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Hennessey tunes Ford Focus RS to 405hp with HPE400 kit

US tuner Hennessey has released its HPE400 upgrade for the Ford Focus RS, lifting power to 405hp and promising further performance enhancements to come.

By Editorial Desk Updated
Ford Focus RS (third generation)
Ford Focus RS (third generation) Antoineets / CC BY-SA 4.0

Hennessey Performance has wasted no time getting to grips with the Ford Focus RS, unveiling an HPE400 upgrade that pushes the hot hatch’s output to 405hp. The Texas-based tuner’s first package for the US-market RS lifts power by 55hp over the stock 2.3-litre EcoBoost, and includes hardware and software changes aimed at owners seeking more than the factory 350hp.

The HPE400 kit combines a stainless steel mid-pipe with an electronic exhaust dump valve, a high-flow air filter and revised engine management software. Hennessey quotes peak torque at 425lb ft, a substantial jump from the standard car’s 350lb ft. The company says the kit will be available to order from the following month, priced at $2,995 for parts or $4,995 including installation and dyno tuning at Hennessey’s facility.

Further upgrades planned for the Focus RS

Hennessey has confirmed that this initial package is only the beginning. Work is already underway on further upgrades, with the company developing enhancements to the intercooler, exhaust and turbocharger. No details or timeframe have been given for these additional kits, but Hennessey’s track record with previous Ford models suggests that more substantial power gains are likely.

The HPE400 arrives as the first Focus RS to be officially sold in the US, following its European debut. The standard car’s 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder and all-wheel-drive system have already drawn attention from tuners and enthusiasts. Hennessey’s kit puts the RS in line with the rumoured output of the anticipated RS500, which is said to target around 400hp and a weight saving over the standard model.

2016 Ford Focus RS Mk III
The US-market Ford Focus RS is the basis for Hennessey’s HPE400 upgrade.

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