Richard Bazzy
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Forget Pokemon, the 2016 Ford Focus RS Is Here

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2016 Ford Focus RS action

San Diego’s Jackson Gilmore can freely proclaim himself to be the luckiest dude in the United State not because he caught a rare Pokemon, but because he caught something even rarer and more fantastic: the first 2016 Ford Focus RS.

Gilmore this month became the first customer in the United States to take delivery of the 350-horsepower beast, but he will be far from the last. The Focus RS is hitting dealerships all over the land this week, and customers who have already placed their orders won’t need to find imaginary gyms in order to get theirs.

Video: Jackson Gilmore Brags About His Focus RS



More on the 2016 Focus RS: Everything you need to know about your new favorite hot hatch


“Learning that [my Focus RS] was going to be on one of the first boats to the West Coast, it became real,” Gilmore told Ford. “Out of the blue, my dealership called me and they said ‘Hey, your RS is here,’ so I sent an email to my boss that said, ‘Hey, I ordered this car eight months ago, I’m taking a half day today,’ and I just kind of walked out of work. I just bounced right then.”

If splitting from work early to hoon in your new Focus RS isn’t America, I don’t know what is.

The 2016 Focus RS is capable of 0-62 mph in 4.7 seconds and has a max speed of 165 mph. It features Ford Performance’s new all-wheel drive with Dynamic Torque Vectoring, and it is all things delicious on straights and in the corners.

So what did the lucky sunnuvagun have to say about his ride?

“You start it up, it’s got a little bit of a growl to it, it rumbles,” Gilmore said. “You kind of know you’re in something serious.

“It’s definitely quick. It’s got power, but the biggest thing I noticed is the handling,” he added. “I think it’s glued to the road; it’s super tight…so as soon as you move the wheel it just points in and hugs the turn. It’s awesome, honestly.”

Yeah, I’d personally rather have that over a Squirtle any day.


More on the Focus RS: 350 horses and 350 lb-ft of torque means unlimited potential for fun