units—is one that is largely unaffected by harsh winter weather, as is the fact that its third and fourth largest markets—Texas and Florida, respectively—also tend not to experience a great deal of snowfall.
In the process, Ford also tipped that the average transaction price for the Focus RS is $42,351, a significantly-above-base price driven by the addition of features like the Focus RS2 package, which has been added by approximately 62% of customers. Ford did not keep with the winter theme by giving a percentage of customers who have chosen the RS Winter Tire & Wheel Package, which adds 18-inch Sparkle Silver Alloy Wheels and 18-inch Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 winter tires for better grip on snowy roadways.
Also, Ford says that Stealth Gray is the most popular color in the US, having been chosen by 32% of all drivers, followed by Nitrous Blue at 30%, Shadow Black at 20%, and Frozen White at 18%. Hey, Frozen! That’s like a snow thing, too.
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